Social Work And Health Committee - 24/09/2012

At a MEETING of the SOCIAL WORK AND HEALTH COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 24th September, 2012.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Ken LYNN, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 20th August, 2012 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Depute Lord Provost Roberts and Councillors McDonald, Cordell, Dawson, Alexander and Asif declared non-financial interests in Article IV by virtue of having a family member in possession of a blue badge.

II MINUTE OF MEETING OF CASES SUB-COMMITTEE

The minute of meeting of the Cases Sub-Committee held on 7th September, 2012 was submitted and noted for information and record purposes, a copy of which is attached to this minute as an Appendix.

III RESPONSE TO THE FINDINGS FROM THE FATAL ACCIDENT INQUIRY INTO THE DEATHS OF GEORGIA ROWE AND NIAMH LAFFERTY FROMTHE ERSKINE BRIDGE ON 4TH OCTOBER, 2009

There was submitted Report No 295-2012 by the Director of Social Work summarising the findings from the Fatal Accident Inquiry report. The recommendations in the report related to residential care and the management of young people who displayed self-harming and suicidal behaviour. The report summarised Dundee City Council's current policies, practices and responsibilities in relation to these recommendations for looked after young people in order to reduce the risks of young people accommodated taking their own lives.

The Committee agreed to:-

(i) to note the actions taken locally to strengthen approaches to young people who were deemed to present a risk to themselves and the ongoing work to review care planning approaches for young people who are moved in crisis situations; and

(ii) that the Children's Integrated Planning process would confirm and promote the work of Choose Life and embed it in practice within all agencies.

IV REFORM OF THE BLUE BADGE SCHEME

There was submitted Report No 331-2012 by the Director of Social Work advising members of the Social Work and Health Committee of developments in relation to the provision of disabled parking badges (Blue Badges), nationally and within the City Council.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the contents of the report and the progress made, to date, in implementing the new arrangements for administering Blue Badges;

(ii) approved the arrangements that were being put in place to undertake Independent Mobility Assessments from the 1st September, 2012, as described in Sections 4.3 of the report; and

(iii) approved the proposed future developments, as described in Sections 4.4 of the report, which would enhance the provision of the Blue Badge Service.

V THROUGHCARE AND AFTERCARE SERVICE, HOUSING SUPPORT SERVICE SCSWIS INSPECTION REPORT

There was submitted Report No 345-2012 by the Director of Social Work summarising the findings and grading awarded by SCSWIS to the Throughcare and Aftercare Service, Housing Support Service.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the excellent report; and

(ii) requested that the Director of Social Work monitor the continued progress towards improving this service.

VI THE SAME AS YOU? 2000/2012 CONSULTATION RESPONSE

There was submitted Report No 354-2012 by the Director of Social Work seeking agreement regarding a proposed response to The same as you? 2000/2012 Consultation Report, Scottish Government, The same as you? was the policy which belonged to people with learning disabilities in Scotland.

The Committee:-

(i) endorsed the National Consultation Report;

(ii) noted the contents of the report which included the proposed consultation response; and

(iii) agreed the proposed consultation response prior to submission to Scottish Government.

VII SUPPORT FOR ADULTS WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES

This item was placed on the agenda at the request of Councillor Keenan.

Councillor Keenan, seconded by Councillor McCready, moved to suspend Standing Order 39(1) in terms of Standing Order 42 to enable the Committee to reconsider and reverse its decision to progress the development on support for adults with learning difficulties.

As an amendment, the Convener, seconded by Councillor Ross, moved not to suspend Standing Orders.

On a division, there voted for the motion - Councillors Keenan, Asif, Bidwell, Cruickshank, Ferguson, Gordon, McCready, McGovern and Bailie Scott (9); and for the amendment - the Convener, Councillors Guild, Alexander, Black, Bowes, Campbell, Cordell, Dawson, Hunter, McDonald, Melville, Murray and Ross, Lord Provost Duncan, Depute Lord Provost Roberts and Bailie Sawers (14) - whereupon the amendment was declared carried.

Ken LYNN, Convener.

At a MEETING of the CASES SUB-COMMITTEE OF THE SOCIAL WORK AND HEALTH COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 7th September, 2012.

APPENDIX

Present:-

Councillor Ken LYNN

Councillor Alan G ROSS

Bailie Helen WRIGHT

Councillor Ken LYNN, Convener, in the Chair.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

The Sub-Committee resolved under Section 50(A)(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 that the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the undernoted items of business on the grounds that they involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part I of Schedule 7A of the Act.

I DECLARATION OF INTEREST

No declarations of interest were made.

II PURCHASE OF PLACEMENT WHICH EXCEEDS THE APPROVED NATIONAL CARE HOME RATE

There was submitted Report No 348-2012 by the Director of Social Work seeking approval of funding for additional services required to allow a service user to be discharged from an Assessment Unit and return to a Care Home environment.

The Sub-Committee agreed that funding be provided as detailed in the report.

III PURCHASE OF PLACEMENT WHICH EXCEEDS THE APPROVED NATIONAL CARE HOME RATE

There was submitted Report No 349-2012 by Director of Social Work seeking approval of funding for services required to support a service user at an external residential care unit.

The Sub-Committee agreed that funding be provided as detailed in the report.

The Convener agreed that the undernoted item of business be considered as a matter of urgency in terms of Standing Order No 17(b) in view of the timescales involved.

IV PURCHASE OF PLACEMENT WHICH EXCEEDS THE APPROVED NATIONAL CARE HOME RATE

There was submitted Report No 355-2012 by the Director of Social Work seeking approval of funding for services required to support a service user in an external residential resource.

The Sub-Committee agreed that funding be provided as detailed in the report.

Ken LYNN, Convener.