Present at meeting

At a MEETING of the SOCIAL WORK COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 21st August, 2000.

Present:-

COUNCILLORS

Councillor WARD, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 19th June, 2000 was submitted and approved as a correct record.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I STRATHMARTINE HOSPITAL RESETTLEMENT PLAN - REVISED JOINT COMMISSIONING PROTOCOL

I STRATHMARTINE HOSPITAL RESETTLEMENT PLAN - REVISED JOINT COMMISSIONING PROTOCOL

There was submitted Report No 421-2000 by the Director of Social Work giving details of an agreed Tayside wide protocol for the resettlement of individuals with learning difficulties from Strathmartine Hospital and requesting approval for the resettlement.

Following consideration, the Committee:-

(i) noted and approved the contents of the joint commissioning protocol as detailed in Appendix A to Report 421-2000; and,

(ii) instructed the Director of Social Work to continue to meet the resettlement needs of the remaining Strathmartine patients through this joint commissioning protocol and consortium approach.

II ADULTS WITH INCAPACITY (SCOTLAND) ACT 2000

II ADULTS WITH INCAPACITY (SCOTLAND) ACT 2000

There was submitted Report No 524-2000 by the Director of Social Work detailing the main provisions resulting from the introduction of the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000, which would be implemented over the next two years.

The Committee noted the contents of the report and that at present there were no financial implications to report but further reports relating to finance would be brought to the Committee in due course.

III THE SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE'S NATIONAL REVIEW OF SERVICES FOR PEOPLE WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES IN SCOTLAND - "THE SAME AS YOU"

III THE SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE'S NATIONAL REVIEW OF SERVICES FOR PEOPLE WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES IN SCOTLAND - "THE SAME AS YOU"

There was submitted Report No 525-2000 by the Director of Social Work advising the Committee of the findings of the National Review of Services for People with Learning Disabilities in Scotland which represented the first in-depth analysis of services for people with learning disabilities in Scotland in over twenty years and formed an important part of the government plans to improve community care in Scotland. Report No 525-2000 also summarised the main findings, and their implications for Dundee City Council.

The Committee:-

(i) noted and approved the main responses to the recommendations as detailed in the report;

(ii) noted that joint planning consultation processes had been put in place to ensure that practical proposals could be developed in Dundee in response to the contents of the review; and

(iii) instructed the Director of Social Work to consult with health partners to prepare a strategic response to the review.

IV CONTRACT AND SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENT REVIEWS - BODY POSITIVE TAYSIDE AND POSITIVE STEPS PARTNERSHIP

IV CONTRACT AND SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENT REVIEWS - BODY POSITIVE TAYSIDE AND POSITIVE STEPS PARTNERSHIP

With reference to Article II of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 20th March 2000, there was submitted Report No 522-2000 detailing the outcomes of the contract and service level agreement reviews for the Body Positive Organisation and Positive Steps Partnership.

The Committee noted the outcome of the reviews and that Dundee City Council had agreed to contribute 34,619 to Body Positive in the financial year 2000-2001.

V CHILDREN'S PANEL NATIONAL SCHOOL

V CHILDREN'S PANEL NATIONAL SCHOOL

It was reported the annual conference for members of the Children's Panel would be held in Aviemore from 17th to 19th November 2000.

The Committee approved the attendance of five Children's Panel members at the Conference at a cost excluding travelling subsistence of 242 per delegate.

VI CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES - GROUP WORK PROPOSAL FOR OFFENDERS

VI CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES - GROUP WORK PROPOSAL FOR OFFENDERS

There was submitted Joint Report No 457-2000 by the Director of Social Work and the Director of Personnel and Management Services advising members of a new community based group work development in Criminal Justice Services in Dundee and proposing that the NCH Action for Children and the Criminal Justice Social Work Service combine to form a team with responsibility for the delivery of a wide range of group based programmes to offenders.

It was further reported the NCH were already in partnership with Dundee City Council in the provision of an alternative to custody scheme for young offenders and that this new development would build on the success of their existing project to provide a single integrated service to all offenders, irrespective of age, who are the subject of community based court or parole orders.

Following consideration, the Committee noted and approved for its interest the development proposals contained in the report.

VII ESTABLISHING A RESIDENTIAL RESPITE UNIT FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES AT GILLBURN ROAD, DUNDEE

VII ESTABLISHING A RESIDENTIAL RESPITE UNIT FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES AT GILLBURN ROAD, DUNDEE

With reference to Article II of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 19th April 1999, there was submitted Joint Report No 458-2000 by the Director of Social Work and the Director of Personnel and Management Services detailing the progress of the residential respite facility at Gillburn Road.

Following consideration, the Committee noted the planned Service Development at Gillburn Road, Dundee.

VIII BLACKSHADE CHILD AND FAMILY CENTRE

VIII BLACKSHADE CHILD AND FAMILY CENTRE

The Committee agreed to declare the Blackshade Child and Family Centre building surplus to requirements and remitted to the Director of Economic Development to consider future use or disposal of the property.

IX YOUTH CRIME REVIEW

IX YOUTH CRIME REVIEW

There was submitted Report No 523-2000 by the Director of Social Work advising that the Scottish Executive had indicated that additional resources were to be made available to local authorities to combat youth crime and seeking the Committee's approval to accept the finance. The Report further outlined the community based alternatives which were in place presently and were being developed in Dundee.

The Committee:-

(i) noted and approved the contents of the report,

(ii) instructed the Director of Social Work to write to the Scottish Executive confirming Dundee City Council's wish to take up the allocation of additional resources; and

(iii) agreed that detailed proposals for the use of these monies be developed in consultation with all the agencies represented on the young offender group and instructed the Director of Social Work to report back to the Committee thereon.

X CRAIGIE HOUSE RESIDENTIAL HOME FOR THE ELDERLY - REFURBISHMENT - SELECTION OF PARTNERSHIP CONTRACTOR

X CRAIGIE HOUSE RESIDENTIAL HOME FOR THE ELDERLY - REFURBISHMENT - SELECTION OF PARTNERSHIP CONTRACTOR

There was submitted Report No 493-2000 by the City Architectural Services Officer detailing the assessment procedure for partnership contracting.

The Committee approved acceptance of Hall & Tawse Ltd as the partnership contractor.

The Committee resolved under Section 50(A) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 that the public and press be excluded during consideration of the undernoted items on the grounds that they involved the likely disclosure of information which was exempt in terms of paragraph 6 of Schedule 7(A) to the Act.

XI REVENUE GRANT TO VOLUNTARY ORGANISATION

XI REVENUE GRANT TO VOLUNTARY ORGANISATION

The Committee agreed that the Chief Executive, Director of Finance, in consultation with the Social Work Convener, and the spokespersons of the Majority and Minority Groups be authorised to advance the remainder of the 2000-2001 grant to the organisation later in the year.

XII REGISTRATION OF RESIDENTIAL AND OTHER ESTABLISHMENTS

XII REGISTRATION OF RESIDENTIAL AND OTHER ESTABLISHMENTS

There was submitted Report No 478-2000 by the Director of Support Services detailing a request for cancellation of a Certificate of Registration for a residential establishment.

The Committee agreed that the registration for Dundee Survival Group in respect of Dundee Survival Group Rehabilitation Centre, 104-110 Lochee Road, Dundee be cancelled as the premises were being closed.

BETTY WARD, Convener.