Agenda item

Context:

A ‘planned approach’ to Scrutiny Forward Work Programming in order to maximise the effectiveness and added value of scrutiny activity, ensuring focus upon topics of the highest priority for the Council and those which reflect the public interest.

Key Issues:

Work programme discussion meetings have taken place between the new Chair of the Select Committee and the relevant chief officer for social services and topics that have been highlighted as requiring scrutiny are as follows:

Future Commissioning of Adults Services ~ linked to “Turning the World Upside Down”

Budget Pressures within services and spend analysis

Community Development and Well-being

Supporting People Strategy

Welfare ~ Discussion with Monmouthshire Housing Association on current stock and new home development, support for welfare reform

Housing: (suggested September 2017)

         Housing Support Gateway

         Cold Weather Homeless Policy

         Severe Weather Emergency Protocol’

         Removal of the Temporary Accommodation Management Fee

         Homeless Accommodation Report (Future of Private Leasing)

         Local Housing Market Assessment

         Melin Private Leasing Scheme

Gypsy and Traveller Services

Homelessness Prevention Strategy ~ early 2018

Disabled adaptations further to the additional funding for 2017/18

Annual Complaints Report for Social Services

The following items were identified for Joint Scrutiny with Children and Young People’s Select Committee:

“Information, Advice and Assistance Service ~ responsibility of the Social Services and Well-being Act 2014 ~  (January/February 2018)

The implementation of the Social Services and Well-being Act 2014 ~  (October 2017)

Mental Health and Learning Disabilities ~ linked to implications of the DOLS (Deprivation Liberty Safeguards) Grant

Well-being ~ responsibilities of the Social Services and Well-being Act 2014 around connected communities and meeting needs

Implementation of the Social Services and Well-being Act 2014 ~ review post 18 month together with the duties around prisons ~  (March 2018)

Progress of Regional Safeguarding Boards ~ Violence against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (Wales) Act 2015 

Regional Integrated Autism Service

Member Scrutiny:

Select Committee Members commented as follows:

·         Housing is a priority;

·         Removal of the Severn Bridge toll and the consequent forecasted rise of private rents and property prices was raised a priority.  This will be considered by all Select Committees led by Economy and Development.

·         Care at Home was suggested as a topic for scrutiny, in particular, how this is provided and the training received and the turnover of carers.  It was agreed that these issues will be added to the work programme as part of the consideration of Future Commissioning of Adults Services ~ linked to “Turning the World Upside Down” 

·         That as the 65+ population is rapidly growing, loneliness and isolation will be more widespread and there is a need to identify gaps across the county that voluntary groups don’t meet to assess when more care is required.  It was agreed that this will be added to the work programme as part of the discussion on Community Development and Wellbeing.

·         A Member identified five overarching themes affecting Health and Social Care in Wales in terms of models of care, service and quality.  He questioned how best the public sector can harness the experience and capacity of the voluntary and private sector in planning, commissioning and delivery of services and spoke of trying to understand what commissioning arrangements are, and if there will be an alternative delivery model.  The need to understand, in view of the Welsh Government collaboration and integration agenda, how to deliver services with the NHS was highlighted.  Consequently, the importance of Select Committee arranging session with the local health board was emphasised.  Future governance arrangements were raised as to what they would look like in order to deliver the collaboration required under the new legislation.  Regarding workforce, he spoke of the need to understand capacity, demands and needs within the County and to consider how to balance resources and demands for Health and Social Care speaking of the challenges of delivering real change whether this is nationally, regionally or locally.

            The Member referred to delayed hospital transfers, understanding Community Service Delivery and expressed a wish to understand the Health Board’s assessment of service pressures in light of the development of the M4 and the removal of the Severn Bridge tolls.  He mentioned service pressures in the South of the County and observed that some residents of Chepstow were choosing to access services in England. It was commented that the Community Health Council holds significant amounts of relevant information.  Whilst the belief was stated that minutes of CHC meetings are closed and the minutes unavailable, it was agreed to check the current position.