Agenda item

Cabinet Member Ben Callard introduced the report and answered the members’ questions with Richard Jones,Matthew Gatehouse and Cabinet Member Ian Chandler.

·         Members asked about the high number of risks (14 out of 16) being rated as high and whether the mitigations are effective or if they are being overly cautious. They also enquired about unforeseen risks and how they are managed in departmental risk registers. The officer explained that the risk levels are assessed pre-mitigation and that the post-mitigation scores reflect the anticipated impact of the mitigation actions. It was acknowledged that while some risks remain high, the Council is cautious and bases its assessments on evidence and referred to the introduction of Directorate Risk Registers to manage risks at a more detailed level.

·         Members asked if unforeseen and unpredicted risks would now be added to each directorate's risk register and were advised that as much as they can foresee and have evidence for risks, they will be included in the Directorate Risk Registers. Officers emphasised that risk is an ever-changing field, and the Council aims to keep up to date with it.

·         The committee asked about the financial sustainability and service delivery given the persistent financial pressures, overspending in social care, and educational deficits. They enquired about key areas where further action or alternative approaches might be required to close the gap. Officers, in responding, referred to the development of a medium-term financial strategy and a new budget monitoring process as key mitigating actions and also a programme of change looking at how the Council operates in the future.

·         Questions were asked about workforce challenges and retention, particularly in social care and education, and whether there are contingency plans for high-risk roles or sectors if initiatives take longer to yield results. Officers explained the development of a new people strategy focused on recruitment and retention, including a new recruitment portal and website to attract talent and referred to proactive approaches being taken in social care to recruit qualified social workers.

·         Members raised the rising demand and complexity of cases in social care for children and adults, and how the Council is ensuring measures to address potential workforce and provider problems in the medium term. The Cabinet Member for Social Care detailed several initiatives, including a new strategy for children's placements, investment in recruiting foster carers, and a new commissioning strategy for domiciliary care. The challenges of a rising aging demographic and the need for long-term projects to extend healthy life expectancy was discussed.

·         A member asked if children involved in care are always managed to stay in their own area and school, or if they ever have to be moved away and the Cabinet Member for Social Care responded that while the aspiration is to keep children local, it is not always possible due to a lack of placements and foster carers. Each case is assessed independently to determine what is in the best interest of the child, and sometimes it is necessary to move them out of the area.

·         The Chair asked if Welsh Government’s policy commitment to eliminate profit from the care of looked after children resulted in market instability, as suggested in the previous Risk report. The Cabinet Member for Social Care responded that the Welsh Government's policy to eliminate profit from the care of looked-after children is being embedded in the new Health And Social Care bill, which is currently under scrutiny in the Senedd. The Minister for Children & Social Care has provided clarity that the implementation timelines for this policy will be extended to ensure stability in the market. In response to this policy, the Council is taking steps to establish its own in-house children's homes and post-16 supported accommodations to reduce dependency on commercial providers, and is working on recruiting more in-house foster carers by reviewing fees and allowances to make this option more attractive. The situation is being monitored continuously, with no major impacts observed at the moment.

·         The Chair asked how the levels of risk can be lower, e.g. Risk 2 down from 16 to 12, given the Council’s deteriorating financial situation. The Cabinet Member responded that ongoing changes to high-risk services take time to implement. Despite the deteriorating financial situation, the risk level has been reduced from 16 to 12 due to several factors including the autumn budget's positive outlook for public service spending and the ongoing budget recovery and contingency measures. The risk assessment considers both current and future mitigation actions, and the situation is continuously monitored and reviewed.

·         The Chair asked if the Welsh Government’s policy to eliminate profit from the care of looked-after children resulted in market instability, as predicted. The Cabinet Member for Social Care responded that the policy is being embedded in the new Health and Social Care bill, with extended implementation timelines to ensure market stability. The Council is establishing in-house children's homes and post-16 supported accommodations and recruiting more in-house foster carers by reviewing fees and allowances. The situation is continuously monitored with no major impacts observed.

·         The Chair also asked how risk levels can be lower despite the Council’s deteriorating financial situation. The Cabinet Member explained that ongoing changes to high-risk services take time to implement. The risk level has been reduced from 16 to 12 due to factors like the Autumn budget's positive outlook for public service spending and ongoing budget recovery measures. The risk assessment considers current and future mitigation actions, with continuous monitoring and review.

·         The committee questioned the capacity within the Social Care department to realise and undertake the work of reorganising service delivery models while dealing with the day job, asking if it is feasible moving forward or if external support would be needed. The Cabinet Member for Social Care responded that the capacity at the management level to manage change has been squeezed, but they have recruited a new service manager to manage the children's placement program. This has provided additional capacity and freed up the management team within children's services to work on other areas.

·         A member raised the increased risk and sophistication of cyber-attacks from external actors and criminal gangs, particularly in the context of the social care supply chain providers of care, enquiring if the Council is doing enough to ensure that their supply chains are robust against potential cyber-attacks. Officers responded that the Council employs a head of cybersecurity who supports other public bodies in Southeast Wales and that when entering into contractual arrangements with new suppliers, an assessment of their information governance arrangements is part of the process. Members were advised the Council has support and guidance available for suppliers, and they have information governance groups and backup systems to minimise the risk from cyber-attacks.

Chair’s Summary:

The Chair thanked the Cabinet Members and officers for their responses. The report was moved.