Agenda item

Briefing on the Prevention Service together with the Early Help Strategy.

(a)  Councillor Sue Lent (Cabinet Member, Early Years, Children & Families and Deputy Leader) will be in attendance and may wish to make a statement;

(b)  Tony Young (Director of Social Services), Cheryl Chapman (OM for Early Intervention) and Angela Bourge (OM Resources) will introduce the report and be available to answer Members’ questions; and

(c)   Questions from Committee Members.

The Chairperson welcomed Councillor Sue Lent (Cabinet Member, Early Years, Children & Families and Deputy Leader), Tony Young (Director Social Services), Cheryl Chapman (OM for Early Intervention) and Angela Bourge (OM Resources) to the meeting.

The report provided the Committee with a briefing on the progress being made to ensure the Council is prepared to implement the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 around the Prevention Services.

The Committee considered the written presentation and were invited to comment, raise questions or seek clarification on the information received.  Those discussions are summarised as follows:

• Members queried whether there was any available data showing the use of Dewis Cymru directory of services and whether or not the service was being used by the public or organisations.  Officers advised that the information could be provided in due course.

• Members asked about the new eligibility criteria for individual needs and were advised that going forward there will be more a more flexible approach; consideration will be given to a range of services being offered as opposed to a specific care and support plan. 

• Officers were asked whether the act gives the authority scope to commission services and reduced rates and advised that there is nothing to stop that although there would have to be a business case for that.  The focus of the act is to move from provision to prevention to encourage services to stretch the boundaries.  It is about co-producing services. 

• Members queried the evidence upon which a reduction in the number of Looked After Children is based and were advised that it anticipated that there will be a 5% reduction in the figure, although at the present time the figure is higher than it has ever been. 

• The Committee expressed concern about the future of Families First when funding ceases and were advised that the authority has already started a dialogue with the lead providers. Welsh Government want to align anti-poverty initiatives, for example Families First and Flying Start although confirmation is still awaited from the Minister.

• Officers advised that the recommissioning process cannot be started as yet.  The current funding ceases in March 2017 however there is provision to extend by 2 years but there are some financial risks in extending contracts.

• Members were advised that any underspend of the Families First funding had previously been returned to Welsh Government.  Members expressed concern that they had not been made aware of the underspend and queried the reason for its return.

• Members queried as to whether or not the information sharing protocols were operating successfully and whilst being advised that information sharing is a complex issue that certainly with the launch of MASH, based at Cardiff Bay Police Station, information sharing at ground level is working and the protocols are also working.  That is being driven forward by the Project Manager. The MHub also links various databases.

• Members queried whether the Early Help Pathway approach will provide single point of contact.  Officers advised that it relies on agencies working together and can support other professionals, for example offering advice and guidance to a teacher expressing concern about a child or young person at school. 

• Members were advised that the Joint Assessment Family Framework (JAFF) tool is used to help identify families in need of early help.  The engagement in the assessment alone can help the family overcome the difficulty. 

• Members welcomed the Early Help Planning & Assessment Pathway, but felt that some of the wording needs to be clearer and more precise, for example ‘someone should act as the lead worker’ should more clearly set out what needs to happen and by whom.

• The Committee were concerned to know what the position was in relation to Young carers and were advised that historically there was a young carers strategy however, the Early Help Strategy is now inclusive of young carers.  JAFF will help with the identification of young carers.  Young carers do not always want to need Social Worker support.