Agenda item

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Members referred to two issues that have been raised previously; the retention and recruitment of social workers and the independent foster carers versus local authority foster carers position. 

Members were pleased to see that there had been an increase in the number of foster carers and sought further information and were advised that there had been a lot of work around fostering undertaken, there had also been an increase of fees, there has been a huge publicity campaign and events.  There should be follow up calls within 24 hours.  There is now a better understanding of what is required and the process, there is a need to a great deal of support at all stages.  Bringing foster carers back to the authority, by better understanding, better support and a better package it could save the authority as much as £4.1m – there would then be no overspend.  We want to look at the Scottish model with WG to take the profits out and improve the system.

Members discussed independent care homes, if we can solve the problems of placements in Wales rather than going to Manchester, London – there is great savings, but more importantly the outcomes are also better as well.  The Out of County report raised some issues which are now being considered, but perhaps the terminology should be Closer to Home rather than Out of County.

The Committee offered support to Officers about these issues.  

The Assistant Director referred to the police in Swansea raising concerns about the number of independent homes for children that have been set up there and bringing children in from across the border, it links in with the low cost accommodation in those areas.   If you look at map of wales and where the host authorities are and placement authorities are, it makes no sense.  There needs to be a Welsh Commissioning Plan.  There should be the appropriate level of placements within the South Wales region.

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Members queried whether we compare our position with other authorities in relation to the retention of social work staff, and what best practice can be seen in those authorities.  Members were advised that for the new qualitied and up to 3 years this authority does have a really robust practice, there have been applications from social workers in Scotland because they were impressed with the Welsh offer. There is regular supervision however we do not have a good induction framework but that is currently being reviewed. A business analyst is doing a comparative study of the terms and conditions of neighbouring authorities.  Member were advised that the Interim Assistant Director was not aware of any added value that neighbouring authorities provide which can we learn from.  We have tried to put coaching and mentoring in one of our plans, which is something that happens in England.

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With reference to young carers, Members asked that the development of that policy be shared with the Committee.  It is an area in Cardiff that is underdeveloped, Cardiff does not have an assessment type provision but funding has been secured for that.  There is a carers plan, and young carers are a part of that.  There are carers events planned over the next months and an update can be brought to a future meeting.

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Members referred to some of the performance measures in the delivery plan (Strategic Directorate Priority 2), some of them are very specific and referred to figures provided about children who are looked after and placed with parents.  Members queried why such a low percentage target was set.   Members were advised that placements with parents, children remain with their parents but are subject to a Care Order.  The Judiciary, because they do not have confidence in Social Services to provide support to families because of resource issues, more often make Care Order as a default position to ensure that Social Services remain involved.  149 cases are all classed as looked after but living at home with parents – it should really be cut by 50%.

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Members queried whether it was possible to provide information has to how many IOTAS children are looked after.  The Assistant Director advised that whilst there were no figures to hand it is a theme that emerges when looking at criminal exploitation and knife crime and significant concerns in relation to any of the exploitations.  There is a task and finish group involving the police, ourselves corporately and health which has identified 9 cases where a time line is being done, a lot of them involve knife crime.  Being out of formal education always figures.

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Members referred to the information provided in relation to the strategic vision and queried how we monitor the number children placed out of county who do not receive education placements for a long time, and in relation to the care leavers who have experienced homelessness, how long do they remain in unsupported temporary accommodation.  Members were advised that the information can be provided in due course, but there has been meetings with housing to look at a pathway for 16 – 18 year olds to start with. A lot of care leavers are not coping and are ending up homeless.  A task and finish group has been to review that. Further information can be provided at a later meeting.

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Members discussed the weekly reporting being undertaken by staff and that whilst it helps with balancing workloads it does not always help with stress and the need for staff to do more.  Members were advised there is some concern from staff, they do not always like targets but it is a cultural change.  In terms of measuring personal outcomes there is work to be done, there is a bigger buy in from Social Workers with that.  Good managers will be aware of the needs of their staff, time needs to be spend with them.  A PDP should not be there just for the sake of it.

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Members were advised that information in relation to the number of schools who are able support pupils with sensory impairment which enables them to attend a school of their choice will be provided in due course. However, it was noted that there a number of the High Schools provide very good support, for example the work undertaken with Children who are looked after at St Teilo’s Church in Wales High School.

Members sought clarification on the new approach to ‘place based’ wellbeing and were advised that it is in infancy, and therefore there is not much information about specific outcomes.  We have undertaken a restructure and are going back into locality based working where we will be linking in schools, the health hubs and housing hubs.  The geographical areas that we will go back into are probably East and West and small area in the middle.  It will be about community development looking at anti-poverty, social inclusion.  There will need to be a number of engagement events, and in terms of outcomes we want to see improvements in education, health and into work.

Members queried whether it would also cover issues of self-harm and mental health and were advised that it was part of the bid intermediate care fund which has been opened to Children’s Services for the first time was around therapeutic support and linking will all of those services, for both young people and parents as well.