Agenda item

To enable Members to undertake pre-decision scrutiny of the Local Authority Social Services Annual Report 2020/2021

The Chair welcomed Councillor Graham Hinchey (Cabinet Member for Children & Families), Sarah McGill (Corporate Director & Director of Social Services), and Deborah Driffield (Director of Children’s Services) to the meeting. 

Councillor Hinchey was invited to make a statement during which he outlined the information presented within the Local Authority Social Services Annual Report 2020/2021. 

Members were asked to comment or raise questions on the information received.  Those discussions are summarised as follows:

·       Members debated the decline in wider support services over recent years. Members were advised that recent experience had shown what could be achieved when there was unanimity across organisations about what needed to be done.

·       Members considered there was a need for a greater focus on prevention. Members were advised that early-stage intervention results in a reduced need for high-cost intervention to deal with crises at a later stage.

·       Members were advised that Cardiff Council has provided more early-stage intervention than other local authorities and that other authorities are approaching Cardiff Council for advice.

·       Members sought clarification on how the Council planned to ensure young people remained at the centre of delivering the goals and objectives of the strategy and ensuring effective monitoring. Members were advised that the Mind of My Own app would allow Children’s Services to get the views of children directly. Feedback indicates young people are more comfortable using the app than in face-to-face encounters. The Participation Framework would be at the forefront of making sure children’s voices are heard. Young people are involved in commissioning and youth justice workshops. Resources have been put into Life Story Workers, who work with young people to help them understand their life journey.

RESOLVED:

That the Chairperson writes to the Cabinet Member on behalf of the Committee expressing their comments and observations during the Way Forward.