Agenda item

This report enables the Committee to monitor the performance of the service and question the service area’s progress in meeting its agreed targets.

(a)  Councillor Sue Lent (Cabinet Member, Early Years, Children & Families and Deputy Leader) has been invited to make a statement;

(b)  Tony Young (Director, Social Services) will introduce the report and be available to answer questions;

(c)  Questions from Committee Members.

The Chairperson welcomed Councillor Sue Lent (Cabinet Member, Early Years, Children & Families and Deputy Leader) and Tony Young (Director, Social Services) to the meeting.

Members were advised that the report enabled the Committee to monitor the performance of the service and question the service area’s progress in meeting its agreed targets.

The Chairperson invited questions and comments from Members;

• Members asked if the Quality Assurance Framework would be made permanent and were advised that it would be.

• With reference to the Social Worker vacancies, Members asked how much better the service would be if they were filled.  Officers advised that agency staff are more expensive so if all vacancies were filled the service would be cheaper to run, in addition it would allow for more training and development, succession planning etc.  Members were advised that there had been a very successful recruitment drive recently.

• Members asked for an update on a pool of social workers; Officers advised that they had got the agreement but that there was no pint in progressing it until the permanent vacancies had been filled.  The Cabinet Member added that they were looking at extending the notice period required to help fill vacancies as they arise.

AGREED – That the Chairperson on behalf of the Committee writes to the Cabinet Member conveying the observations of the Committee when discussing the way forward.