Agenda item
Families First Programme - Arrangements for Recommissioning
(a) Councilor Graham Hinchey (Cabinet Member for Children and Families) will be in attendance and may wish to make a statement.
(b) Tony Young, Director of Social Services and officers will present the report and be available answer any questions Members may have;
(c) Questions from Committee members;
(d) The way forward for this item will be considered at the end of the meeting
Minutes:
The Chairperson welcomed Councillor Graham Hinchey (Cabinet Member for Children & Families), Tony Young (Director Social Services), Irfan Alam (Assistant Director Children’s Services) Angela Bourge (OM, Strategy Performance and Resources), and Ceri George (Improvement Project Manager – Prevention and Partnerships) to the meeting. Members were provided with a presentation in respect of the new commissioning arrangements:
- Reasons for the Report;
- Current Position;
- New Guidance;
- Review;
- Lessons Learned;
- Team Around the Family;
- Disability Focus;
- Parenting Services;
- Youth Support Services; and
- Draft Timetable.
Members were invited to comment, raise questions or seek clarification on the information received. Those discussions were summarised as follows:
- Members have queried the commitment from Welsh Government (WG) and were advised that WG have confirmed the funding for 2017-18 and that annual contract runs until March 2018.
- WG are only able to confirm funding levels annually however concern was raised that the Council are entering into 4 year contracts worth £5m each year.
- Members expressed concern about the timetable provided and questioned whether it was realistic. Officers advised that it was ambitious but believe that it is realistic.
- Members queried the procedure for ensuring that the public are made fully aware of Families First services and were advised that a Communication Strategy is currently being planned.
- The whole purpose of Families First is to ensure that services for children and young people are improved. It is important for consideration to be given to what families need; it is about working with them and supporting them.
- Members were advised that there is currently a good central team and a much clearer contract management approach.
AGREED – That the Chairperson writes to the Cabinet Member on behalf of the Committee expressing their comments and observations.
Supporting documents:
- Item 6 FF Recommissioning - Draft Cab Rep Cover Report, item 78. PDF 89 KB
- Item 6 App 1 - Fam First Recommissioning Draft Cab Report, item 78. PDF 166 KB
- Item 6 App 1 - App A FS FF Letter dated Feb 2017, item 78. PDF 162 KB
- Item 6 App 1 - App B FF Recommissioning Options Appraisal, item 78. PDF 224 KB
- Item 6 App 1 - App C FF EIA, item 78. PDF 223 KB
- Item 6 FF Recommissioning Presentation to scrutiny 19-07-17, item 78. PDF 2 MB
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