Venue: Virtual
Contact: Jess Daniel - Democratic Services Officer 07385401877
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APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Minutes: Apologies for absence were received from County Borough Councillors G Stacey, W Owen, R Lewis, W Jones and P Evans. |
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DECLARATION OF INTEREST To receive disclosures of personal interest from Members in accordance with the Code of Conduct
Note:
1. Members are requested to identify the item number and subject matter that their interest relates to and signify the nature of the personal interest: and
2. Where Members withdraw from a meeting as a consequence of the disclosure of a prejudicial interest they must notify the Chairman when they leave. Minutes: In accordance with the Code of Conduct, County Borough Councillor D Parkin declared a personal interest in respect of item 4 ‘Children’s Residential Strategy’. “I am a foster carer with the local authority.” |
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To approve as an accurate record the minutes of the virtual meeting of the Community Services Scrutiny Committee held on the 16th October 2024. Minutes: It was RESOLVED to approve the minutes of the 16th October 2024 as an accurate reflection of the meeting. |
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CONSULTATION LINKS Information is provided in respect of relevant consultations for consideration by the Committee. Minutes: Information is provided in respect of relevant consultations for consideration by the Committee. |
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Children's Residential Strategy An open invitation to Members of the Corporate Parenting Board to join Community Services Scrutiny Committee to scrutinise a report ensuring effective delivery of the Childrens Residential Strategy with a focus on eliminating profit and consideration of other local Authority placements within RCT. Minutes: The Head of Family Support & Accommodation presented the report to Members which provided detail on the progress made regarding implementation of the Council’s Children’s Services Residential Transformation Strategy and the plans for developing services in line with the Council’s duty to provide sufficient accommodation for looked after children in the context of the Welsh Government Policy ambition to remove profit from the provision of care for looked after children.
Members were provided with an overview of the background to the Children’s Services Residential Transformation Strategy, which is part of an evidence based, evaluative system of transformation that incorporates the inter-related priorities as set out in the report.
The Head of Family Support & Accommodation also provided an update on the progress of Health and Social Care (Wales) Bill and removing profit from the care of children looked after. Members were informed that the Bill went through stage 1 of consideration by the Health and Social Care Committee in October 2024, resulting in 26 recommendations, with the key areas of work being outlined in the report.
Members were given an overview of the implementation of the Children’s Services Residential Transformation Strategy with the Head of Family Support & Accommodation detailing that phase 1 was reviewed by the steering group in November 2023 with a report being presented to the Council’s Corporate Parenting Board outlining the progress and plans for phase 2 implementation.
The Officer referenced the current placement commissioning action plan which was finalised in 2023 and Members were informed a full refresh will take place in early 2025 with the benefit of insight from provider consultation.
It was highlighted to Members that the Council is forecasting a continuing need for externally commissioned provision after 31st March 2027 with the Officer pointing Members to the data contained within the report.
The Officer explained to Members that, in the short term, the future shape of residential and foster care provision in Rhondda Cynon Taf will continue to be a mixed economy approach of externally commissioned services from providers with a range of business models, and internal provision to achieve sufficiency. The service area will continue to rebalance and reduce their reliance on externally commissioned ‘for-profit’ services, reviewing sufficiency as Rhondda Cynon Taf foster and residential services develop. However, when there is clearer information about ‘for-profit providers’ future business intentions, the service area will re-consider the next steps in this regard, hence the strategy review in early 2025.
Members were provided with an update on the demand data and were informed that the rate at which children become looked after in Rhondda Cynon Taf has reduced, and that reduction has been sustained1. However, children in Rhondda Cynon Taf continue to need looked after services at a rate that is higher than many populations in Wales. The resources available for preventative services both at early intervention and at the edge of care will need to be kept under on-going review and impacts evaluated as part of the Council’s medium term financial and service planning arrangements.
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Children's Services Workforce strategy update To receive a report providing an update in respect of Children's Services Workforce strategy. Additional documents:
Minutes: The Organisational Change & Transformation Officer presented the report which provided Scrutiny Committee with an outline of Rhondda Cynon Taf’s Children’s Services Workforce Strategy 2021-2024 and progress on its implementation.
The Children’s Services Workforce Strategy 2021-2024 (Appendix 1) sets out the Council’s response to the significant recruitment and retention challenges being faced by the Service.
The Strategy has a clear vision for the service areas workforce:
Rhondda Cynon Taf Children’s Services’ workforce is motivated, engaged and valued; staff have the capacity, skills, competence and confidence to meet the needs of children and families.
A workforce plan has been developed which has focused on the seven themes highlighted in the Healthier Wales: Workforce Strategy for Health and Social Care in Wales 2020-2030. The seven themes are outlined in the report at section 3.3.
The graphs at sections 3.5 and 3.6 shows that between September 2023 and September 2024, there has been a 4.6% reduction in the Children’s Services vacancy rate from 24.7% to 20.1%. Positively, there has also been a 12.3% reduction in the Social Worker vacancy rate during this period from 44% to 31.7%.
Despite some progress, sufficient supply of experienced qualified social workers for court and child protection work, and experienced residential staff continues to be an area of considerable risk for the Council.
Implementation of the Children’s Services Workforce Strategy 2021-2024 is key to addressing the recruitment and retention challenges facing Children’s Services.
Progress which is linked to the seven key themes of the strategy and key areas of work are cross-cutting, impacting on a number of the strategy themes. The progress achieved is outlined in greater detail within the report at point 4.
The Officer provided Members with an overview of the progress across each of the themes below as contained in section 4 of the report.
- Workforce supply and shape - Training and Development - An engaged, motivated and healthy workforce - Attraction and recruitment - Seamless workforce model - Relationships - Collaboration - Trauma Informed
In concluding her presentation, the Officer shared that significant progress has been made towards achieving the vision of the Children’s Services Workforce Strategy; for a workforce that is motivated, engaged and valued, and in sufficient numbers with the right values, knowledge, skills and confidence to meet the needs of the children and families in Rhondda Cynon Taf. But there is still work to be done.
A review and reset of the Strategy is planned in 2025. The review will take forward what has been learnt and further refining the focus and goals.
In questioning Officers, a Member noted the increased numbers of loss of experienced / longer term staff as evidenced in the report and queried what the impact of the loss of experience is on the service area and how this is prepared for. The Director acknowledged the imbalance in the service now with more less experienced staff. The Director added there is great long-term experience through managers. Members were informed that as part of staffs first 3 years ... view the full minutes text for item 24. |
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CHAIR'S REVIEW AND CLOSE Minutes: The Chair thanked all Officers for attending and presenting their reports. There was acknowledgement that Children’s Services is a challenging area and the efforts of all staff within the service was recognised. The Chair thanked Members for engaging with the matters being discussed and for presenting thoughtful and insightful questions. |
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URGENT BUSINESS Minutes: None. |