Issue - meetings

Consideration was given to the report of the Head of Children’s Services.

The Service Manager Children’s Services spoke to the report which outlined the proposal and business case to develop a Blaenau Gwent My Support Team (MyST) instead of the current joint MyST with Monmouthshire. The Service Manager referred to the background of the establishment of the joint MyST and noted the evidence in the report on the work which had been achieved in past 2 years in relation to:-

1.   Numbers of Blaenau Gwent children MyST have supported to move out of residential care.

2.   The numbers of Blaenau Gwent children MyST have prevented going into residential care.

3.   The number of Blaenau Gwent Psychological practice consultations undertaken by MyST

4.   The actual cost savings made by MyST

5.   The cost avoidance as a result of MyST

The Service Manager referred to the actual savings and cost avoidance the MyST had achieved during 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 and noted the anticipated costs for a Blaenau Gwent team based on a forecast provided by Monmouthshire.  The Service Manager further spoke to the report and advised that the establishment of a Blaenau Gwent MyST would continue the positive work achieved and increase capacity within Blaenau Gwent to address the backlog of referrals.

The Committee welcomed the report and Members felt that the savings made as well as the impact on the number of children looked after were positive. The Committee fully supported the report and thanked the officer for an informative overview.

The Committee AGREED that the report be accepted and the positive work MyST have undertaken be acknowledged and support the development of a Blaenau Gwent MyST to the Executive Committee (option 1).