Issue - meetings

Consideration was given to the report of the Corporate Director of Social Services which was presented to highlight key points from quarters 1 and 2 of the Annual Report of the Director of Social Services 2021/2022 (Appendix 1).

The Corporate Director of Social Services introduced the report and the Head of Children’s Services highlighted the main points in relation to Children’s Services and the Head of Adult Services highlighted the main points in relation to Adult Services.

Adult Services

A Member referred to the shortage of carers and enquired if there had been any improvement in recruitment.  The Head of Adult Services said there were lots of initiatives and currently they were working very closely with external and internal providers to look at recruitment and retention.  It was extremely challenging but services were still being maintained and operating as normal as possible within the pandemic.

With regard to qualifications for the posts, if an individual did not have the relevant qualifications the Directorate would work with them to obtain that qualification.  This approach enabled people without the relevant qualifications to apply for the posts and be supported in achieving the required qualifications. 

The Corporate Director of Social Services commented that prior to Christmas they had been able to use some funding for winter pressures to support some domiciliary care and residential care providers and this had helped with retention, but recruitment across Gwent was still minimal.  He felt that the real living wage was a move in the right direction but estimated that a higher hourly payment would make it a more attractive proposition for people to work in that sector.

The Committee AGREED to recommend that the report be accepted and endorse Option 2; namely that the report be accepted as provided.