Agenda item

Consideration was given to the report of the Director of Social Services which was presented to update Members on the work and decisions taken over the last 9 months by the Regional Partnership Board, developed under statutory guidance Part 9 of the Social Services and Wellbeing (Wales) Act 2014 (SSWB Act).

The Director of Social Services spoke to the report and highlighted the main areas that had occupied the Regional Partnership Board:-

•        Coronavirus outbreak across partner agencies and the effect on services.

•        The continuation of the Transformational Offer beyond 2021.

•        The reallocation of underspend for 2019/20.

•        The continuation of the Integrated Care Revenue and Capital Funds.

•        Integrated Winter Plan for 2020/21.

In response to a Member’s question regarding the impact on child and adult mental health services, the Director of Social Services said that it had been difficult to deliver the service in the same way as before the pandemic as there had been less face to face contact.  During the first lockdown there had been an increase in mental health issues for adults and children and he felt that there would be some additional pressures on the system as a result of this.  It was important to continue to deliver the service going forward and to continue to make face to face contact and by other social media means.

A Member referred to the verbal agreement for Transformational funding up to 2022 and enquired what impact next year’s Welsh Assembly elections may have on this funding.  The Director of Social Services said that because of the Welsh Assembly elections next May this had been a transitional period to allow any incoming or existing party to be able to make decisions whether the funding continued going forward. The Directorate had been evaluating programmes to evidence the clear benefits of each and what outcomes they could achieve for families and communities living within the Gwent region.  The Director felt confident that similar funding would continue for the transitional year and this would protect some services.

On a point of clarity the Director of Social Services said that the offer in Gwent related to four areas derived from the priority areas within the Area Plan.  The fifth bullet point on paragraph 2.9 related to the development of workforce planning and organisational development to underpin transformation activity and was to support the four themes.

The Chair enquired regarding the relationship between the Authority and the private sector residential settings and if there was an improved exchange of information with regard to possible Covid-19 outbreaks within those care homes.  The Director of Social Services said that an excellent relationship had developed with the private sector care homes with regular feedback from commissioners, Environmental Health Officers were also in contact with private sector care homes to provide advice and guidance.  Information was gathered regarding staff and residents within care homes and if there were any positive cases an enhanced testing regime was carried out within those care homes.  In relation to supported living and extra care facilities there was also good information sharing, but less so with sheltered accommodation as they did not receive as much support.  If an outbreak was reported in a particular facility support was requested from Public Health Wales for lab technicians from Rodney Parade to carry out testing within that facility.  At the same time Environmental Health Officers would provide guidance regarding what measures needed to be put in place to protect other residents of the facility.

In response to a Member’s question regarding track and trace, the Director of Social Services said that track and trace was particularly important in relation to sheltered accommodation complexes, as they would advise the Authority of an outbreak and testing would be requested from Public Health Wales for that complex to ensure there was no spread of the virus.

The Head of Adult Services said that the service was providing practical support across all its care facilities i.e. sheltered housing, care homes, domiciliary care, and supported living.  The level of daily contact within sheltered housing schemes was lower than care homes, however, additional measures had been put in place.  Social Workers had been ringing residents known to the service to provide additional support in relation to wellbeing and also offer any other support services.  The Officer felt it was important for Members to know that tenants in a sheltered housing scheme were provided with the same level of support as residents of other care facilities. 

The Chair commented that track and trace was essential particularly in relation to people living within non extra care settings who move about freely in the community.

The Committee AGREED to recommend that the report be accepted and endorse Option 1, namely that the decisions of the Regional Partnership Board be supported.