AT A MEETING of the SOCIAL CARE POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE of the COUNTY COUNCIL held at The Castle, Winchester on Friday, 17 September 2004

PRESENT

Councillors: Mrs. P.G. Banks (Chairman); Jenny Wride (Vice-Chairman); Mrs. P. Dickens;

A.G. Dowden; Mrs. J.K. Frankum; Mrs. P.G.E. Holden-Brown; Mrs. C.A. Leversha;

A.R. Ludlow; Mrs. P.G. Peskett; Mrs. E.M.F. Randall; Mrs. M.D. Snaith.

Also in attendance Councillor Felicity Hindson MBE, Executive Member - Social Care

179 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Members were mindful that where they believed they had a personal or personal prejudicial interest in any matter to be considered at the meeting, they should, normally at the time of the debate, declare their interest and, having regard to the circumstances described in paragraphs 9, 10, 11 and 12 of the County Council's Code of Conduct, consider whether to leave the meeting whilst the matter is discussed.

Councillor Mrs. Snaith declared a personal interest in item 12 in that her daughter is an occupational therapist and previously worked for Hampshire Social Services.

Councillor Mrs Dickens declared a personal interest in item 12 in that she is employed by the NHS.

Councillor Mrs. Holden-Brown declared a personal interest in item 14 in that she is a board member of Options.

180 MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 9 July 2004 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Arising thereon:

(a) Minute No. 171 The Children Bill

The Chairman reported that a member of the CAT team had been appointed to the Children Services Board.

181 CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS

(a) Policy and Resources Policy Review Committee

The Chairman reported that the Policy and Resources Policy Review Committee was to scrutinise children's services and that a small working group of Members was to carry out the work in select Committee style.


(b) Kinship Care

The Chairman reported that Mike Doolan was to give a presentation on kinship care to all Members of the County Council on 9 November 2004.

182 MEMBERS' QUESTIONS

There were no Members' questions to this meeting.

183 DEPUTATIONS

There were no deputations to this meeting.

184 HAMPSHIRE TEENAGE PREGNANCY PARTNERSHIP - 2003/04 PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT

The Director of Social Services presented a report on the performance assessment given for each area of the Partnership's work (item 6 in the Minute Book). Under the National Teenage Pregnancy Strategy each top-tier local authority was required to establish a local multi-agency partnership and local strategy in order to meet the twin goals of reducing teenage pregnancy and supporting young mothers back into education, employment and training. The performance of each partnership was assessed annually by a regional panel on behalf of the National Teenage Pregnancy Unit. Hampshire achieved a good overall performance in 2003-04 and was commended for a good forward action plan.

RESOLVED:

That:-

(a) The report be received and the progress achieved be noted.


(b) The achievements of Hampshire Teenage Pregnancy Partnership be commended as a positive exampled of partnership working in Hampshire.

185 SOCIAL SERVICES/RECREATION AND HERITAGE JOINT WORKING

The Director of Recreation and Heritage presented a report on the joint working between the two departments demonstrating how the corporate aim can be supported with regard to improving the quality of life, health, independence of personal development of people in Hampshire, particularly the more vulnerable groups of adults and children; young people; children looked after and the elderly. (Item 7 in the Minute Book). A video presentation of "The Event 3" at Calshot Activities Centre in December 2003 was shown to Members.

RESOLVED:

That the report be received and the joint working between Social Services and Recreation and Heritage be noted, supported and highly commended.

186 HAMPSHIRE FOSTERING SERVICE - ANNUAL REPORT AND STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

The Director of Social Services presented the Statement of Purpose and Annual Report for Hampshire Fostering Service (Item 8 in the Minute Book). He highlighted key matters relating to the performance and development of foster care service and gave details of the recent statutory inspection and an overall review on a range of important aspects of family placements overall.

RESOLVED:

That:-

(a) The conclusions of the Annual Inspection, the Action Plan and progress made in fostering services overall in Hampshire be noted.


(b) The Executive Member for Social Care be RECOMMENDED to approve the Statement of Purpose.


(c) The outline proposals for improvements to the Hampshire Foster Care Service be supported.

187 HAMPSHIRE ADOPTION SERVICE - ANNUAL REPORT AND STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

The Director of Social Services presented the Statement of Purpose and Annual Report for Hampshire Adoption Service (Item 9 in the Minute Book). He gave details of the level of service demands and adoption activity between 1 April 2003 and 31 March 2004.

RESOLVED:

That:-

(a) The annual report be received and noted.


(b) The Executive Member for Social Care be RECOMMENDED to approve the Statement of Purpose.


(c) The members of the Adoption Panels be thanked for their services.

188 USE OF MENTAL HEALTH ACT 1983 - 2003/04

The Director of Social Services presented a report summarising the work undertaken by Approved Social Workers in relation to assessments under the Mental Health Act 1983 (Item 10 in the Minute Book). He gave details of the action plan which was devised to address issues of training and development for Approved Social Workers and to develop a forum in which issues relating to the interface between Approved Social Workers and the Ambulance and Police services could be discussed and the progress made on the action plan.

RESOLVED:

That:-

(a) The activity information regarding Approved Social Workers and steps taken to strengthen recruitment and retention be noted.


(b) The number of new Guardianship Orders accepted by the County Council since 1 January 2002 and the number of orders that continue to support clients in the community as of 31 March 2004 be noted.


(c) The action plan in response to the Mental Health Commission visit in March 2003 and the progress made in addressing the Commission's recommendations be noted.


(d) The progress made by the County Council in response to its duties under the Mental Health Act 1983 be noted.

189 SUPPORTED HOUSING COMMISSIONING PLAN

The Director of Social Services presented a report of the Supported Housing Commissioning Plan which concentrated on improving access to all types of housing in particular social housing and an improving performance against all housing-related performance indicators (item 11 in the Minute Book).

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted and the Executive Member for Social Care be RECOMMENDED to approve the Supported Housing Commissioning Plan.

190 OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY SERVICES

The Director of Social Services presented a report on the developments that had taken place during the past two years in the Occupational Therapy Service and giving details of the current plans to review the service (Item 12 in the Minute Book). He gave details of the OT Direct Service which had been developed following investigation and researching with other local authorities and analysing how referrals were being processed within Hampshire. He highlighted the national context and the disparity in pay, benefits and post qualification opportunities between Occupational Therapists working for the County Council and those working for the NHS.

RESOLVED:

That:-

(a) The achievements made to the service since the introduction of the OT Direct be noted.


(b) It be a RECOMMENDATION to the Cabinet to carry out a feasibility study to address the disparity of Occupational Therapy pay between the County Council and the NHS.


(c) A further report on Occupational Therapy Service be presented to the Committee in six months time following the completion of the review of the service.

191 CONSULTATION AND INVOLVEMENT STRATEGY

The Director of Social Services presented a report presenting the draft consultation document "Completing Life Circle" (Item 13 in the Minute Book). He gave details of the proposed consultation process which was to be undertaken in partnership with users and carers. Members were invited to let the Director have any comments they may have on the strategy.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted and any comments Members had on the Strategy be sent to the Director of Social Services as soon as possible.

192 THE ALCOHOL HARM REDUCTION STRATEGY FOR ENGLAND

The Director of Social Services presented a report on the Government's Alcohol Harm Strategy describing the position of alcohol services in Hampshire in relation to the National Strategy (Item 14 in the Minute Book). Members were concerned at proposals for the Drug Action Team to deal with the Alcohol Strategy in Hampshire and resourcing of the Strategy. They were advised that the Drug Action Team already dealt with alcohol issues, already had responsibility for alcohol and young people and key players in place to deal with the alcohol strategy.

RESOLVED:

That:-

(a) The Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy for England be welcomed.


(b) Concerns regarding funding of the implementations of the Strategy be noted and the Chairman writes to the Minister requesting information on funding.


(c) Endorsement be given to the Drug Action Team becoming the responsible body for the implementation of the Strategy.


(d) Local Strategic Partnerships be made aware of the Strategy.

193 MEMBERS' ATTENDANCE AT CONFERENCES

Councillor Jerry Wride gave details of the Councillors and Trustees seminar she had attended on 20/21 July at Market Bosworth entitled "Foster Care - Building the Best".

194 THE COMMITTEE'S WORK PROGRAMME

The Director of Social Services presented the Committee's forthcoming work programme (Item 16 in the Minute Book).

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

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