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Last Updated: 22/11/2024 10:34:41
Social Work Services committee (24 October 2013)
Friday, 25 October 2013 09:13
Social Work Services Committee (24 October 2013)
Looked After Children
The Council’s Social Work Services committee received a report on looked after children.
A child becomes ‘looked after’ when they are in the care of their local authority. They may be subject to a statutory order and be supported to remain at home with parents or carers, be placed in foster care, a residential placement, with kinship carers, or looked after away from home on a voluntary basis at the request of their parents.
In future, members of the Social Work Services committee will receive a detailed report that will provide up to date information on the region’s looked after children.
The Social Work Looked After Children Monitoring Group will focus on particular parts of the process, reviewing statistics and providing analysis, which will contribute to the planning and reviewing of services.
The Scottish Government’s getting it right for every child (GIRFEC) initiative places the emphasis on early and effective minimal intervention and requires universal services (health and education) to assess any unmet need at an early stage.
The Children’s Hearing (Scotland) 2011 Act was implemented in June 2013, requiring changes to practice but we are still in a transition period. It is hoped that this Act, along with local practice development and the Children and Young People (Scotland ) Bill, introduced in April 2013, will contribute towards reducing the region’s number of looked after child.
Councillor Andy Ferguson, chairman of the Social Work Services committee, said, “We’re working hard to support all our looked after young people as they progress through education and towards independence in their lives. Some have to rehabilitate into their communities from residential placements and have to face pressures from their peers and families. As responsible corporate parents, we must achieve a balance between making young people feel secure in their placements and proactively preparing them for independent living. We’re keen to assist them into education, training or employment. For example, we’re developing better access to Modern Apprenticeships for care leavers and support with applications and interview preparation. We’re going to collate and monitor statistics so that we can assess our progress on this. ”
LOOKED AFTER CHILDREN - REPORT BY INTERIM CHIEF SOCIAL WORK OFFICER Members are asked to:- (1) note the numbers of looked after children as of 1 August 2013, what type of placements they are in and the plans for regular reporting and monitoring of this situation (outlined at 3.1); and (2) request a further report from Social Work around the development of a looked after children’s strategy which will be cross-cutting over all agencies and which will identify positive outcomes for looked after children.
• Report-Final-LAC (172K/bytes)
• Report-Final-LAC-Appendix 1 (75K/bytes)
• Report-Final-LAC-Appendix 2 (728K/bytes)
• Report-Final-LAC-Appendix 3 (183K/bytes)
• Report-Final-LAC-Appendix 4 (121K/bytes)
• Report-Final-LAC-Appendix 5 (75K/bytes)
• Report-Final-LAC-Appendix 6 (138K/bytes
Social Work Practice Changes
The Social Work Service objective to make prevention and early intervention core business is expected to create outcomes for individuals that reduce the need for significant Social Work interventions. The objective is designed to ensure a commitment to provide effective, early interventions that are short term and less intrusive. This approach is in accordance with the current legislation in respect of children and the policy commitments expected by getting it right for every child (GIRFEC), the Youth Justice whole system approach, and the joint strategy for older people. There is also a body of research that indicates that such interventions can be effective in achieving good outcomes for individuals and can reduce levels of critical need. The putting you first work streams have also created a range of projects that promote community resilience and build on work being done, helping with intervention and preventing dependency on higher level services.
Councillor Ted Thompson, vice chairman of the Social Work Services committee, said, “Over the last few years we have undergone an unprecedented level of change in Social Work Services nationally and locally. The challenges include legislation, policy, finances, and demographics. This administration is committed to protecting the vulnerable in our society and we have to adapt and develop our practices. Multi agency working will help us to do this and means that we can explore personalisation, early intervention, and self-directed support which will give us the best value and outcomes.”
SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE CHANGES - REPORT BY INTERIM CHIEF SOCIAL WORK OFFICER
Members are asked to:- (1) note how the service needs to change its practice and the legal, policy, demographic and financial drivers supporting these shifts (paragraph 4); (2) note the current levels of demand which the new way of working has to respond to (paragraph 4.5); (3) note the activity to date in terms of personalised approaches, early intervention and Self Directed Support (paragraph 4.7.3); (4) agree to a detailed report being provided to Social Work Services Committee, and thereafter to the Policy and Resources Committee, outlining the proposals for the further development of an early intervention model, (paragraph 4.7.2); (5) agree to a detailed report being provided to Social Work Services Committee in February 2014 outlining the implementation plan to deliver the requirements of the Social Care (Self-Directed Support) (Scotland) Act 2013 (paragraph 4.7.3); (6) agree to a report being provided to Social Work Services Committee and thereafter to Policy and Resources Committee for an additional resource being made available to Social Work Services from the Support Fund to create the capacity required to change from a care management approach to an SDS approach (paragraph 4.7.5); (7) agree to a detailed report being provided to Social Work Services Committee outlining the findings and recommendations of the review of Care at Home (paragraph 4.7.7); and (8) agree to a report outlining all of the above recommendations being provided to the Community Health and Social Care Partnership Board (paragraph 4.7.8).
• Report-Final-PracticeChanges (159K/bytes)
• Report-Final-PracticeChanges-Appendix 1 (82K/bytes)
• Report-Final-PracticeChanges-Appendix 2 (148K/bytes)
• Reprot-Final-PracticeChanges-Appendix 3 (67K/bytes)
• Report-Final-PracticeChanges-Appendix 4 (113K/bytes)
• Report-Final-PracticeChanges-Appendix 5 (197K/bytes)
• Report-Final-PracticeChanges-Appendix 6 (633K/bytes)
• Report-Final-PracticeChanges-Appendix 7 (125K/bytes)
Social Work Services: budget monitoring 2013/14 (period to 31 August 2013)
The report provided elected members with an overview of financial performance in the context of budget pressure challenges and policy pressures.
The committee noted that Social Work Services is forecasting an overspend of £205k, which mainly relates to an increase in costs of agency placements in the Children and Families Service. To put this into context, the average cost of one agency placement is £150k a year. So, the need for just one additional agency placement can be significant.
The Social Work Services management team is fully committed to delivering a balanced budget
Sean McGleenan, interim chief social worker, said, “The majority of the social work budget, is spent on actual services to people in vulnerable situations. The challenge in reducing spend is to do it without cutting away real front line assistance that helps people live their lives. It might seem like a contradiction to be pleased about a projected overspend, until you look at the massive difference, in the right direction, in the projections, compared to last year. Bearing in mind what most of the money is spent on, the real services to real people who need them, it is never going to be possible to project exactly, but I think we have shown we can bring the variable parts of the budget into something more manageable.”
SOCIAL WORK SERVICE - BUDGET MONITORING REPORT 2013/14 FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 AUGUST 2013 - REPORT BY INTERIM CHIEF SOCIAL WORK OFFICER Members are asked to: (1) note that Social Work Services is forecasting an overspend of £205k as at end of August 2013 mainly in relation to a forecast increase in costs relating to Agency Placements in the Children and Families Service; (2) note that balancing this budget is dependent on effective management of service demands and achieving £1.1m of identified savings in the year; progress against which is contained in Section 6 of this report; and (3) note that Social Work Services Management team are committed to returning a balanced budget and are actively looking at measures to control expenditure.
• Report-Final-Monitoring (150K/bytes)
• Report-Final-Monitoring-Appendix 1 (711K/bytes)
• Report-Final-Monitoring-Appendix 2 (185K/bytes)
ENDS
Looked After Children
The Council’s Social Work Services committee received a report on looked after children.
A child becomes ‘looked after’ when they are in the care of their local authority. They may be subject to a statutory order and be supported to remain at home with parents or carers, be placed in foster care, a residential placement, with kinship carers, or looked after away from home on a voluntary basis at the request of their parents.
In future, members of the Social Work Services committee will receive a detailed report that will provide up to date information on the region’s looked after children.
The Social Work Looked After Children Monitoring Group will focus on particular parts of the process, reviewing statistics and providing analysis, which will contribute to the planning and reviewing of services.
The Scottish Government’s getting it right for every child (GIRFEC) initiative places the emphasis on early and effective minimal intervention and requires universal services (health and education) to assess any unmet need at an early stage.
The Children’s Hearing (Scotland) 2011 Act was implemented in June 2013, requiring changes to practice but we are still in a transition period. It is hoped that this Act, along with local practice development and the Children and Young People (Scotland ) Bill, introduced in April 2013, will contribute towards reducing the region’s number of looked after child.
Councillor Andy Ferguson, chairman of the Social Work Services committee, said, “We’re working hard to support all our looked after young people as they progress through education and towards independence in their lives. Some have to rehabilitate into their communities from residential placements and have to face pressures from their peers and families. As responsible corporate parents, we must achieve a balance between making young people feel secure in their placements and proactively preparing them for independent living. We’re keen to assist them into education, training or employment. For example, we’re developing better access to Modern Apprenticeships for care leavers and support with applications and interview preparation. We’re going to collate and monitor statistics so that we can assess our progress on this. ”
LOOKED AFTER CHILDREN - REPORT BY INTERIM CHIEF SOCIAL WORK OFFICER Members are asked to:- (1) note the numbers of looked after children as of 1 August 2013, what type of placements they are in and the plans for regular reporting and monitoring of this situation (outlined at 3.1); and (2) request a further report from Social Work around the development of a looked after children’s strategy which will be cross-cutting over all agencies and which will identify positive outcomes for looked after children.
• Report-Final-LAC (172K/bytes)
• Report-Final-LAC-Appendix 1 (75K/bytes)
• Report-Final-LAC-Appendix 2 (728K/bytes)
• Report-Final-LAC-Appendix 3 (183K/bytes)
• Report-Final-LAC-Appendix 4 (121K/bytes)
• Report-Final-LAC-Appendix 5 (75K/bytes)
• Report-Final-LAC-Appendix 6 (138K/bytes
Social Work Practice Changes
The Social Work Service objective to make prevention and early intervention core business is expected to create outcomes for individuals that reduce the need for significant Social Work interventions. The objective is designed to ensure a commitment to provide effective, early interventions that are short term and less intrusive. This approach is in accordance with the current legislation in respect of children and the policy commitments expected by getting it right for every child (GIRFEC), the Youth Justice whole system approach, and the joint strategy for older people. There is also a body of research that indicates that such interventions can be effective in achieving good outcomes for individuals and can reduce levels of critical need. The putting you first work streams have also created a range of projects that promote community resilience and build on work being done, helping with intervention and preventing dependency on higher level services.
Councillor Ted Thompson, vice chairman of the Social Work Services committee, said, “Over the last few years we have undergone an unprecedented level of change in Social Work Services nationally and locally. The challenges include legislation, policy, finances, and demographics. This administration is committed to protecting the vulnerable in our society and we have to adapt and develop our practices. Multi agency working will help us to do this and means that we can explore personalisation, early intervention, and self-directed support which will give us the best value and outcomes.”
SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE CHANGES - REPORT BY INTERIM CHIEF SOCIAL WORK OFFICER
Members are asked to:- (1) note how the service needs to change its practice and the legal, policy, demographic and financial drivers supporting these shifts (paragraph 4); (2) note the current levels of demand which the new way of working has to respond to (paragraph 4.5); (3) note the activity to date in terms of personalised approaches, early intervention and Self Directed Support (paragraph 4.7.3); (4) agree to a detailed report being provided to Social Work Services Committee, and thereafter to the Policy and Resources Committee, outlining the proposals for the further development of an early intervention model, (paragraph 4.7.2); (5) agree to a detailed report being provided to Social Work Services Committee in February 2014 outlining the implementation plan to deliver the requirements of the Social Care (Self-Directed Support) (Scotland) Act 2013 (paragraph 4.7.3); (6) agree to a report being provided to Social Work Services Committee and thereafter to Policy and Resources Committee for an additional resource being made available to Social Work Services from the Support Fund to create the capacity required to change from a care management approach to an SDS approach (paragraph 4.7.5); (7) agree to a detailed report being provided to Social Work Services Committee outlining the findings and recommendations of the review of Care at Home (paragraph 4.7.7); and (8) agree to a report outlining all of the above recommendations being provided to the Community Health and Social Care Partnership Board (paragraph 4.7.8).
• Report-Final-PracticeChanges (159K/bytes)
• Report-Final-PracticeChanges-Appendix 1 (82K/bytes)
• Report-Final-PracticeChanges-Appendix 2 (148K/bytes)
• Reprot-Final-PracticeChanges-Appendix 3 (67K/bytes)
• Report-Final-PracticeChanges-Appendix 4 (113K/bytes)
• Report-Final-PracticeChanges-Appendix 5 (197K/bytes)
• Report-Final-PracticeChanges-Appendix 6 (633K/bytes)
• Report-Final-PracticeChanges-Appendix 7 (125K/bytes)
Social Work Services: budget monitoring 2013/14 (period to 31 August 2013)
The report provided elected members with an overview of financial performance in the context of budget pressure challenges and policy pressures.
The committee noted that Social Work Services is forecasting an overspend of £205k, which mainly relates to an increase in costs of agency placements in the Children and Families Service. To put this into context, the average cost of one agency placement is £150k a year. So, the need for just one additional agency placement can be significant.
The Social Work Services management team is fully committed to delivering a balanced budget
Sean McGleenan, interim chief social worker, said, “The majority of the social work budget, is spent on actual services to people in vulnerable situations. The challenge in reducing spend is to do it without cutting away real front line assistance that helps people live their lives. It might seem like a contradiction to be pleased about a projected overspend, until you look at the massive difference, in the right direction, in the projections, compared to last year. Bearing in mind what most of the money is spent on, the real services to real people who need them, it is never going to be possible to project exactly, but I think we have shown we can bring the variable parts of the budget into something more manageable.”
SOCIAL WORK SERVICE - BUDGET MONITORING REPORT 2013/14 FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 AUGUST 2013 - REPORT BY INTERIM CHIEF SOCIAL WORK OFFICER Members are asked to: (1) note that Social Work Services is forecasting an overspend of £205k as at end of August 2013 mainly in relation to a forecast increase in costs relating to Agency Placements in the Children and Families Service; (2) note that balancing this budget is dependent on effective management of service demands and achieving £1.1m of identified savings in the year; progress against which is contained in Section 6 of this report; and (3) note that Social Work Services Management team are committed to returning a balanced budget and are actively looking at measures to control expenditure.
• Report-Final-Monitoring (150K/bytes)
• Report-Final-Monitoring-Appendix 1 (711K/bytes)
• Report-Final-Monitoring-Appendix 2 (185K/bytes)
ENDS
Page last updated: 20/05/2022
