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MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF SOCIAL SERVICES NORTH WEST HELD ON 13 DECEMBER 2002AT WIGAN INVESTMENT CENTRE, WIGANPresent
Members
Councillor Morris (Chair) Bolton Councillor O’Neill Wigan Councillor Hornby Rochdale Councillor Middleton Tameside Councillor Heffernan Oldham Councillor Dally Sefton Councillor Parry Sefton Councillor Davidson Warrington Councillor Lloyd Trafford Councillor Parker Cumbria Councillor Rennie
Wirral Officers A Marsland Knowsley B Walker Wigan I Davey Rochdale N Dyer St Helens M Cooney Bolton K Smyth Disability Adviser, NW Regional Assbly P Hewitt SSNW P Viggers SSNW L Hollingworth SSNW L Rafferty Co-ordinator Designate, SSNW SSNW 02/25 Apologies for absence were submitted on
behalf of:
Councillors:Councillor Keith, (Knowsley),
Councillor Froggatt (Warrington), County Councillor Mallinson (Cumbria),
Councillor Candler (Stockport), Councillor Holtom (Lancashire), Councillor
Gorton, (Blackburn with Darwen), Councillor Phillips (Liverpool),
Councillor Cheetham (Lancashire), Councillor Langley (Sefton), Councillor
Joynes (Oldham), Councillor Fletcher (St Helens), Councillor Thompson
(Rochdale), Councillor Quayle (Trafford), Councillor Bridson (Wirral),
Councillor McLaughlin (Wirral) Officers:P. Oliver (Lancashire), D Whitehead
(Warrington), D Kerambrum (Blackburn with Darwen), S Lightup (St Helens),
J Daintith (Stockport), M
Siegal (Cumbria) Councillor Morris in his capacity as Chair of SSNW welcomed the representatives from Wirral who were attending the meeting as observers. SSNW 02/26
Minutes RESOLVED That the minutes of the meeting held on 20 September 2002 at Sefton be approved as a correct record and signed by Councillor Morris (Chair). There were no items under matters arising, except those arising later in the agenda. SSNW 02/27 Appointment
of Co-ordinator
The Co-ordinator presented the written
report and introduced Liz Rafferty as the
Co-ordinator Designate of SSNW.
She would replace him starting on 20 January 2003, and he wished
her well in her new post. His
resignation will now take effect from 19 January 2002. Councillor Morris thanked Peter Hewitt
on behalf of the members for the work he had undertaken for SSNW over the
last three years, and wished him well for the future.
On behalf of officers Ian Davey, Director of Social Services,
Rochdale thanked Peter Hewitt for his contribution, and said that they
would miss working with him. Peter Hewitt thanked members and
officers for all their support during his time as Co-ordinator, a role
that he had enjoyed fulfilling, as he felt that real progress had been
made in raising the political profile of social services issues in the
North West. Liz Rafferty
spoke of her eagerness to take up her new post and said that she was
currently Manager of the Merseyside Post Qualifying Training Consortium,
and would in future continue with that organisation for one day a week
only. RESOLVED
1. That the report be noted 2. That Peter Hewitt be thanked for all his efforts and contribution to SSNW 3. That Liz Rafferty be welcomed as the new Co-ordinator of SSNW from 20 January 2003.
SSNW 02/28 Key
Service / Financial Pressures
The Professional
Assistant introduced the report and noted that a letter had been sent to
the Secretary of State for Health registering members’ continued
concerns about financial pressures: a reply had yet to be received.
He also highlighted the Local Government Bill announced in the
Queen’s Speech. The report
was accompanied by a supplementary report following from the recently
announced Provisional Local Government Financial Settlement 2003/04 (the
deadline for responses to the latter proposals being 14 January 2003).
The LGA was reported as welcoming the settlement, but expressed
concern about the number of specific grants and the continued budgetary
pressures.
Councillor Parker
(Cumbria) spoke of the ‘sparsity’ factor in relation to children’s
services, that is the lack of recognition in the new distribution system
of the cost factors of providing services for children living in remote
areas. She asked if
Lancashire could be approached to see if this is an issue for them.
Councillor Heffernan expressed concern about possible cutbacks in
community services by the new mental health Trusts. It was agreed that the
Government’s proposals would require closer analysis and that we will
keep in touch with the ADSS survey of this issue.
RESOLVED:
SSNW 02/29
Delayed Discharges The Professional Assistant introduced
the report and said that a letter has been sent to North West MP’s on
this issue, as the Community Care (Delayed Discharges) Bill was moving
swiftly through Parliament. There
had already been two full days of Committee stage debate on the Bill.
Councillor Morris (Chair) said that the has made clear our support for a
constructive ‘whole systems ‘ approach to reducing delayed transfers
of care. Councillor O’Neill
agreed that the Secretary of State’s decision to seemingly provide money
to social services to enable them to pay fines was bizarre and potentially
costly in bureaucratic terms. He
thought that at the very least pilot schemes were needed and that it would
be tragic if this development had an adverse effect on partnership
working. Councillor Parker
(Cumbria) said that the distances involved exacerbated problems.
The Co-ordinator made it clear that the government is determined to
forge ahead on this matter, but the detail will be critical. RESOLVED
1. That the report and the letter to North West MPs be noted SSNW 02/30
Children’s Services The Professional Assistant highlighted
the success of the Social Services North West Conference “Growing
Expectations” which was held on 20 September.
Around 100 attended including many from Health and Education
organisations, despite strong competition from other children’s services
conferences and seminars that same day.
The report also dealt with the latest regional developments
regarding a proposed Children’s Trust event for authorities in the North
West, and the Government’s proposals for Sure Start.
Anita Marsland, Chief Executive of Health and Social Care for
Knowsley, said that the region is well placed to respond to the
children’s agenda and to take a positive lead.
Eight local authorities in the North West are working together on a
policy initiative and planned on 12 February 2003, to share learning and
best practice. There will be
an ADSS branch meeting on Children’s issues, including the report on the
Climbie tragedy. Anita
Marsland felt that there was a lot of energy and enthusiasm around amongst
senior officers, and that members’ support was much appreciated.
Her work on the Children’s Significant Issues group was focussing
on developing a competency framework for PCT’s, which tend to have a
lack of expertise in dealing with children’s issues and the difficult
nature of the problems that arose. She believed that there was a good opportunity for LA’s to
take the lead in shaping the future of children’s services.
Councillor O’Neill asked theat SSNW be kept informed of
developments.. RESOLVED
1. That the report be noted SSNW 02/31 Working
with the NHS
The Co-ordinator reported on the
recent meeting with the Region’s Strategic Health Authorities, from
which it was clear that they did not at present attach much value to
working closely with SSNW, preferring to develop their own links at
sub-regional level. Nonetheless
we expressed our eagerness to promote quality at the interface between
health and social care, and there was some positive feedback, despite no
common agenda being agreed. He also reported on the response made
to the Government on their Overview and Scrutiny Health Listening
Exercise: we had also pursued with the Strategic Health Authorities the
issue raised by Wirral at the last meeting about the overview and scrutiny
of health services serving more than one local authority.
They were clearly pursuing this in consultation with the
corresponding local authorities. Councillor Keith and the Co-ordinator
continue to be involved with the North West Health Investment Plan: a
draft document was being drawn up soon and they would be involved in
consultations. RESOLVED
1. That the report be noted 2. That further reports be made to the next meeting on the development of the North West Investment Plan, and the issue of NHS scrutiny across local authority boundaries. SSNW 02/32
Disability Issues The Professional Assistant introduced
both the report on Disability issues and Kate Smyth the Disability Advisor
with the North West Regional Assembly (NWRA).
He also highlighted the success of the recent NWRA conference
entitled ‘Committed to Inclusion, Accepting the Challenge, the North
West and Disability’. This
was attended by Maria Eagle MP Minister for Disabled People, who was very
positive about the work on disability issues being done in the Region. Kate Smyth then made a presentation on
the substantial progress that had been made since she last reported to the
Committee two years ago, following the publication of the NWRA’s
‘Committed to Inclusion’ Report.
She informed members of a questionnaire on disability issues would
be sent out to social services and other statutory organisations soon, in
an attempt to gather baseline information about the employment of people
with disabilities and the access problems they face.
Kate Smyth emphasised the need to ensure that disability issues
remain high on the agenda, including that of the StHAs. The Co-ordinator informed the
committee that SSNW is currently working with the Valuing People
Implementation Team, and the North West Training and Development Team, to
develop the Valuing People North West website supporting people with
learning disabilities and their families.
This is to be launched on 27 January at Burnley: members wishing to
attend should contact the office. RESOLVED
1 That the report be noted.
2.
That members thank Kate Smyth for her presentation and continue to
support the work on disability being done by the NWRA.
SSNW 02/33 White Paper Your Region, Your Choice
The Co-ordinator reported on the
publication of the Regional Assemblies (Preparations) Bill on 14 November
2002 dealing with the holding of referendums on regional governance in
England. He emphasised the
view previously stated by SSNW that the establishment of elected Regional
Assemblies should result in the devolution of responsibilities downwards
from the centre. Members
would want to keep track of developments, and Councillor Morris
acknowledged the importance of the issue and asked members to let their
views be known on this matter. RESOLVED
1. That members note the above report2. That its implications be considered when formulating future work programmes. SSNW 02/34
Any Other Business
There were no items under this
heading. Councillor Morris
thanked Wigan for their hospitality and declared the meeting closed. SSNW 02/35
Date of Next Meeting: The next meeting of Social Services North West will be held on Friday 20 March 2002 at Preston, Lancashire Click on these
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