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Minutes
of the Meeting of Social Services North West Held
on 19 September 2003 At
Oldham Civic Centre
Present Members Cllr Keith (Chair)
Knowsley Cllr Gorton
Blackburn with Darwen Cllr Cheetham
Lancashire Cllr Chowings Liverpool Cllr Quinn
Oldham Cllr Hornby
Rochdale Cllr Middleton
(Deputy Chair)
Tameside Cllr Kelly
Wigan Cllr Froggatt
Warrington Cllr Howarth
Bolton Officers P Jones
Blackburn with Darwen P Jones
Bolton A Marsland
Knowsley I Davey
Rochdale B McConnell
Sefton A Higgins
Trafford B Walker
Wigan E Rafferty
Co-ordinator, SSNW P J Viggers
Professional Assistant, SSNW J Kay
Administrator, SSNW SSNW 03/12
Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of: Members: Cllr Quayle
(Trafford), Cllr Lloyd (Trafford), Cllr Holtom ( Lancashire), Cllr D
Easton (Lancashire), Cllr P M Parry (Sefton), Officers: R Jones (Lancashire),
V Jackson (Oldham), A Williams (Salford), C McKinless (Tameside), C Barker
(Sefton), A Williamson (Liverpool), D Whitehead (Warrington), S Sloss
(Blackburn with Darwen), D Kerambrum (Blackburn with Darwen), E Ioannides
(Bury), J Daintith (Stockport) Welcome Councillor Keith
(Chair) welcomed members and officers to Oldham SSNW 03/13
Presentation ‘My Life, My Choice, My Way’
Bev Maybury and Karen
Saville gave a presentation called ‘My Life, My Choice, My Way’.
The presentation focussed on the story of two women, Karen who has
Autism and Kelly who has learning difficulties and their Direct Payment
Plan. Copies of the
presentation will be circulated with the minutes. Cllr Keith thanked those
involved in the presentation. SSNW 03/14
Minutes RESOLVED 14.1.
That the minutes of the meeting held on
20 June at Kendal be amended to show that Cllr Robinson was not in
attendance and that apologies were sent on his behalf.
14.2.
The previous minutes were then approved as a correct record and
signed by Councillor Keith in his capacity as Chair. Matters Arising Cllr J Hornby
(Rochdale) referred to SSNW
03/8 Key Service / Financial Pressure,
and asked had the letters to Ministers been sent. The Professional
Assistant said that communication with Ministers had been postponed,
pending developments regarding the anticipated Green Paper on children’s
issues, the publication of which was considerably delayed. Given that
there had now been further developments, including the green papers’
publication, it was agreed that letters would be sent as soon as
practicable. SSNW 03/15
Green Paper “Every Child Matters” The Professional
Assistant presented the report hailed as the biggest child reform in
children’s services this decade, its aim being to improve outcomes for
all children and their families. The four main areas
that it covers are Early intervention and effective protection,
Supporting parents and careers, Accountability and integration and
Workforce reform. Each
council would be expected to appoint a councillor responsible for
children’s services and a children’s director to bring together
education and social services as well as improving co-ordination with the
NHS and other agencies. During the debate Councillor Froggatt (Warrington)
suggested that not enough regard is taken of cross boundary issues and
structural change doesn’t guarantee improvement therefore it may help to
have co-ordinators. Anita
Marsland commented that the ADSS welcomed the Green Paper in terms of
leadership and raising profiles of children’s services.
Councillor Keith suggested the need of another meeting to discuss
issues of the Green Paper in more depth and to formulate SSNW’s response in time for the 1 December deadline.
Thanks were also given
to the Professional Assistant for preparing the report at short notice. RESOLVED 15.1.
Members noted the report. 15.2.
A further meeting for members to formulate a response to the Green
paper will be held in November. Details will be arranged and circulated.
SSNW 03/16
Children’s Issues The Professional
Assistant introduced the report on the latest developments in children’s
services. According to the
latest Social Services Inspectorates annual report there were significant
variations in performance from one authority to another.
Overall the Region enjoys lower vacancy rates amongst staff than
the rest of the county but there are serious problems of recruitment and
retention regarding children’s services staff.
Anita Marsland commented on the Visioning Day and the Quality
Protects initiative and expressed the hope that SSNW would support it.
A children’s residential directory was produced some time ago by
SSNW staff regarding information about the wide range of residential
resources for children needing care. Care and Health are about to launch
their children’s placements finder which provides comprehensive
information about children’s resources – thus making SSNW Children’s
residential directory redundant. RESOLVED 16.1.
Members agreed that SSNW Children’s directory should be
discontinued. 16.2.
That SSNW supports the
ADSS initiative SSNW 03/17
Tackling Health Inequalities The Professional
Assistant attended the launch in Manchester of the Government’s national
strategy “Tackling Health Inequalities: A Programme for Action”.
The Professional Assistant asked that a draft action plan produced
by Government Office North West to be circulated to members authorities
for a social services perspective on the document. RESOLVED 17.1.
GONW Questionnaire to be
circulated to members SSNW 03/18
Delayed Discharges The Professional
Assistant introduced the report which was for information only. RESOLVED 18.1
That the report be noted. SSNW
03/19
Developing Political Leadership and Scrutiny in Social Care The Co-ordinator
introduced the report which described the principle of developing a
partnership with the IDeA to introduce an added value programme of support
and development for Executive and Scrutiny members. During the debate, it
was clear that members needed more time to consult on and consider the
proposals, it was suggested that time at the forthcoming seminar on the
green paper could be allocated to a more in depth discussion on the
proposals, and that an IDeA representative be invited to attend. Members
were positive in their response to the proposals and Cllr Cheetham
(Lancashire) was keen for Lancashire to be noted as supporting the
proposals. RESOLVED 19.1
That the report be
noted. 19.2
A further report to be
brought to next meeting. 19.3
That discussion on the
proposals take place at the November seminar. SSNW 03/20
Co-ordinators Report The report was
presented by the Co-ordinator about the aims and objectives of Social
Services North West. It was
suggested that this be reconsidered at the next meeting in December. RESOLVED 20.1.
That the report be noted. 20.2.
That a further report be brought to the next meeting in Knowsley SSNW 03/21
Date of next meeting The date of the next
meeting will be held on Friday 12 December 2003 in Knowsley. Councillor Keith
thanked Oldham for their hospitality and everyone for their attendance.
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