Decision Maker: County Council
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Is Key decision?: No
Is subject to call in?: No
The Director of Social Services presented the report for 2017/18 noting that she had not been Director during this time and acknowledging the contributions of her predecessors. The report recognised that it had been a very challenging year for social services but also noted that thanks to the hard work of staff, corporate colleagues, partner organisations and political support some significant improvements were beginning to be delivered. The report also set out the priorities for 2018/19. The Director advised that her next report would be co-designed with service users and partner organisations.
The Director answered questions from Members. She acknowledged that more needed to be done to support looked after children and that the recruitment and retention of staff was a major challenge as highlighted in the Corporate Risk Register. The Chair of the Audit Committee offered to work with the Director on addressing this. She advised that she was having regular meetings with front line staff and getting useful feedback from them. She also advised that the service was developing a signs of safety model designed to prevent children becoming looked after. Members were also advised that a paper would be coming to Cabinet on Council Tax relief for care leavers.
RESOLVED |
Reason for decision |
That the Director of Social Services Annual Report be received. |
Statutory requirement. |
Publication date: 11/10/2018
Date of decision: 12/07/2018
Decided at meeting: 12/07/2018 - County Council
Accompanying Documents: