Agenda and minutes

To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from

Members County Councillors A Williams and J Ewing

Officer Nina Davies (Director of Social Services & Wellbeing).

To receive declarations of interest from Members.

There were no declarations of interest by Members relating to items to be considered at the meeting.

To receive disclosures of prohibited party whips which a Member has been given in relation to the meeting in accordance with Section 78(3) of the Local Government Measure 2011.

(NB:  Members are reminded that, under Section 78, Members having been given a prohibited party whip cannot vote on a matter before the Committee.)

The Committee did not receive any disclosures of prohibited party whips which a Member had been given in relation to the meeting in accordance with Section 78(3) of the Local Government Measure 2011.

To authorise the Chair to sign the minutes of the previous meeting held as follows as a correct record: 20/09/2024

It was agreed that the minutes of the previous meeting held on the 20^th of September 2024 would be brought to the next meeting of the Health & Care Scrutiny Committee.

To note the Corporate Safeguarding Board Activity Report 12 September 2024.

Background:

• The Head of Children’s Services presented the paper which highlighted the discussions held at the last meeting of the Corporate Safeguarding Board in September 2024.
• A recent audit had reviewed the role and functions of the Safeguarding Board. This report would come to the Health & Care Scrutiny Committee once it was available.
• It was noted that the regulatory tracker was on track.
• The Director of Social Services Annual Report was discussed and had been through the Health and Care Scrutiny Committee in August 2024. It was being investigated whether an ‘easy read’ version of this report could be produced for the 2024-25 Annual Report.
• Terms of Reference were being reviewed to ensure that the Board’s purpose and function were held to account. A draft version would go to the Safeguarding Board for approval in December 2024.
• The Regional Safeguarding Board had regional responsibilities for Powys, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire. The Board met regularly, and the Head of Children’s Services and Adults Services for Powys were members of the Board. It looked at cross cutting themes across all local authorities through a regional lens.
• The Board looked at the Child Exploitation Strategy in Powys to understand what it meant for Powys as a whole and what areas within the council could have accountability as part of the wider thinking and learning around Child Exploitation as a whole.
• The Board looked at Community Practice Sessions, outreach events and the development of the Ambassador Programme. Conversations were held regarding learning from the regional safeguarding board back into operational groups.
• Safeguarding in housing:
  • There was an update regarding care leavers and homelessness in Powys.
  • A significant reduction in the number of children in bed and breakfasts had been seen, reducing from 46 households in October 2023 to 26 households on the 9^th of September 2024.
• Safeguarding in Education
  • The Board looked at safeguarding and education with particular attention to elective home education and fixed term exclusions.
  • There was discussion around the importance of safeguarding for learners during exclusions and ensuring that exclusions were not a consequence of safeguarding issues at home.
• CE Strategy and Implementation Plan
  • The Board looked at roles, responsibilities and accountability for different service areas and the Council regarding its strategy and implementation plan. Especially regarding licensing, visibility in community settings, and online learning.
• Learning from CPR and APR
  • Learning was always taken from the Regional Safeguarding Board to the Local Safeguarding Board.
  • Learning opportunities were taken from Child and Adult Practice Reviews, where themes were taken from Practice Review summaries into the organisation.
• Future Board meetings were scheduled for 12^th December and13^th March.
• The Portfolio Holder for a Safer Powys added that the Committee should see the revised terms of reference once presented to the Corporate Safeguarding Board.
• The report reflected the way that corporate safeguarding cut across the whole Council.

To receive and consider a presentation on the Prevention of Falls Work.

Background:

• Item presented by the Head of Adults Services.
• The Falls Prevention work carried out in Powys was a collaborative approach with Powys County Council’s Social Services, Housing Services and Community Equipment Store and Powys Teaching Health Board and the Third Sector.
• Falls were the second leading cause of accidental injury or death worldwide. Each year in Wales 1 in 3 people over the age of 65 would fall and 1 in 2 people over the age of 80 would fall. The demography of Powys meant that this was a significant issue for the Service.
• Routine enquiries and Assistive Technology would go through to the ASSIST team who would ask about falls and organise assistive technology such as careline alarms and falls alarms to prevent long lies on the floor. 361 people were signposted to Falls Service.

• If people were reporting to be at risk, self-referral was encouraged or support to refer would be given by the call handlers to Powys Teaching Health Board’s Fall Service.
• Out of the 720 individuals receiving technology, 361 were provided with technology-enabled care to help manage the risks associated with falls.

Mobility Assessment and Rehabilitation:

• The process of support would begin with a Multifactorial Falls Risk Assessment by Powys Teaching Health Boards Falls Service.

• Tailored interventions were then provided based on the results and necessary referrals to the relevant professionals made. This was a preventative approach which addressed possible causes of falls.

Strength & Balance Training

• Powys Teaching Health Board were currently setting up new specialist training sessions. An example of this would be the ‘Confident Strides’ Group in North Powys.

Home Hazard Adaptations

• Making modifications in the home was essential. Work with the sensory impairment team, housing services and care and repair work collaboratively to understand the needs of the resident to provide small, medium and large adaptations that could improve the accessibility of homes and significantly reduce the risk of falls.
• Examples included the provision of grab rails, ramps, level access showers, lighting on stairs, stair lifts.
• Enabled residents to stay in their homes significantly reduced the risk of lost independence and care costs for the Council.
• According to a report from the UK Government, installing home adaptations could save Councils £4 for every £1 invested.
• Home adaptations allowed quicker hospital discharges and support to domiciliary care providers to provide support in a safe environment.

Community Equipment Provision

• The service worked with the Community Therapy Team, Occupational Therapy Team, Sensory Impairment Team and District Nurses to provide adaptations and reduce falls. All these teams accessed Millbrook; the Community Equipment Store so that mobility aid chair raises, toilet frames, community beds and other equipment was available to meet needs and reduce falls in the community.
• In 2023-24 the Community Equipment Service visited 5,760 individuals in Powys.
• The Service had their own domiciliary care providers and Sensory Impairment Team who worked with older people with visual impairments to improve mobility and reduce falls risk.
• Mobility rehabilitation and encouragement of community participation were also methods for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

To receive updates as necessary regarding the Monthly Performance Reports for Adults and Children’s Services.

Background:

• The Committee planned to review the Monthly Performance Reports in advance of future meetings to prepare questions for officers to be provided at the relevant scrutiny meetings.
• The Committee requested training on reading the reports to help scrutinise.

To note the scrutiny forward work programme.

Background:

• It was requested that the Scrutiny officer provide new member, Cllr A Evans with information and resources regarding scrutiny committee membership.
• Forward Work Plan Meeting to be rescheduled.
• Informal Financial Position meetings to be rescheduled.
• Scrutiny Officer to provide timeline to Chair and Vice-Chair regarding the Q2 Capital Forecast Report.