Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 2 July 2012 be agreed as a correct record.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Zakia Zubairi who was substituted for by Councillor Ansuya Sodha.

Apologies for absence were also received from Dr Hillary Brown who had been invited to attend for agenda item 8 (barnet Multi-Agency Safeguarding Adults Board Annual Report 2011/12. 

There were none.

There were none.

The Chairman withdrew this item from the agenda and advised the Committee that the report would be considered at the special meeting taking place on 24 September 2012. 

The Cabinet Member for Adults presented a report on Day Opportunities for Older People – Neighbourhood Model.  

The Committee noted the information within the report including the detail in regards to the consultation that had taken place with the Barnet Provider Group.  Members were informed of the reporting timeline of the Neighbourhood Model report and were advised that this issue would be considered at a meeting of the Cabinet Resources Committee.  Comments and recommendations made by the Committee would be reported to the Cabinet Resources Committee.

The Committee questioned the Cabinet Member for Adults in respect of how the Neighbourhood Model would impact upon individuals and minority groups. The Cabinet Member stated that all organisations would have to work more closely. He outlined the implementation process that would to be established to support the Provider Group. 

In order to deliver the specification, he noted that organisations would have the opportunity to have discussions with the Council.  He advised the Committee that he would continue to meet with the Councils partners including Barnet’s Asian Old Peoples Association.   The Cabinet Member for Adults also highlighted that he will consider how to gain better usage of Council buildings.

RESOLVED that:-

(1)    the Committee request that they be provided with a full list of the names of the organisations that made representations during the consultation

(2)    the Committee note the impact that the Neighbourhood Model might have to individuals and ethnic minority groups 

The Cabinet Member for Adults presented the Barnet Multi-Agency Safeguarding Adults Board Annual Report 2011/12.  He noted the multi-agency partnership developments that sought to promote strong Safeguarding of vulnerable adults across the Borough.

The Committee raised concerns regarding the extent to which organisations received the appropriate training in order to understand Safeguarding and how to deal with issues.   The Cabinet Member advised the Committee that referrals had risen which indicated that the Councils partners were aware of the Safeguarding agenda and their responsibilities.  He stated that the Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee also had a remit to consider Safeguarding issues within the remit of health services.  The Committee noted the membership of the Safeguarding Adults Board. 

The Committee were concerned that they had not received a progress report of the NHS programmes that is in place to ensure that patients are treated with dignity and respect.

RESOLVED that:-

(1)   the Committee request for a progress report that outlines how NHS partners ensure that patients are treated with dignity and respect.

The Independent Chairman of Barnet’s Safeguarding Children’s Board, Tim Beach, presented the Annual Report for 2011/12 to the Committee.  He highlighted the successes detailed in the Ofstead report and the associated Action Plan.  Notwithstanding this,  the Committee were reminded of the challenges facing the Barnet Safeguarding Children’s Board.   Mr Beech noted the importance of the development of the multi-agency safeguarding project which aims to achieve better sharing of resources, expertise and information with a cross organisational hub.

He also highlighted the Youth Shield model which was maintained by CommUNITY Barnet which he noted was a key outcome in delivering borough-wide Safeguarding. 

The Committee placed on record its appreciation of the work of Barnet’s Safeguarding Children’s Board as set out in the Annual Report, but did raise a concern of the absence of the Board’s administrator.   Mr Beech assured the Committee that the role was carried out and stated the importance of the position which is resourced, adding that this was captured within the report in order to stress its importance.

RESOLVED that:-

(1)   the Committee note the work of the Safeguarding Children Board

(2)   the Committee note the progress made and the specific challenges in the forthcoming year, including the financial support

(3)   the Committee note the priority of monitoring progress in relation to the Ofstead Action Plan

(4)   the Committee endorse the objective of safeguarding across the Council with its partners. 

The Cabinet Member for Education, Children and Families presented a report on the Ofsted Inspection of Safeguarding and Looked After Children, and the associated Action Plan that was established to address the recommendations made by the inspectorate.

The Cabinet Member highlighted the Council’s relationship with its partners and highlighted to the Committee the Action Plan that had been developed and was being implemented to improve service delivery. 

The Committee were pleased that the Action Plan had been developed so quickly to promote the Safeguarding of Looked after Children.  The Committee noted the role of Residents Associations which could influence the safeguarding of Looked after Children.

RESOLVED that:-

the Committee note the report and endorse the actions taken by the Council and its partners to address

The Chairman of the Barnet LINk, Gillian Jordan, provided a verbal update of the current position on the work of the Barnet LINk.  She advised the Committee that the LINk would be decommissioned on 31 March 2013 and replaced by HealthWatch.

The Committee were concerned regarding this change and questioned whether HealthWatch would have the same statutory powers to undertake enter and view visits.  Ms Jordan was unclear on this point, but advised the Committee that the LINk had been undertaking site visits and others were planned.

The Committee were concerned that details of visits carried out by the LINk were not reported to the committee or published.   The Committee also stressed concerns that Barnet LINk Annual Report for 2011/12 had not been submitted for consideration.

RESOLVED that:-

(1)   the Committee note the verbal update provided by the Barnet LINk Chairman

(2)   the Committee request to be provided with details of the functions of the HealthWatch

(3)   the Committee request that the Barnet LINk publish details of any enter and view visits they have conducted and report these to a future meeting

(4)   the Committee request that the Barnet LINk Annual Report for 2011/12 be reported to the Committee at the earliest opportunity  

The Assistant Director of Children’s Social Care presented an options paper on Member Visits to Children’s Homes & Young People’s Hostels.  She outlined the option proposed and requested that the Committee to consider their preferred option.

The Committee considered whether the Corporate Parenting Advisory Panel could become responsible for the visits and report the outcomes to the Committee.  However, Members felt that this may impact too greatly on a smaller number of Members.  The Committee commented of the importance of conducting the visits and were sought to ensure that the correct direction of upholding their corporate parenting responsibilities.  

RESOLVED that:-

(1)   the Committee deferred the decision to identify a preferred option to the special meeting taking place on 24 September 2012

(2)   that the Committee request that officers consider additional options and investigate the feasibility of the Corporate Parenting Advisory Panel taking responsibility of ensuring the site visits take place.

The Committee considered the work programme and requested that the following items be added to the Committee’s work programme:

·         A report that identifies the Terms of References of HealthWatch

·         Barnet LINk Annual Report for 2011/12 and details of site visits that have been conducted to date

·         Adult Social Care and Health – Caring for Our Future White Paper; Draft Care and Support Bull; Funding Reform

·         Progress report that outlines how NHS partners ensure how patients are treated with dignity and respect.

The Committee also discussed amending the Carers Support item title to ‘Barnet Carers’.  The Committee also requested that the item titled ‘Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services – Future Education Provision’ incorporate the transformation service from CAMHS to the Adult Social Services Mental Health Services.   

RESOLVED that:-

(1)the items listed above be added to the Safeguarding Overview and Scrutiny Committee Work Programme for 2012/13.

(2)the Scrutiny Office consider amending the change of wording of titles within the Committee Work Programme as outlined above following consultation with the Chairman.

There were no items the Chairman deemed were urgent.