1. Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council Social Services CSSIW Performance Evaluation Report 2014–15

2. Background Sets out the key areas of progress, good practice and areas where development and improvement is required. Findings based on: –Performance indicators –Director’s & Heads of Service reports –Key council publications & information from scrutiny reports/minutes. –Inspection and site visits findings –Findings from regulatory inspections –Engagement with senior officers –Information from other inspectorates

3. Summary of findings Continued progress with development of the social services department in 2014-15. This has built on the previous year’s foundations and reflects the principles set out in the Social Services and Wellbeing (Wales) Act 2014. In children’s services this included continuity from the previously restructured services. The council maintained good performance from the previous year. Restructuring of adult services took place during 2014- 15 in line with children’s services, to provide a locality based approach to support and advice.

4. Summary of findings The council worked closely with regulators and support team to secure improvements in relation to corporate governance -resulting in significant progress. The annual report of the director of social services provides a comprehensive picture of the current status of social services in Blaenau Gwent. The director has considered and outlined arrangements to support the provision of services in the medium of Welsh or other language of need.

5. Response to last years areas of improvement Progress in relation to identifying projected needs for learning disability services Quarterly reporting and monitoring of delayed transfers of care is in place Development of an action plan to measure progress of the eight priorities set out in the procurement strategy Appointment of a carers support officer to drive forward services for carers in September 2014. Strengthening care planning in adult services with a move to an outcomes based approach

6. Progress in arrangements to monitor outcomes for children (corporate parenting group) Monitor caseloads to ensure that staff numbers and skills reflect people’s needs Some progress in relation to actions resulting from the review of the adult safeguarding board Partial achievement in implementing a performance framework which contributes to the ongoing development and planning of service provision Response to last years areas of improvement

7. Adult Services Continued development of services and supporting structures in line with local strategies and national legislation Improved performance in reviews Increased support within the community indicating success of independence strategies Increased areas of collaboration with partners Decreased delayed transfers of care Safeguarding - decreased numbers of cases where risk is managed

8. Areas of progress Continued progression with strategies to support independence and prevention Moving forward the Gwent-wide strategy for mental health and learning disability Progression with collaboration/integration with health partners

9. Areas for improvement The council should consider working with health partners to establish a pathway for the future development of integration Continued monitoring of quality and outcomes within the adult safeguarding team

10. Children’s Services Single point of referral and links with preventative services Continued the previous years strong performance Decrease in the number of children seen by a social worker (63% in 2013-14 to 58% 2014-15) Regional safeguarding arrangements established. Strong performance in initial child protection conferences but decrease in achievement in core group meeting and reviews within statutory timescales Timescales for child protection reviews were below comparable authorities, and the national average and the council should monitor this in order to maintain previous performance

11. Children’s services Continued progress to drive forward early intervention and preventative services The council maintained good performance in relation to its support for looked after children. Numbers of looked after children have remained at similar levels for the last six years.

12. Children’s services Consistent performance maintained in terms of longer term planning and support for looked after children. Dip in educational achievement at Key Stages 2 and 3 with achievement of core subject indicators falling from 50% to 33% and 37% respectively. This represents a small number of children. Continued exploration of methods to recruit foster carers. Hosting regional adoption service.

13. Areas of progress Move to a regional adoption service Successful recruitment and support for foster carers Areas for improvement Timescales for child protection reviews were below comparable authorities and the national average, and the council should interrogate contributory factors to this Explore and monitor educational achievement for looked after children

14. Leadership, governance and direction Stability in the senior management team and continued development of structures to support the change agenda. Achievement of savings targets within social services. Potential impact of corporate change on workforce. Structures for performance monitoring have been developed and are now part of corporate governance arrangements. Continued development of scrutiny arrangements. Proactive working with partners.

15. Areas of progress Progressing the regional mental health and learning disability strategy Development of a structure for performance monitoring. Areas for improvement The council should monitor workloads to identify workload pressures and gaps in resources.