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Social Services Annual Report

Published: 07/09/2021

Flintshire County Council is proud to announce the publication of the latest Annual Report. 

The Council has much to celebrate over the past year including:

• The community approach with third sector partners to deliver a coordinated response to the pandemic locally.
• The establishment of the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) hub by NEWCES, which enabled the distribution of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to over 80 settings across Flintshire.
• The partnership work between Social Services staff and Environmental Health Officers in providing support to social care providers affected by COVID-19.
• The financial support we have been able to facilitate from Welsh Government’s Hardship Fund to social care services.
• The implementation of Micro-care, with 12 Micro-carers delivering services in the county.
• Further developing our actions to support people living with dementia.
• Taking a stand to end all male violence against women by becoming White Ribbon Accredited.
• Recognition of our Learning Disability Services in the Social Care Wales Accolades and shortlisted for the APSE Awards.
• The employment of two graduates, young people with Learning Disabilities from the Project SEARCH programme, in our own services, with others entering in paid employment.
• The implementation of Foster Carer support Model – ‘Mockingbird’.
• The progress made with the extensions at Marleyfield House.

Flintshire’s Chief Executive, Colin Everett, said:

“It says so much about the commitment and dedication of our internal teams, and of our commissioned providers and partners, that we have not only come through such a seismic pandemic but have gone from strength to strength.

“Our social care colleagues have been local heroes over the past year and should have our absolute respect. A glimmer of hope from these darkest times is that social care will finally be given the national recognition, and the funding, it rightly deserves.”  

Flintshire’s Chief Officer for Social Services, Neil Ayling, said:

“We recognise the courage, commitment and resilience of our staff and those in the independent sector and partners, as they continue to improve the health and wellbeing of Flintshire’s residents. This is testament to the hard work and dedication of social care workers.

“The challenges of COVID-19 has not stopped us deliver on our priorities and progress with as much ‘business and usual’ as possible.”

Flintshire’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Social Services, Councillor Christine Jones, said:

“This report really shows how we been able to provide excellent services at a time of such uncertainty and to work flexibly to continue to meet people’s needs throughout the pandemic. We are so proud how all of the staff working in all social care settings have been able to continue to support our most vulnerable residents.”

The draft Annual Report also outlines the improvement priorities identified for 2021/2022, including:

• Contribute to the Regional Population Needs Assessment and Market Stability Report
• Move Micro-care from a pilot programme to part of the ongoing Social Services offer.
• Developing a Strategy and Action Plan to support people living with Dementia and their cares and continue to be recognised as a Council ‘Working Towards Becoming Dementia Friendly’
• Implement the new model of care and support at Arosfa
• Encouraging employees to complete the Welsh Government’s e-learning module “Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Against Women” to achieve 100% completion rate.
• Implement the Liberty Protection Safeguards
• Further develop Project SEARCH
• Developing opportunities for Autistic individuals to access services locally.
• Continue to work to safely reduce the numbers of children in care and improve outcomes for those in care.
• Further roll out of Mockingbird model of Fostering
• Completion of the Extra Care Programme
• Progress in-house residential care expansion schemes
• Launch a short term residential service to inform the most appropriate move-on placement and support package for young people
• Develop the ‘Small Homes’ scheme for children

The Annual report can be viewed on the Council's website.