Issue - meetings

[To receive the Annual Report of the Principal Social Worker for 2021-2022 covering adults and children's social work services]

1.     That the work of the Principal Social Worker (PSW) and the continued impact it has on social work practice across Children’s and Adults Services be endorsed.

2.     That the main priorities for the Principal Social Worker identified for 2022-2023 be approved.

Councillors Linda Leach and Beverley Momenabadi jointly presented the Principle Social Worker (PSW) Annual Report 2021-2022 and highlighted salient points.  The report highlighted progress the PSW had made against key priorities for adults and children’s services over the last 12 months and set several priorities for the year ahead. One of the key roles of a PSW was to support the continued improvement of social work practice and the Annual Report showed significant progress had been made in this regard. The Annual Report also demonstrated a continued commitment to excellence in social work through learning and development, with a variety of training and progression opportunities being offered to provide the Council’s social workers with the skills and knowledge to do their jobs effectively. It was also noted that the recent Office for Standards in Education, Children Services and Skills (Ofsted) inspection of Children's Services gave a positive review of local quality assurance arrangements, that are led by the PSW. Councillors Linda Leach and Beverley Momenabadi placed on record their thanks to the PSW and her team for their work during 2021-2022 and welcomed the key priorities set for the year ahead.

Resolved:

1.    That the work of the Principal Social Worker (PSW) and the continued impact it has on social work practice across Children’s and Adults Services be endorsed.

2.    That the main priorities for the Principal Social Worker identified for 2022-2023 be approved.