Loading
The decisions as the council's minutes record them. A plain-language summary follows once it has been written.
AGREED to note the content of the report, and recommend that: a) a report was presented to Cabinet to highlight the improvements made; and b) a follow-up report was presented to the Committee at an appropriate time, once the programme was well established in order to monitor the effectiveness of the programme in terms of the number of patients discharged successfully and the number re-admitted to hospital. The Chair extended her thanks to Linda Jones, Regional Partnership Board Programme Manager for her contribution and attendance.
AGREED to: a) note the contents of the report and the levels of activity in relation to children looked after under the care of the Local Authority; b) recommended that a review of the potential need for dedicated meeting rooms was included in a future report on services provided to looked after children.
AGREED to note the contents of the Forward Work Programme presented subject to the following: · Report outlining the support provided to children looked after. · Review of the potential need for dedicated meeting rooms was included in a future report on services provided to looked after children. · It was noted that an additional meeting would be arranged due to the high number of reports to be considered at future meetings.
Councillors Keith Evans, Ceris Jones & Carl Worrall apologised for their inability to attend the meeting.
There were no disclosures of Personal and Prejudicial Interests (including whipping declarations) from Committee Members.
None.
Decision as recorded
AGREED to note the content of the report, and recommend that: a) a report was presented to Cabinet to highlight the improvements made; and b) a follow-up report was presented to the Committee at an appropriate time, once the programme was well established in order to monitor the effectiveness of the programme in terms of the number of patients discharged successfully and the number re-admitted to hospital. The Chair extended her thanks to Linda Jones, Regional Partnership Board Programme Manager for her contribution and attendance.
Councillor Alun Williams (Cabinet Member for Through Age and Wellbeing) provided an overview of the Audit Wales’ report produced in August 2025 following a review of the West Wales region’s Urgent and Emergency Care: Flow out of Hospital. The Audit focused on the timely discharge of clinically optimised patients and their ongoing needs, in terms of the benefits for patient care and experience as well as the use of NHS resources, examining the effectiveness of arrangements between the health boards and local authorities. It was noted that the three 3 local authorities and Hywel Dda University Health Board worked collaboratively to develop a ‘Management Response form’ which was reported back to the Audit Office on a quarterly basis. The responses were very ‘health’ focused, but areas were included for Local Authorities to manage and support going forward. A full list of the recommendations and actions was included in the appendices. Linda Jones, Regional Partnership Board Programme Manager provided an overview of the updated information received from the Welsh Government since the publication of the Audit Wales report. This included a reduction in the day delays (reduction of 15%) and assessment delays (reduction of 17%) last year against the baseline, which exceeded the national ambition. She explained that there were a few challenges in the system across the region, mainly related to recruitment, capacity, affordability, domiciliary care and residential arrangement and that the recruitment of non-professional care staff was a challenge due to the remuneration. To date, many improvements had been achieved, although they were aware of the ongoing short and long-term issues, including the delays. She explained that a memorandum of understanding had been signed by the local authorities and the health board in terms of working together to reduce hospital delays, and that new regional meetings had been established to identify areas of good practice and issues that could be addressed through collaborative working. A good regional relationship existed between all partners and although the issues varied in each local authority, capacity was a concern for all. She explained that prevention of admissions was as important a factor as ensuring the efficient discharge of patients. Members were provided with the opportunity to ask questions which were answered by Officers and Councillor Alun Williams. The main points raised were as follows: · The trends in terms of demand continued to increase, with an ageing population locally. The aim was to support people with no specific medical needs in the community, rather than in hospitals. · Ceredigion County Council had secured grant funding to employ two Social Workers and a Senior Practitioner based full-time at Bronglais General Hospital and Glangwili General Hospital that would be embedded in the hospital system, attending multi-disciplinary team meetings, creating a whole team approach, and beginning meaningful conversations and managing the expectations of patients and their families from the outset. · Members extended their thanks to all working in the social care sector, adding that staff were the best asset, and that much more could be achieved with additional resources. Cabinet Members were encouraged to continue to lobby the Welsh Government to ensure fairer funding for social care across Wales. · Along with being an ageing workforce and a decreasing population, social care recruitment particularly in unqualified and non-professional care roles continued to be a challenge, partly due to low pay. The local authority had worked collaboratively and continued to do so to attract people to work in the county in social care roles, and to promote the benefits of working in the public sector. It was acknowledged that the local authority paid less than some other local authorities across Wales, but that any changes in pay scales for one service area would have an impact on pay scales for other service areas. There was an aspiration to create a national pay scale for social care employees similar to the NHS and teachers and the newly elected Welsh Government Cabinet Ministers and Deputy ministers were aware of the issues. It was noted that there was no easy solution due to the costs involved. It was AGREED to note the content of the report, and recommend that: a) a report was presented to Cabinet to highlight the improvements made; and b) a follow-up report was presented to the Committee at an appropriate time, once the programme was well established in order to monitor the effectiveness of the programme in terms of the number of patients discharged successfully and the number re-admitted to hospital. The Chair extended her thanks to Linda Jones, Regional Partnership Board Programme Manager for her contribution and attendance.
Decision as recorded
AGREED to: a) note the contents of the report and the levels of activity in relation to children looked after under the care of the Local Authority; b) recommended that a review of the potential need for dedicated meeting rooms was included in a future report on services provided to looked after children.
Councillor Alun Williams (Cabinet Member for Through Age and Wellbeing) explained that the quarterly reports were presented to the Committee as part of an ongoing examination of the topic to ensure the Local Authority fulfilled its duties as the Corporate Parent. The report included national and local standards and targets used to measure outcomes for children looked after and care leavers at the time of their review meeting and included Welsh Government Performance Indicators. Based on the information available and the views expressed during the review meeting, the Independent Safeguarding Reviewing Officers (ISRO) made a professional judgement about the effectiveness of a child/young person’s care plan in meeting their needs and could recommend changes to the care plan. During the review meeting, the ISRO considered whether the child/young person required assistance to identify relevant other people to obtain legal advice/take proceedings on their behalf. This action was not deemed necessary for any children/young people in this quarter. In addition, the ISRO had regard as to whether the child/young person’s human rights were being breached in any way and, if so, could make a referral to CAFCASS Cymru. This action was not required at any of the review meetings in the period. Councillor Alun Williams proceeded to present a Summary of the Key Points noted on page 2 of the report. Members were provided with the opportunity to ask questions which were answered by Officers and Councillor Alun Williams. The main points raised were as follows: · Members recommended that Ceredigion County Council nominated 4-5 designated meeting rooms dotted throughout the county, which were furnished with toys, soft furnishings and tea and coffee facilities, to provide a relaxed space for meetings between Social Services and parents and children, claiming that meetings were currently being held in village halls. Elizabeth Upcott, Corporate Manager: Quality Assurance and Safeguarding confirmed that in terms of looked after children and Safeguarding conference meetings, families were given the option of face-to-face meetings or meetings via Teams. If children wished to be present during the meeting, the service ensured that the meeting was held at a suitable environment, taking into consideration both the needs and the preference of the child. It was noted that most meetings if face to face were held at Penmorfa, Aberaeron in meeting rooms that the teams were able to access. The Corporate Manager: Quality Assurance and Safeguarding advised that safeguarding conferences must be arranged within 15 days of receiving the referral, and if required, to book a suitable room. There were no designated rooms, however flexibility was required in terms of the need and ages of the children, locations, and room sizes. It was suggested that a needs assessment was conducted prior to presenting a recommendation to Cabinet. It was AGREED to: a) note the contents of the report and the levels of activity in relation to children looked after under the care of the Local Authority; b) recommended that a review of the potential need for dedicated meeting rooms was included in a future report on services provided to looked after children.
Decision as recorded
AGREED to note the contents of the Forward Work Programme presented subject to the following: · Report outlining the support provided to children looked after. · Review of the potential need for dedicated meeting rooms was included in a future report on services provided to looked after children. · It was noted that an additional meeting would be arranged due to the high number of reports to be considered at future meetings.
It was AGREED to note the contents of the Forward Work Programme presented subject to the following: · Report outlining the support provided to children looked after. · Review of the potential need for dedicated meeting rooms was included in a future report on services provided to looked after children. · It was noted that an additional meeting would be arranged due to the high number of reports to be considered at future meetings.
It was AGREED to confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 17 March 2026 and 19 March 2026. Matters arising: None.
Councillors must say when they have a personal link to something being discussed, such as a job, a property or a family member. A prejudicial interest is one strong enough that the councillor usually leaves the room and takes no part.
Declarations are read from the minutes once they are published.
Lists the council's current councillors only. Co-opted members, officers and former councillors aren't shown.