Wrthi'n llwytho
Y penderfyniadau fel y mae cofnodion y cyngor yn eu cofnodi. Bydd crynodeb mewn iaith glir yn dilyn pan fydd wedi'i ysgrifennu.
RESOLVED that the report be received.
RESOLVED that the report be received.
RESOLVED that the explanation for the non-submission be noted.
An apology for absence was received from Councillor B.A.L. Roberts.
Councillor Minute No (s) Nature of Interest R. Sparks Item 5 - "Active and Healthy Start" - Task and Finish Group Action Plan Personal - Owner of a swimming pool in Carmarthen. Has dispensation to speak but not vote on swimming related matters. There were no declarations of prohibited party whips.
The Chair advised that no public questions had been received.
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
RESOLVED that the report be received.
The Committee considered a report it had requested surrounding the current pressure on domiciliary care and the impact that was having on hospital discharges together with providing an assurance patients were being safely supported to leave hospital, outlining service pressures and how Carmarthenshire County Council was responding to those pressures. This report was the eighth update the Committee had received which included the latest available data captured for Quarters 3 and 4 for 2024/25. The Cabinet Member for Health & Social Services noted that improvement across the board in terms of all 4 key metrics had been made and that commissioned hours had returned close to that seen pre-pandemic. It was noted that there had been an overall growth in the number of hours commissioned for domiciliary care and a trajectory of reduction in hours and people waiting across the community. The position in terms of waits in hospital sites was more of a fluctuating picture, but overall, the position was positive. The Director of Social Services and Housing reported on a recent visit undertaken with home care staff, during which four individuals in receipt of care were visited. He noted being highly impressed by the quality of care provided, highlighting the compassion, patience, and professionalism demonstrated by staff. The level of vulnerability observed among service users was significant, with staff responding sensitively and effectively, even in particularly challenging circumstances. The Committee was advised that staff expressed strong job satisfaction, regardless of length of service, and demonstrated a clear commitment to their roles. He concluded that the positive experience observed reflected the high standards of service and wished to formally note the dedication of staff in delivering care with professionalism, empathy, and resilience. The Chair thanked the Director of Social Services and Housing for the feedback, noting that the comments provided both reassurance and recognition of the valuable work undertaken by staff. The Senior Delivery Manager for Long Term Care – Integrated Services advised that commissioned domiciliary care activity had continued to increase steadily, reflecting improved workforce stability, expanded provider capacity, and investment in reablement and community assessment services. The Committee was informed that both the number of people waiting for care and the total waiting hours had reduced significantly from the peak recorded in late 2022. This improvement was attributed to enhanced recruitment and retention, the integrated multidisciplinary team approach. The in-house domiciliary care service was reported to have grown, now delivering approximately 27–30% of commissioned care hours, with a net increase of 28 staff since April 2025. The service had been rated “Excellent” by CIW and had achieved the Investors in Care Bronze Award. It was also reported that the Council continued to develop a mixed economy of care, with 77 micro-providers operating locally, increasing choice and supporting the use of direct payments. A review of the domiciliary care framework was underway, with recommissioning planned during 2026 and new contracts to commence in January 2027. In financial terms, commissioned hours had increased by approximately 0.8% at a cost of £0.8M; however, overall growth remained below projected demographic pressures, providing assurance in terms of affordability. It was further noted that there were 42 fewer individuals in residential care, demonstrating continued success in supporting people to remain at home. In conclusion, the domiciliary care system was reported to be more responsive and better assured than in previous years, although challenges remained The following questions / issues were raised on the report. • In response to a query regarding the impact of staff inductions, the Director of Social Services and Housing advised that it was not considered to have a significant adverse impact on service delivery. While inductions required a considerable commitment from staff, they were essential to ensure that new staff were appropriately trained and able to commence duties promptly. It was noted that, although there may have been some short-term impact on resources, effective induction processes were necessary to ensure safe and appropriate service delivery. • A question was asked regarding the training and responsibilities of Council-employed carers in administering medication. The Senior Delivery Manager for Long Term Care – Integrated Services noted that carers were trained to give most medications, but not controlled drugs such as morphine, which required administration by district nurses or other authorised professionals. The process included stringent arrangements, detailed record-keeping for each dose, and specific training for different levels of medication management according to service user needs. The Director of Social Services and Housing also highlighted the importance of the role of choice for service users. • The committee discussed the Pathway Care Transformation grant, noting that significant external grant funding had been allocated to the process. The Director of Social Services and Housing confirmed that the grant amounted to £1.8 million per annum and was recurring funding. However, it was highlighted that the grant had not been uplifted to account for inflation, which would result in a year-on-year shortfall. The Committee was informed that the funding would continue for the current year and was expected to remain recurring indefinitely. UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the report be received.
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
RESOLVED that the report be received.
The Committee considered a report it had requested providing an update on the actions of the ‘Active & Healthy Start’ Task and Finish review. Members were reminded that, at its meeting on 5 July 2023, the Health & Social Services Scrutiny Committee had agreed to establish a Task and Finish Group to develop an action plan aimed at reducing childhood obesity in Carmarthenshire, following data indicating that the authority had among the highest levels of overweight children in Wales. The report outlined a series of agreed actions to address this issue, developed within the context of limited additional funding and underpinned by the principles of prevention, collaboration, a person-centred approach, and tackling inequality. For the benefit of Members not involved in the Task and Finish Group, the Head of Healthy Communities and Public Protection advised that approximately one-third of children aged 4–5 in Carmarthenshire were classified as overweight or obese, broadly in line with the Welsh average, but with Carmarthenshire performing marginally worse than other authorities. It was further noted that 55% of these children were likely to become obese during adolescence and 80% in adulthood. Additionally, 87% of pre-school children were assessed as below average in terms of physical literacy. Members were advised that achieving meaningful improvement would require a whole-system, collaborative approach. It was noted that the review had produced seven recommendations and 37 actions, with a strong emphasis on prevention, partnership working, and maximising the use of existing resources. In terms of governance, the Committee noted that the work was linked to the Public Service Board and other key strategic partnerships. The report had also been presented to the Prevention Group, which reports to the Healthy Carmarthenshire Partnership Board, and subsequently to the Public Service Board. A dedicated Children’s Prevention, Health and Well-being Collaboration Group had also been established to bring together relevant practitioners. In relation to the Food Strategy, Members noted the establishment of three sub-groups focusing on Public Health, Public Sector Provision, and the Commercial Food Strategy. A number of questions were raised by Members, to which officers responded. Key matters discussed included: • In relation to the public sector groups, it was asked if the Committee could have sight of their terms of reference. In response, the Head of Healthy Communities & Public Protection confirmed that the terms of reference for the public sector groups were publicly available and could be shared with the Committee. • In reference to the research regarding the three-week intensive school swimming programme, the Senior Sports and Leisure Manager advised that evidence from Sport England and Sport Wales indicated that 26 hours of swimming instruction represented an effective threshold for skill development. This had informed the implementation of a 15-day intensive programme, which also offered operational and cost efficiencies for schools. • In response to a query regarding measurable targets and outcomes and the current budget restrictions in schools, the Head of Healthy Communities & Public Protection confirmed that national long-term indicators and participation data were in place to measure progress. Given funding constraints, the approach focused on maximising existing resources and collaborative contributions. • In response to a concern raised regarding the provision of school meals and the recent trial of a new menu, the Senior Catering Manager advised that a future generation compliant menu compiled by a third party was trialled in 3 schools. It was noted that strong feedback had been received and the menu choices may have been too much change too quickly resulting in the drop of uptake numbers. A revised evolution of the current menu, informed by further consultation with parents and pupils, had been developed and was due to be introduced in the summer term, with scope to incorporate local suppliers as procurement arrangements progressed. • Following a query regarding the data available regarding school activities, the Head of Healthy Communities & Public Protection advised that analysis had not identified consistent patterns explaining reduced activity provision, with multiple contributing factors identified. A live survey was underway, with full findings expected to be reported to the Committee in the autumn • In terms of monitoring, the Committee indicated a preference for receiving six-monthly progress updates, including an executive summary and detailed reporting against individual strategies. UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the report be received.
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
RESOLVED that the explanation for the non-submission be noted.
The Committee received an explanation for the non-submission of the following scrutiny report: • Children and Families’ Services Transformation Programme Update. RESOLVED that the explanation for the non-submission be noted.
UNANAMOUSLY RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on the 19th March, 2026 be signed as a correct record.
Rhaid i gynghorwyr ddweud pan fydd ganddyn nhw gysylltiad personol â rhywbeth sy'n cael ei drafod, fel swydd, eiddo neu aelod o'r teulu. Mae buddiant sy'n rhagfarnu yn ddigon cryf i'r cynghorydd adael yr ystafell fel arfer a pheidio â chymryd rhan.
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