Agenda item

Jade Caccavone, Directorate Business Manager Adult Social Care, and Alison Petters, Risk Manager Strategic and Corporate Services, were in attendance for this item. 

1. Jade Caccavone introduced the report. Ms Caccavone gave an overview of the annual update of the strategic risks across the Adult Social Care and Health directorate and the Council's Corporate Risk register. Further details were provided on the risk categories regarding the workforce and the financial position of the directorate.  

2. Jade Caccavone, Alison Petters, Richard Smith and Jim Beale then responded to comments and questions from the committee, including the following. 

(a) In response to a question about what mitigations were in place to ensure the retention of Adult Social Care Staff. It was confirmed that this was an issue occurring nationally. It was noted there would be a focus on support networks, retention packages and providing on-the-job support and supervision to help mitigate the risk they may face and establish a collaborative working culture. The new locality model, beginning April 2023, would allow for more community-level working. It was said that this presented a highly challenging issue.      

(b) In response to a question about the risk of cyber-attacks. It was noted that risk was held on the corporate risk regarding cyber and information security and mitigations were in place to reduce the risk to desired levels. Further mitigations were put in place following the pandemic when workers transitioned to working from home on laptops.

(c) In response to a question asking for more details on where within Kent the pressure to recruit social workers most or least felt. It was noted that several areas for different reasons had greater difficulties to recruit social workers. For instance, south Kent had difficulties due to the nature of the area and West Kent faced pressure from competition with London Boroughs. Further details of this could be added to the live risk register.   

(d) It was asked if further details could be provided on risk AH0005 continued pressures on public sector funding impacting on revenue and saving efficiencies. It was suggested this was too broad a category. It was confirmed that this would be looked at.   

(e) In response to a question asking if there were any innovative or different approaches being done to support the recruitment and retention of Social Care staff. It was confirmed that there would be a much greater focus on employee retention and remuneration packages. Also, providing learning, development and training opportunities. It was noted that they were looking at where best to target their recruitment drives. 

(f) Asked about the transition from training to full workload as it was argued that it was too extreme and potentially dissuaded some from continuing to work with Kent Adult Social Care. It was confirmed that there was a focus on students in Kent and encouraging them to take social work qualifications. It was noted that work was ongoing to provide staff with support networks to mitigate the risk of those leaving after their first year.   

(g) A point was raised that more should be done to look after experienced social workers. It was noted that the essential car user allowance had not appeared to be fair and should be looked at. 

RESOLVED that the Risk Management: Adult Social Care and Health report be noted.