Agenda and minutes

There were none. 

The record of the meeting held on 17 April 2012 was agreed and signed by the Leader as correct. 

There were none. 

Background:

This report updated Members on the progress made in making improvements to domestic abuse services within Medway and on the way forward for this service.

Reducing domestic abuse and minimising its impact on families and children was a priority for Medway’s Community Safety Partnership and Medway Safeguarding Children’s Board. It was reported that tackling domestic abuse was one of the priorities contained within the Community Safety Plan 2012-2013 and that there was a multi-agency commitment to the Kent and Medway Domestic Abuse Strategy 2010-2013.

The report gave details of the Community Safety Partnership Sub Group; co-ordination with Kent County Council; domestic homicide reviews; the development of a domestic abuse profile; the role of the Medway Safeguarding Children’s Board; and, details of a recent service of remembrance for victims of domestic abuse at Rochester Cathedral.

In relation to the way forward Members were advised that the action plan, reported to Cabinet on 29 November 2011, was being refreshed by the Sub-Group and would be reported back at a later date. Details were also given to the delivery of multi-agency training and Independent Domestic Violence Advisor provision. It was noted that responsibility for coordinating the Council and its partners’ work around domestic abuse had passed to the Assistant Director for Frontline Services in January 2012.

Reasons:

To ensure that domestic abuse and the consequent issues it raises are given a clear focus within Medway and that the Cabinet can be assured that progress is being made.

 Background:

This report presented information on vacancies that officers had requested approval to commence recruitment for, following the process agreed by Cabinet on 7 January 2003 (decision number 9/2003).

Appendix 1 to the report provided details of the posts.

Reasons:

The posts presented to Cabinet will support the efficient running of the Council.

Background:

This report sought permission to award a contract for the procurement of a new Integrated Social Care System (“Social Care System”), an electronic records management system that was used to record information about families. 

It was noted that currently the Children’s and Adults Services held client data separately to the other. By procuring the Social Care System, both the Children and Adult’s Directorates would be able to capture details of a family’s service needs. It was considered that practitioners would be able to form a better picture of a child or adults’ care requirements, reduce time dedicated to data entry of service user details, thereby enabling staff in both departments to spend more time with service users, having already formed a complete picture of the needs of the family as a whole.

Members were advised that the supplier for a Social Care System had been selected using an EU Compliant framework – Government Procurement Service – Local Government Software Application Solutions to support the analysis and delivery of operational social work and care management, meet the requirements of Professor Munro’s Child Protection Review and the Department of Health’s Putting People First Personalisation agenda.

This Procurement Gateway 3 Report had been approved for submission to the Cabinet after review and circulation to Children’s and Adult’s Directorate Management Team meeting on 10 April 2012 and Strategic Procurement Board on 27 April 2012. 

An exempt appendix provided key information in respect of finance and whole-life costing and detailed procurement process tender evaluation information.

Reasons:

The recommendations have been provided on the basis of the Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT) based upon a composite mixture of quality and price. The proposed contractor has adequately demonstrated that they can meet the specification contained in the Mini-Competition Documents.