The report to Cabinet of 13 February, 2012 together with Cabinet minute 309 are attached for the Committee’s consideration.

A revised report, which supersedes the report to Cabinet of 13 February, on the Adult Social Services’ Department Senior Management Structure, is attached to the supplementary agenda.

The Director of Adult Social Services submitted a report on the proposed enhancement of the Senior Management capacity in the structure of the Department of Adult Social Services.

Cabinet, at its meeting on 13 February 2012 (minute 309 refers) had approved the revised senior management structure for the Department of Adult Social Services. On working through the specific details this Committee, at its meeting on 28 February 2012 (minute 68 refers), had agreed to the immediate and urgent establishment of the Head of Safeguarding and Care Governance post.

Having considered the structure further it was now recommended that in order to give appropriate support to the Director at a senior level the post of Deputy Director of Adult Social Services should be established. It was also recommended that the post of Head of Finance and Performance should be deleted and replaced with the post of Head of Performance, Business Planning and Finance. The postholder would retain the oversight of the departmental budget and the professional link with the Finance department would be maintained through the Principal Manager (Resources). The additional cost to the Council would be funded from the efficiency investment budget, as agreed by Cabinet on 13 February, 2012 (minute 309 refers).

In order to assist the Director during this period of change in the leadership of DASS, on 30 January 2012 the Employment and Appointments Committee had approved the extension of the fixed term contract for the current post holder of the Head of Finance and Performance for up to six months or until 30 June 2012, with the provision to end the contract earlier, depending on the recruitment process. This resource was still required until the two posts were established and filled to support the Director in the transition.

The Leader of the Conservative Group expressed some nervousness about appointing Deputy Directors in view of the impending review of the Council’s management structure. He also commented upon the fact that payscales for the Heads of Service posts had previously been agreed incorporating an element to reflect the position of deputising for the Director.

The Director, in response, stated that the position of Deputy Director was not a new post as there were a number across the Council and that he had consistently, since reviewing his Department’s senior management structure, reported the need for this post. It was his professional opinion that the post was needed to support him so that he could fulfil his role of strategic oversight of the Department.

The Leader of the Council referred to the considerable improvement agenda that the Director and his department faced and he was very sympathetic given that the Director had originally brought this proposal forward in February of this year.

Resolved – That within the Department of Adult Social Services:

(1)  The post of Deputy Director of Adult Social Services is established.

(2)  The post of Head of Performance, Business Planning and Finance is established.

(3)  The extension of the fixed term contract for the current post holder  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8

The Cabinet is requested to give consideration to the report of the Director of Adult Social Services, which sets out a revised senior management structure for the Department of Adult Social Services.

The Cabinet at its meeting on 22 September 2011 had agreed a restructure of the Department of Adult Social Services based on the recommendations of the Interim Director at that time (Minute No. 116 refers).  Since September the process of Self Evaluation and Peer Challenge had been undertaken and a new permanent Director of Adult Social Services had taken up his post following a recruitment exercise. 

In January 2012 the Council received the Independent Review of Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council’s Response to Claims Made by Mr Martin Morton (and others) [Final Report] prepared by AKA Ltd. It is, therefore, apposite that further consideration of the management structure of the Department should be undertaken.

A report by the Director of Adult Social Services set out a revised senior management structure for his Department that addressed a number of issues that had been highlighted in the recent Self Evaluation and Peer Challenge of the Department.  In addition the report responded to weaknesses highlighted recently in The Independent Review of Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council’s Response to Claims Made by Mr Martin Morton (and Others) [Final Report] prepared by Anna Klonowski on 9 January 2012.

The Director reported that the new structure embedded safeguarding and Care Governance as critical elements of a modern social care directorate.  In addition, the Deputy Director Post and business improvement focus would enable improved working methods as well as building capacity in the business and performance section.  Accountancy would be managed directly by the Deputy Chief Executive/Director of Finance in order to ensure full compliance with corporate financial guidelines.  The aim was to build on the previous structure and the report recommended changes to senior management posts in the Department of Adult Social Services in the light of recent developments.

The staffing implications were set out in detail in the report.  The Cabinet was requested to recommend for approval the following four posts above spinal column point 49 at a cost of £348,200 to Employment and Appointments Committee:

• Head of Safeguarding and Care Governance
• Deputy Chief Accountant (re-designation)
• Head of Performance, Business and Planning
• Deputy Director

RESOLVED: That

(1)  the revised senior management structure for the Department of Adult Social Services be approved;

(2)  the net resource requirement of £107,300 for the additional posts identified in the revised structure be funded from the efficiency investment budget as the new structure will improve both quality in the short term and deliver more efficient working methods in the medium term; and

(3)  the detail of the structure and establishment of the posts above spinal column point 49, as detailed above, be recommended for approval by the Employment and Appointments Committee.