The Healthier Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee met to discuss several key issues, including anti-social behaviour, regional integration funding, deprivation of liberty safeguards, the performance of the Independent Reviewing Service, the Wellbeing Centre service, and financial matters. The committee agreed to recommend that the Cabinet note the report on the Homelessness Housing Options and Support Service and review the impact of the Homelessness and Social Housing Allocations (Wales) upon the service provided by Ceredigion County Council.

Anti-Social Behaviour

The committee received a presentation from Sara Woodall, Director of Communities, Barcud, and Phil Carroll, Head of Housing, Wales & West Housing (WWHA), regarding how housing associations deal with anti-social behaviour (ASB). The presentation covered the context, process for reporting and categorising cases, case studies, and the organisations' 'asks' of the council and other agencies.

Key points raised during the discussion included:

• The challenges of balancing the allocation of social housing with the need to mitigate the risk of ASB.
• Difficulties in addressing lower-level cases of ASB that do not meet the criminal threshold.
• The lengthy and costly process of taking legal action against ASB.
• The importance of agencies working together to ensure prevention and early intervention.
• The need for risk assessments to be shared between agencies.

Members were reminded to report any concerns to the relevant Registered Social Landlord (RSL) and to complete Dyfed Powys Police's 111 online reporting form.

Regional Integration Fund

Donna Pritchard, Corporate Lead Officer: Porth Gofal, provided an overview of the Health and Social Care Regional Integration Fund (RIF), a five-year fund designed to facilitate sustainable system change through the integration of health and social care services. The committee was given an overview of the 'Grow your own social workers' and 'Perinatal Mental Health Support' projects.

Discussion points included:

• The challenge of securing funding for social worker training and degrees.
• Plans for when the RIF fund ends in March 2027.
• The success of the peri-natal mental health nurse role, which received 17 referrals in 2024-2025, with 100% of those referred satisfied with their experience.

Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS)

Lynne Regan, Team Manager, presented a report on the regional process for renewing Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). The report detailed changes implemented to authorise DoLS for residents in care homes under continuous supervision and control, and not free to leave, who lack the capacity to consent to these arrangements.

The report highlighted a new collaborative process developed with Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire councils, which aims to provide essential safeguards and protection of rights for a greater number of people, without losing sight of the person or of quality.

Independent Reviewing Service Performance Management Report

Elizabeth Upcott, Corporate Manager: Quality Assurance and Safeguarding, presented the Independent Reviewing Service Performance Management Report for Quarter 4. The report included national and local standards and targets used to measure outcomes for looked-after children (LAC) and care leavers.

Key points from the report included:

• A slight increase in the number of children/young people under the care of the local authority.
• 95.7% of children were reviewed within statutory timescales.
• The highest number of children reviewed were in local authority foster care, kinship care, independent foster care, and residential care.
• 97% of children of sufficient age and understanding knew the reasons for them being in care.
• 97.8% of placement plans were evidencing that the plans were meeting the needs of the children/young people.

The committee requested clarification on the reasons for delays to pathway plans and how this could be improved.

Wellbeing Centre Service

Carwyn Young, Corporate Manager: Wellbeing Centres, provided an overview of the Wellbeing Centre Service, including its staffing structure, aims, links to corporate strategies, financial information, and service impact.

The presentation highlighted that since 2022, a capital investment of over £4.6 million has been made in improving council leisure and wellbeing facilities, including the creation of a Wellbeing Centre in Lampeter and upgrades to artificial turf pitches.

The committee requested a further report outlining the breakdown of costs of running the council's Wellbeing Centres.

Financial Matters

Due to time constraints, the committee deferred discussion of the oversight of in-year financial matters to the next meeting. The report provided an update to the quarter 3 2024/25 Controllable Revenue Financial Monitoring and Capital Financial Monitoring reports presented to the Cabinet on 11 March 2025.

Forward Work Programme

Due to time constraints, the committee deferred discussion of the forward work programme to the next meeting.

Confirmation of Previous Minutes

Due to time constraints, the committee deferred confirmation of the minutes of the previous meeting to the next meeting.