DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY
SOCIAL WORKPROFESSIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE
DRAFT CONSTITUTION
1.NAME
The Group shall be known as the Social Work Professional Advisory Committee (SWPAC).
2.DUTIES AND FUNCTIONS
The SWPAC shall give professional advice to the Clinical and Care Governance Committee on the professional issues with regard to the provision of social work and social care services,and on standards for social work and social care services. The group will acceptrequests for such advice from the Clinical and Care Governance Committee, and others as required.
The group is a professional advisory committee, in parallel with the other committees of this nature; for example the Area Nursing & Midwifery Professional Advisory Committee, and will have a seat on the Integrated Professional Advisory Committee together with the Health Professional Advisory Committees, as described in the Integration Scheme.
The functions of the SWPAC are to:
- provide advice to the Clinical and Care Governance Committee and IJB on strategic professional social care and social work issues within the context of the role of the Chief Social Work Officer (CSWO), the policies and procedures of the service, the prioritisation framework and the codes of practice of the SSSc.
- liaise with the Clinical and care Governance Committee, together with the CSWO on any issues of a professional nature which cause concern, and may affect service users’ outcomes.
- identify changing needs and priorities in the community that impact on professional matters.
- advise on workforce planning and the monitoring of the quality of social care and social work services in the IJB area.
- advise on social care and social work implications for changes in social care and social work policy,social care and social work practice and technology.
- liaise with other professional advisory committees and national professional bodies and advisors as required.
3.MEMBERSHIP OF THE GROUP
The Group shall be representative of all areas of social care and the social work profession.This will include representatives from:
- Social work: adult support and protection, mental health, older people, learning disability, physical disability, visual and sensory support, children and families (7)
- Improvement & Quality (1)
Persons other than members will be invited to attend meetings for discussion of specific items at the request of the Chair. Such a person will be allowed to take part in the discussion but not have the right to vote.
Deputies
If a member is unable to attend a nominated deputy may take their place at the meeting. (The deputy will then assume the voting rights of that member).
Attending
The Social Work Heads of Service and persons other than members may be invited to attend a meeting for discussion of specific items at the request of the Chair. Such a person shall be allowed to take part in the discussion but not have the right to vote.
4.SUB-GROUP
The SWPAC may create an executive sub-group to include the Chair, Vice Chair and representatives from specific functions when necessary. The executive sub group will have discretionary powers to act on behalf of the SWPAC but in doing so shall be answerable to the SWPAC. The Chair may invite the Clinical and Care Governance Forum or its officers to consult executive sub-group, or individual experts, on a particular matter, where appropriate.
5.TENURE OF OFFICE
The normal term of office for group members will be four years. SWPAC members should be permitted to serve for a second term, but thereafter should be required to step downoffice for at least one term.
When a member steps down from the group nominations for a replacement would consider both the mix of the group in terms of functional speciality and level of staff involved and the need to maintain a level of continuity of membership.
In the event of the resignation of a SWPAC member, a successor will complete the term of office.
Where a member fails to attend for 3 consecutive meetings, membership of the committee will automatically cease and a replacement representative shall be sought.
6.OFFICERS OF THE GROUP
a)The SWPAC will elect biennially at a meeting in April, the following officers - Chair, Vice Chair.
b)The Chair will normally hold office for two years but shall be eligible for re-election for a further two years. Thereafter the Chair will not be eligible for election until the expiry of at least two years from the end of his previous term of office.
c)The Chair may nominate another member or representative of the SWPAC to attend meetings if they or Vice Chair are unable to attend.
7.NOTICE OF MEETINGS
The agenda and any accompanying papers should be distributed to members and attendees at least seven days before the meeting.
8.MINUTES
TheSWPACAdministrative Supportshall ensure that minutes of meetings of the Group are drawn up and copies thereof are sent to each member prior to the meeting at which time the minutes are submitted for approval.
- MEETINGS
Meetings will usually be held monthly scheduled in advance, but this can be varied at the discretion of the Chair and Vice-Chair.
TheSWPAC has the right to alter or vary these arrangements.
10.SWPAC DECISION
Where SWPAC is asked to give advice on a matter and a majority view is reached the Chair or Vice-Chair will report the majority view but will also make known any minority view and present the supporting arguments for both viewpoints. For issues pertaining to the role of the Chief Social Work Officer, any advice will need to be with the involvement of the CSWO.
A quorum of the Committee will be 5members.
11.ALTERATIONS TO THE CONSTITUTION AND STANDING ORDERS
Alterationsto the Constitution and Standing Orders may be recommended at any meeting of SWPAC provided a notice of the proposed alteration is circulated with the notice of the meeting and that the proposal is seconded and supported by two-thirds of the members present and voting at the meeting.