Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors R J Kendrick and C  Matthews and Mrs P J Barnett (Parent Governor Representative).

There was no declaration of members' interest made at this stage of the meeting.

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 21 July 2017, be confirmed and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

The Chairman on behalf of the Committee welcomed Reverend Sue Evans (Church Representative) to her first meeting of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee.

The Chairman also reminded members of the Committee to bring in their identification documents to enable the Senior Democratic Services Officer to initiate the necessary Disclosure and Barring Service checks.

(To receive a report from Sally Savage, Chief Commissioning Officer Children's Services, which provides the Committee with the Children and Young People's Commissioning Strategies that set out a vision for future priorities for children's services)

The Committee gave consideration to a report from Sally Savage, Chief Commissioning Officer, which provided the Committee with the Children and Young People's Commissioning Strategies that set out a vision for future priorities for Children's Services.

Appended to the report was a copy of the strategy for each of the four children's commissioning areas, these were:-

Appendix A – Safe and Healthy Commissioning Strategy 2017 – 2020

Appendix B – Readiness for Adult Life Commissioning Strategy 2017 – 2020

Appendix C – Readiness for School Commissioning Strategy 2017 – 2020

Appendix D – Learn and Achieve Commissioning Strategy 2017 – 2020

It was reported that each strategy proposed a series of recommendations to support sustainability and continuous improvement of the service; and to provide a strategic framework to support ongoing decision making.  The strategies also provided an overarching strategic approach as to how the Council worked together with families to enhance children's lives.

The Committee noted that each of the four strategies detailed the objectives that needed to be accomplished to ensure positive outcomes for children and young people were achieved.

During consideration of the four strategies the following points were raised:-

Safe and Healthy Commissioning Strategy 2017 – 2020, (Appendix A)

·         Support to children and families - The need to ensure intervention was made as early as possible in any process to help prevent exclusions; and other emotional conditions.  Some reference was also made to the potential stigma attached when a young person was referred to the Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).  Officers advised that was why the new service would be promoting positive wellbeing.  It was felt that all staff needed to receive training, to ensure that they were able to support a child or young person.  Officers confirmed that the new Emotional Wellbeing Service would be provided by the same contracted supplier who delivered CAMHS;

·         Unaccompanied Asylum seeking children – One member expressed concerns that some of the unaccompanied asylum seekers coming into a school environment actually seemed a lot older than what was initially thought, which was presenting some schools with potential safeguarding issues.  The Committee was advised that this was a challenging issue across the country; and that all available measures were being used to define age in these circumstances;

·         One member enquired about the new Emotional Wellbeing Service which was due to commence on 1 October 2017.  Officers advised that the service would offer support to schools to build up their resilience and to upskill school-based staff enabling them to become more confident to meet the emotional wellbeing needs of their pupils.  It was highlighted that the service would bridge the gaps in current provision in Lincolnshire and signpost/refer pupils to other services as and when required.  Officers advised that referral to the service could be made by the pupil, the school, or parents.  Officers advised further that the principle behind the Emotional Wellbeing Service was to ultimately make it financially sustainable;

·         Future in Mind Strategy – The Committee was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21.

(To receive a report from Tara Jones, Children's Service Manager – Partners in Practice, which provides the Committee with an overview of Lincolnshire's Partners in Practice Programme)

The Committee gave consideration to a report from Tara Jones, Children's Service Manager – Partners in Practice, which provided the Committee with an overview of Lincolnshire's Partners in Practice Programme.

In the absence of the Children's Services Manager – Partners in Practice, Jo Kavanagh, Interim Assistant Director of Children's Services (Lead Early Help) guided the Committee through the report.

The Committee noted that as part of the Department for Education (DfE) reform programme 'Putting Children First' document, three fundamental pillars of reform were established.  To achieve the required outcomes set out under each of the three pillars, the DfE had established a Partners in Practice Programme, which brought together the country's eight leading authorities, of which Lincolnshire was one of the authorities.

It was noted further that the Partners in Practice Programme would improve practice in Lincolnshire and other Children's Services by transforming the quality of children's social care services and early help arrangements; and support the reform of the wider system.  It was reported that Lincolnshire had a proven track record of continuous improvement and good performance; and the vision was to improve Children's Services in Lincolnshire and elsewhere.

The Committee was advised that the Partners in Practice Programme was scheduled to run until 31 March 2020; and was made up of three work streams, which aligned directly to the three fundamental pillars of the DfE reforms.  Details of the three work streams and the projects associated with each work stream and the names of the responsible officers were contained within the report presented.  It was highlighted that the Governance and Accountability project was currently on hold due to devolution and its wider impact on children's services across Lincolnshire.

In conclusion, the Committee noted that the project plan for the four year programme was continuing to be developed; and that monies had been agreed by the Department for Education; and that monies would be transferred via a Section 31 grant.

During discussion, the following issues were raised:-

·         Reference was made to the Government's commitment to roll out a new national assessment and accreditation system by 2020.  It was noted that the introduction of the National Assessment and Accreditation System (NAAS) would provide, for the first time, a consistent way of providing assurance to effectively assess social workers knowledge and skills.  It was noted further that phase one of the NAAS roll out would involve local authorities that were 'Partners in Practice' piloting the assessment and accreditation system along with a group of volunteer local authorities.  The project would ensure that social workers received refresher training, coaching and mentoring and the opportunity to attend masterclasses, so that the relevant level of knowledge and skill was achieved.  Officers highlighted that there was a degree of nervousness as it was hoped that the accreditation would not create barriers to becoming a social worker as at the moment there was uncertainty as to which roles would be accredited;

·         The Committee was advised that the money available from the DfE, would  ...  view the full minutes text for item 22.

(To receive an update from Yvonne Shearwood, Children's Service Manager – Regulated – South and Adoption, which updates the Committee on the work of the Corporate Parenting Sub-Group)

The Committee received a short update from Councillor David Brailsford, Chairman of the Corporate Parenting Sub-Group.

The Committee noted that at its last meeting, the Corporate Parenting Sub-Group had received training in a number of areas, which had included:-

·         Corporate Parenting - This had provided an overview of adoption and fostering, residential homes, Looked After Children, Visiting Members and the role of a Corporate Parent;

·         Types of Placements for Looked After Children – It had been agreed that a working group would be set up to look at the development of a refreshed strategy;

·         Voices for Choices (V4C) – The Sub-Group had received an update on the activities of the V4C, the Children in Care Council;

·         Role of the Virtual School – An overview had been provided concerning the responsibilities of the Virtual School and how schools were supported; and

·         Performance measures – The Sub-Group had been advised of the performance measures relating to Looked After Children, plus a number of performance indicators that were not contained in the Council's Business Plan relating to Looked After Children and care leavers, which were reported to the Sub-Group for monitoring.

The Chairman advised that the Sub-Group was due to meet on 21 September 2017, when it would be receiving further training on residential services, role of visiting members, the independent visiting service and Barnardo's Leaving Care Service. 

The Committee was advised of the importance of the role of Visiting Members; and those Visiting Members present who had not yet managed to visit their allotted home were encouraged to do so.  It was agreed that the Senior Scrutiny Officer would send a reminder email to all Visiting Members.

Attached at Appendix A to the report presented was a copy of the draft minutes from the Corporate Parenting Sub-Group meeting held on 6 July 2017.

RESOLVED

That the work of the Corporate Parenting Sub-Group be supported and that the minutes from the Corporate Parenting Sub-Group held on 6 July 2017 be received.

(To receive a report from Sally Savage, Chief Commissioning Officer – Children's Services, which provides key performance information for Quarter 1 2017/18 relevant to the work of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee.  Please note that Appendix D to this report contains exempt information under Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, and discussion of this information could result in the exclusion of the press and public)

Consideration was given to a report from Debbie Barnes, Executive Director of Children's Services, which provided the Committee with key performance information for Quarter 1 2017/18, relevant to the work of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee.

Attached to the report were the following Appendices:-

·         Appendix A – Council Business Plan Measures

·         Appendix B – Complaint and Compliments Report

·         Appendix C – Ofsted School Status Report

·         Appendix D – Performance Monitoring of Contracts – Exempt

The Committee was reminded that Appendix D to the report contained exempt information, and if the Committee wished to discuss details pertaining to Appendix D, a vote would need to be taken to move into exempt session.

In guiding the Committee through the report the Chief Commissioning Officer Children's Services made particular reference to indicators that had not been achieved or were improving, but not achieved, these were:-

·         Page 175 – Juvenile first time offenders – The Committee was advised that a lower number of young people were entering the criminal justice system for the first time, indicated better performance.  It was further noted that the number of young people entering the criminal justice system for the first time was mostly controlled by external influences.  It was reported that there was no expectation that the figure was likely to rise sharply in the near future.  Reference was also made to the diversionary project being conducted in partnership with Lincolnshire Police;

·         Page 181 – Looked After Children – It was noted that there had been a rise in the number of children looked after over the last two quarters; and that the senior management team were undertaking a number of measures to understand what was causing the increase; and to have  assurance that those coming into care were appropriate; and that there were robust exit strategies in place;

·         Page 183 - Children who are subject to a Child Protection Plan – The Committee noted that the performance for this indicator had exceeded its target;

·         Appendix B – Customer Satisfaction Information – One member enquired as to why the number of complaints had reduced.  Officers advised that this was due to school data being removed; and

·         Page 197 – A question was asked as to why the percentage relating to secondary schools appeared to be disproportionally higher than others.  Officers reassured the Committee that the figures related to Academies and that relationships with Academies remained positive; as did relationships with the Regional Schools Commissioner.  One member expressed concern as to whether the views of the local authority were taken into consideration when being reviewed by the Regional Schools Commissioner.  Officers confirmed that legally the Regional Schools Commissioner did not have to note any issues, however due to the improved working relationship, this was now improving.

At this point in the meeting it was moved, seconded and

RESOLVED

That in accordance with Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public and press be excluded from the meeting for consideration of Appendix D to the report  ...  view the full minutes text for item 24.

(To receive a report from Tracy Johnson, Senior Scrutiny Officer, which enables the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee to consider its own work programme for the coming year)

The Committee gave consideration to a report from Tracy Johnson, Senior Scrutiny Officer, which enabled the Committee to consider and comment on the content of its work programme as detailed at Appendix A.

The Committee was invited to put forward items for potential consideration:-

·         Home to School Transport in relation to Grammar Schools (Officers advised that this item was due to be reviewed in 2018); and

·         Partners in Practice for 6 months' time.

RESOLVED

That the work programme as detailed in Appendix A to the report presented be received, subject to the addition of a progress report concerning Partners in Practice in 6 months' time.