Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Reverend Philip Johnson (Church Representative) and Mr S C Rudman (Church Representative).

An apology for absence was also received from Councillor Mrs P A Bradwell, OBE, Executive Councillor for Adult Care, Health and Children's Services.

Councillor M A Whittington wished it to be noted that he had an adopted son aged 22, covered by the Leaving Care Service up to the age of 25.

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 8 June 2018 be agreed and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

The Chairman extended congratulations on behalf of the Committee to Councillor Mrs P M Bradwell and Debbie Barnes, who had been awarded OBEs in the Queen's Birthday Honours list for 2018.  The Committee noted that this was in recognition of their service to Lincolnshire Children's Services and to their support to improve Children's Social Care in Rotherham.

The Committee was reminded of the visit to the old fire house on Denton Avenue, Grantham, which had been converted to provide supported accommodation for 16 and 17 year old Looked After young people who were in need of the opportunity to gain independence training in a supported environment.  The Committee noted that the visit was due to take place on Monday 23 July between 9.30am and 12.30pm.  Any member who wished to attend, who had not already been in contact with Tracy Johnson (Senior Scrutiny Officer) was asked to let Daniel Steel (Scrutiny Officer) know at the end of the meeting.

The Chairman also extended congratulations to Councillors and staff who had been successful in completing sponsored events.

The Executive Director for Children's Services advised the Committee that the FAB Awards for Looked After Children had been a successful event, and had been well attended.  Councillors who had not managed to attend this year were encouraged to attend the event in the future.

(To receive a report from Jo Kavanagh, Assistant Director Children's – Lead Early Help, and Andrew Morris, Corporate Parenting Manager, which invites the Committee to consider a report on the Accommodation Pathway for Children and Young People, which is due to be considered by the Executive Councillor for Adult Care, Health and Children's Services on 30 July 2018)

The Committee gave consideration to a report from Jo Kavanagh, Assistant Director Children's – Lead Early Help and Andrew Morris, Corporate Parenting Manager, which invited the Committee to consider a report on the Accommodation Pathway for Children and Young People, prior to the report being considered by the Executive Councillor for Adult Care, Health and Children's Services on 30 July 2018.

The Executive Director for Children's Services introduced the report and advised the Committee that although the County Council was not a Housing Authority, it did have a statutory responsibility for the provision of accommodation for all Looked After Children and Care Leavers up to the age of 21 years; and for providing Care Leavers with advice and guidance to support them to be independent between the ages of 21 – 25. 

Mark Rainey, Children's Commissioning Manager – Commercial guided the Committee through the Executive Councillor report attached as Appendix 1; and its associated Appendix, which provided the Committee with a draft copy of the Accommodation Pathway.  The Accommodation Pathway reflected the existing and proposed accommodation and housing pathways for young people within Lincolnshire including Looked After Children and Care Leavers.

The Committee noted that accommodation was fundamental to the safety and stability of all Lincolnshire young people, and that there was a need to revisit and grow the housing and accommodation options in the county to offer a more localised response. 

The key developments around young people's accommodation were highlighted to the Committee, which included:-

·         'Staying Close'– this enabled young people leaving residential care to move into local accommodation in order to 'Stay Close' to their previous residential homes.  The Committee was advised that a number of options were being explored at the moment with West Lindsey District Council and with North Kesteven District Council;

·         Intensive supported accommodation – The Committee was advised that the property in Grantham was the first property to offer up to 5 semi-independent bed spaces in the south of the county.  It was noted that work was currently being done to complete staff training in readiness for the young people moving in.  It was noted further that this new offer would lead to significant savings for the Council, along with providing vastly improved, more flexible options, and better quality of service for some of the more complex and difficult young people; and

·         Youth Housing Protocol – The Committee was advised that a multi-agency Youth Housing Protocol had now been agreed by all the seven district councils, children's services, adult care and public health directorates.  The purpose of the Protocol was to define the working arrangements for all agencies involved in supporting 16 & 17 year olds, including Looked After Children; and Care Leavers aged between 18-21 years who were in need of advice and assistance due to being homeless, or at the risk of being homeless.  It was highlighted that the Protocol would also manage the young person's experience of transitioning to adult supported accommodation; and semi-independent living options.

It was reported that the process  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.

(To receive a report from Joanne Fox, Commissioning Officer, which invites the Committee to consider and comment on the Edge of Care Support Service, which is due to be considered by the Executive Councillor for Adult Care, Health and Children's Services on 30 July 2018)

Consideration was given to a report from Joanne Fox, Commissioning Officer, which invited the Committee to consider a report on the Edge of Care Support Service, which was due to be considered by the Executive Councillor for Adult Care, Health and Children's Services on 30 July 2018.

A copy of the full report to the Executive Councillor was attached at Appendix 1 to the report.

The Chairman welcomed to the meeting:

·         Joanne Fox, Commissioning Officer;

·         Mark Rainey, Children's Commissioning Manager – Commercial; and

·         Paula Bexon, Team Manager.

The Committee was advised that the countywide service currently offered support to struggling families with a view to stabilising these families in times of crisis; preventing the escalation of need, lowering the risk of child abuse and neglect, and reducing the number of children taken into care.

It was reported that the service was currently provided by Safe Families for Children (SFfC), a volunteer organisation (currently there were 227 Lincolnshire volunteers) working in the main with local churches to recruit volunteers to carry out an early intervention approach.  It was highlighted that the approach was targeted mainly at secondary prevention, offering support to struggling families with a child under 12 and providing 'edge of care' support as an alternative to a short stay in foster care.  It was highlighted that overall performance indicators for the service were good and that the support provided had been shown to have positive benefits for diverting children from care and successfully supporting families through times of crisis.  Details relating to the performance of Lincolnshire were shown on pages 61 and 62 of the report.

Attached to the report were the following Appendices:-

·         Appendix A – Equality Impact Analysis

·         Appendix B – Cost avoidance data

It was reported that currently the service had funded 60 referrals at a cost of £1,250 per referral (£75k per annum).  It was highlighted that of the 25 families referenced in the joint audit, the estimated cost avoidance for those families for the period of October 2015 to September 2017 had been calculated at £647,730.  It was highlighted further that in comparison, the direct cost to the Service Provider was the equivalent of £187,500, with the Council incurring only limited additional indirect costs in overseeing the contract and the families referred.

The Committee was advised that the contract was due to end on 31 March 2019 and that the recommendation was that the contract should be re-procured by means of an Invitation to Tender.

During discussion, the Committee raised the following points:-

·         The Committee highlighted the excellent work of volunteers currently taking part in the Edge of Care Support Service and stressed the importance of ensuring an effective and seamless transition of volunteers to a new provider;

·         The Committee supported the process of re-procurement by means of an invitation to tender as a way of ensuring the Council achieved value for money;

·         A member of the Committee highlighted the need to ensure there was greater awareness of the edge of care  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18.

(To receive a report which presents to the Committee the draft minutes of the Corporate Parenting Sub Group meeting held on 14 June 2018)

The Chairman received an update from the Chairman of the Corporate Parenting Sub Group who advised that the draft minutes from the last meeting held on 14 June 2018 were attached at Appendix A to the report.

It was reported that the Sub Group considered the following items at the meeting:-

The Sub Group had received an overview of the impact of the new Act for Care Leavers.  The Sub Group had been advised that there was a requirement for care leavers to receive support up to the age of 25.  To meet the new obligations, the Council had extended the Leaving Care Service commissioned through Barnardo's in addition to committing additional funding of £120k each year for the next two years in order to enhance service capacity.  The Sub Group was advised that this could affect around 700 care leavers between 21 and 25.

The Sub Group had also received an overview of the Independent Reviewing Service.  It was highlighted that IT issues had caused some challenges for officers.

The Chairman highlighted that the FAB awards recently held on 30 June 2018 had been a great success and had been well attended.  It was highlighted further that there had been 267 nominations which had been an increase on the previous year. 

It was also reported that free day passes had been provided by the Mellors Group for all the young people to visit Fantasy Island, Ingoldmells.

The Committee noted that the next meeting of the Corporate Parenting Sub Group was due to be held on 20 September 2018.

RESOLVED

That the work of the Corporate Parenting Sub Group be supported and the update be noted.

(To receive a report from Andy Cook, Youth Offending Manager, which provides the Committee with an update and overview of the impact of the Lincolnshire Joint Diversionary Panel since it was introduced in June 2017)

The Chairman welcomed to the meeting the following presenters:-

·         Stacey Waller, Area Manager, South;

·         Jo Kavanagh, Assistant Director Children's – Lead Early Help;

·         Peter Grayson, Chief Superintendent – Lincolnshire Police; and

·         Tony Pryce, Joint Diversionary Panel Co-ordinator.

The Committee gave consideration to a report which provided the Committee with an update and overview of the impact of the Lincolnshire Joint Diversionary Panel since it had been introduced in June 2017.

It was reported that under the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012, the Police had been given a range of options of how to deal with a person under the age of 18.  The change in legislation provided agencies with greater scope to introduce the most appropriate outcome for criminal offences which could be based on the seriousness and circumstances of the offence but also consider the background of the child or your person.

It was noted that Joint Diversionary Panels in Lincolnshire had been primarily established following detailed analysis of criminal justice disposals for children and young people.  The analysis has shown there had been inappropriate use of Police cautions against children and young people.  It was therefore highlighted that without significant change in practice, there was a clear potential for increased criminalisation of children in Lincolnshire, especially Looked After Children.  The Committee was advised that the use of Youth Cautions without meaningful support or intervention could often represent an essentially administrative process and achieve limited impact.

The Committee was advised that the Joint Diversionary Panel met on a weekly basis to review the cases of children and young people in Lincolnshire who had committed and admitted to a criminal offence.  The Committee was advised that prior to the Panel sitting all the relevant information was obtained regarding the child or young person.  The Committee was advised further that the voice of the young person and views of victims of crime were also sought to generate a full understanding and picture to inform holistic decision making.  It was noted that the Panel was chaired by the Youth Offending Service, but had representation from Lincolnshire Police, Early Help and Team Around the Child Co-ordinators to provide a partnership approach and specialist input.

Details of the formal outcomes where shown on page 107 of the report along with examples of youth restorative intervention outcomes.  It was highlighted that the Youth Restorative Intervention outcomes did not criminalise but had a restorative focus for both the victim and the young person.

It was reported that it was highly encouraging that the most recent national performance data indicated that the rate of first time entrants in Lincolnshire had dropped by approximately 22% since the diversionary panels had come into operation.  It was reported further that more than 350 cases had been reviewed by the Panel, (details of which were shown on page 110 of the report) a youth restorative option had been used in 82% of all cases.  The Committee was advised that early indications suggested a positive impact both in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20.

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

The Committee received a report from Tara Jones, Children's Service Manager – Partners in Practice, which provided the Committee with an update on Lincolnshire's Partners in Practice Programme.

The Committee was advised that the Department for Education (DFE) reform programme, set out three fundamental pillars of reform which were: People and Leadership, Practice and Systems and Governance and Accountability.

The Committee was advised that the Partners in Practice Programme was scheduled to run until 31 March 2020; and was made up of two work streams Practice and Systems and People and Leadership, which were aligned directly to the three fundamental pillars of the DfE reforms.  The Committee was advised further that six individual projects then sat below the overarching workstreams, which when implemented would deliver the desired outcomes and positive impacts.  The top of page 113 provided details of the projects, and workstreams.

It was reported that as a Partner in Practice Authority, Lincolnshire had led on the development of the East Midlands Regional Improvement Alliance pilot, to learn, share, improve and innovate across the East Midlands.  It was highlighted that following completion of the pilots, the Association of Directors of Children's Services, Local Government Association, the Society of Chief Executives and the Department for Education had given consensus on the establishment of a Regional Improvement Alliance for every region, which would create a self-improving system through a trusted, effective and coherent sector led model.

The Committee noted that the Council had been improvement partners for Rotherham Borough Council and Tower Hamlets Borough Council and had also supported 43 local authorities with their implementation of 'Signs of Safety'.

During a short discussion, the Committee raised the following issues:-

·         Funding – Officers confirmed that funding was received from the DfE and that the Council was not subsidising the programme; and

·         One member enquired what would happen after 2020 – The Committee was advised that following the pilot, the establishment of a Regional Improvement Alliance for every region, would create a self-improving system through a trusted, effective and coherent sector led model for the future.

RESOLVED

That the progress and outcomes of the Partners in Practice Programme be received.

(To receive a report from Tracy Johnson, Senior Scrutiny Officer, which provides the Committee with an opportunity to consider and comment on its work programme for the coming months)

Consideration was given to a report from Tracy Johnson, Senior Scrutiny Officer, which enabled the Committee to comment on the content of its work programme to ensure that its scrutiny activity was focussed where it could be of greatest benefit.

Daniel Steel, Scrutiny Officer presented the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee work programme, which was shown on pages 123 to 126 of the report presented.

The Committee was advised that the following items had been requested during the meeting:-

·         Evaluation of the Restorative Practice Arrangements; and

·         Fostering Allowance;

The Committee also noted that an Edge of Care Workshop would be arranged; and that the Scrutiny Officer would circulate details of potential dates during September 2018.

RESOLVED

That the Children and Young People Scrutiny Work Programme as set out in Appendix A be agreed, subject to the addition of the items detailed above.