Agenda item

(To receive a report which sets out the work programmes of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee and the Public Protection and Communities Scrutiny Committee in accordance with the Board's agreed programme)

The Board considered the work programmes of two scrutiny committees where the following points were noted:-

Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee

Councillor R L Foulkes, Chairman of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee, introduced the work programme and highlighted the following items which had been considered by the Committee since the last report to the Board on 25 January 2018:-

·       Building Communities of Specialist Provision for Children and Young People with Special Education Needs and Disabilities;

·       Inclusive Lincolnshire Strategy; and

·       Post 16 Transport Policy Statement 2018-2019

Councillor Foulkes continued by highlighting to the Board the following items which would be considered by the Committee in the coming months:-

·       Ofsted Inspection

Lincolnshire Children's Services had hosted a visit from Ofsted between 10^th and 18^th April 2018 and the focus had been on permanency planning and achieving permanence for children in care.  The outcomes of the visit would be considered by the Committee at its meeting on 8 June 2018.  Ofsted had found that leaders were ambitious for children in care and that they continued to prioritise resources in order to support social work.  A small number of areas had been highlighted which could be further strengthened;

·       Lincolnshire Secure Unit

The Lincolnshire Secure Unit (LSU), based in Sleaford, had worked with the Youth Justice Board and the Ministry of Justice since 2002 to provide secure accommodation for young people on both a remand and sentenced basis.  The Committee would consider a report in June regarding a bid to the Ministry of Justice for a new contract to provide secure accommodation facilities from the LSU.  A further report would be considered on 20 July 2018 in relation to increased capacity at the LSU for welfare secure beds through capital development; and

·       Building Communities of Specialist Provision for Children and Young People with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities

The SEND review had looked at how all the Special Schools in Lincolnshire could supply provision for all types of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities across the county.  This review was expected to lead to children with Special Education Needs and Disabilities attending a school near to their home thereby reducing journey times to and from school.  It was expected that the final outcomes from the review would be presented to the Committee at its meeting on 19 October 2018.

During discussion, the following points were noted:-

·       The Ofsted summary indicated that the electronic recording system for children's social care was slow with documents difficult to locate.  It was explained that this was due to the Mosaic system.  This would be raised by the Committee on 8 June and a referral made to the Head of IMT.  It was advised that the Mosaic interface needed to be improved; and

·       It was reported that the Working Group on Permanent Inclusions had received a number of volunteers to sit on that group.  There was a wealth of experience amongst the members, including teachers and younger Councillors.

At 12.05pm, Councillor C E H Marfleet left the meeting and did not return.

Public Protection and Communities Scrutiny Committee

Councillor N H Pepper, Chairman of the Public Protection and Communities Scrutiny Committee, introduced the work programme and highlighted the following items which had been considered by the Committee since the last report to the Board on 25 January 2018:-

·       Engagement Strategy;

·       Citizens Advice Lincolnshire; and

·       Blue Light Collaboration Progress Report.

Future work planned by the Committee for consideration included:-

·       Integrated Communities Strategy; and

·       Safer Lincolnshire Partnership Priorities.

There were no comments or questions from the Board on the work programme for Public Protection and Communities Scrutiny Committee.

The Chairman thanked Councillors Foulkes and Pepper for the updates.

RESOLVED

          That the work programmes and updates in relation to the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee and the Public Protection and Communities Scrutiny Committee be noted.