Agenda item

(To receive a report from Roz Cordy, Interim Assistant Director – Safeguarding, which requests the Committee to consider further the performance of Measure 24 – Children who are subject to a Child Protection Plan)

Consideration was given to a report from Roz Cordy, Interim Assistant Director – Safeguarding, which asked the Committee to consider further the performance of Measure 24 – "Children who are subject to a Child Protection Plan".

It was reported that the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board at its meeting on 28 November 2019 had raised concerns that Measure 24 had not achieved its target in Quarter 2; and the Board had agreed to refer the measure back to the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee to investigate further and explain why the number of children on a plan had increased.

The Committee was advised that there had been an increase in the number of children subject to a Child Protection Plan; and that the increase had been across all eight Family Assessment Support Teams, with the exception of North Kesteven.  To understand why there had been an increase, data had been analysed; and an in depth audit of some cases across the teams had been conducted.

The key finding of the data analysis had been that the number of children going on a plan was higher than the number of children coming off a plan (as the children were remaining on a plan longer), hence why there had been an increase in numbers.  It was noted that due to the complex needs of the current cohort of children plans were being tried and tested before children were coming off a plan. 

Key findings of the audit carried out were shown on page 17 of the report.

In conclusion, the Committee was advised that there was no evidence that the increase in Child Protection numbers had been due to any changes in practice or decision making.  It was highlighted that due to the complexity of need and risk, children were remaining on a Child Protection Plan for longer to ensure that the plan was tried and tested.  It was noted that the audit had highlighted that in cases where it was no longer safe for children to live at home, alternative care provision was put in place.  It was noted further that there would always be some fluctuation in the number of children subject to a Child Protection Plan; and it was highlighted that since Quarter 2 there had been a reduction in the number of children on a plan.  The Committee noted further that currently there were 342 children on a Child Protection Plan.

It was highlighted that compared to statistical neighbours in England, Child Protection numbers were still relatively low in Lincolnshire.

During discussion, the Committee raised the following issues:-

·         Clarification was given that North Kesteven had been included in the audit and that it was just an anomaly.  It was also highlighted that the scrutiny process was working and that some confidence should be taken from this referral;

·         A question was asked as to whether the lack of Legal Aid was having an impact on system delivery.  Officers confirmed that this issue had not been considered and had not been picked up by the audit, and that it was a matter that could be considered in the future;

·         Reassurance was given that if the number of children on a plan should rise again, there were internal processes in place to deal with the increase.  Officers confirmed that the most important factor was to ensure that children were set up on the right plan and that these were regularly monitored; and that this formed part of the daily service provided by Children's Services; and

·         Officers advised that other local authorities had children on plans for shorter periods of time. It was noted that compared to statistical neighbours and England data, Lincolnshire's Child Protection numbers were still relatively low.  It was noted further that the number of children subject to a Child Protection plan from statistical neighbours in 2018/19 was 642; and that the England figure had been 636.  The Committee was advised that the figure for Lincolnshire for 2018/19 had been 303, which was less than half the number.

RESOLVED

1.    That assurance was given on the performance of Measure 24 "Children who are subject to a Child Protection Plan."

2.    That the comments as detailed above be passed on to the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board and the Executive with regard to this measure.