Agenda and minutes

Venue: Committee Room One, County Offices, Newland, Lincoln LN1 1YL

Contact: Katrina Cope  Senior Democratic Services Officer

Items
No. Item

8.

Apologies for Absence / Replacement Members

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors M D Boles, M T Fido, and A P Maughan, Reverend Sue Evans (Church Representative), and Mrs P J Barnett and Dr E van der Zee (Parent Governor Representatives).

9.

Declarations of Members' Interests

Minutes:

Mr S Rudman advised the Committee that he was the grandparent of an adopted child in Lincolnshire, and had taken part in the adoption process.

10.

Minutes of the meeting of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee held on 9 June 2017 pdf icon PDF 152 KB

Minutes:

RESOLVED

 

That the minutes of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee held on 9 June 2017, be confirmed and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

11.

Announcements by the Chairman, Executive Councillor for Adult Care, Health and Children's Services and the Executive Director of Children's Services

Minutes:

The Chairman advised that Mr Paul Thompson, the former Church of England representative, had resigned from the Committee and would be replaced by Reverend Sue Evans, who was a member of the Diocesan Board of Education.  It was hoped that Reverend Sue Evans would be attending the September meeting.

 

The Executive Councillor for Adult Care, Health and Children's Services advised that an additional £1.3 billion had been allocated to schools nationally.  However, at the moment there was no detail as to how this would be distributed.  Some concern was raised as to whether Lincolnshire would get the same deal as others; as it was still not certain if the formula would be altered for rural counties.  It was highlighted that more lobbying would be done, as the final details of the funding formula had still not been finalised, and it was important that Lincolnshire schools received fair funding.

12.

Inclusive Lincolnshire Strategy - Six Monthly Update pdf icon PDF 301 KB

(To receive a report from Mary Meredith, Children's Service Manager – Inclusion, which provides the Committee with a progress report on the Inclusive Lincolnshire Strategy)

Minutes:

Consideration was given to a report from Mary Meredith, Children's Service Manager – Inclusion, which provided the Committee with a progress report on the Inclusive Lincolnshire Strategy.

 

It was reported that 'The Inclusive Lincolnshire Strategy' had been introduced to address the problem of a rising and unsustainable rate of permanent exclusions from Lincolnshire schools.  Lincolnshire had consistently been the highest excluder of primary aged children nationally and nearly the highest for secondary as detailed to the Committee in previous reports.

 

The Committee noted that the strategy introduced the notion of a 'Ladder of Intervention'; this had been launched in January 2015/16.  The Committee noted further that in September 2016/17 a step within the Ladder, specialist behaviour support for pupils at risk had gone live through the launch of the Behaviour Outreach Support Service (BOSS).  Now, at the end of the full academic year it was possible to evaluate the impact of the Ladder.

 

A progress update relating to the reduction of the number of permanent exclusions up to term five was shown on page 14 of the report.  The Committee was advised that the total provisional exclusion figures up to and including term six were:-

 

·         2014/15 – 210;

·         2015/16 – 155; and

·         2016/17 – 145

 

It was highlighted that primary exclusions had been a success story, as there had been a 50% reduction; 24 this year compared to 49 in the previous year.  Secondary exclusions however, had not been so successful.  There had been a reduction in the year after the strategy had been launched, but the figures this year were 118, compared to 103 in the previous year.  The Committee noted that feedback received had been encouraging; however, a key priority for 2017/18 was to build on this position, by targeting support and challenge to the small number of vulnerable secondary schools (five in total) that accounted for the disproportionate number of secondary exclusions.

 

The report provided written positive experiences of the BOSS service from children and young people, it was noted that comments received would help to shape the service going forward.  It was highlighted that young inspectors were currently working with pupils open to the service, gathering their views and opinions.  It was noted that this would provide further independent scrutiny of the service.

 

It was noted that a key strength of BOSS was its clarity for anyone using the document.  It was noted further that the successful multi-agency working ensured that the service delivered a holistic approach.  An example of the 'Ladder' approach was detailed on page 17 of the report.

 

It was highlighted that within BOSS there was a universal offer as well as targeted support for pupils 'at risk', as the whole ethos was to increase schools' capacity to meet their diverse range of need.

 

The Committee noted the Pupil Reintegration Team (PRT) would be introducing an evaluation tool with effect from September 2017, to capture the view of stakeholders, including pupils about their experiences and level of intervention.

 

In conclusion, the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

13.

Corporate Parenting Sub Group Update pdf icon PDF 21 KB

(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)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee received a short update from the Councillor David Brailsford, Chairman of the Corporate Parenting Sub-Group, which advised the Committee of the legal duty of the authority to act as a 'good and effective' corporate parent to children and young people in its care.  The Committee noted that corporate parenting was the responsibility of all members of the Council and its partner agencies. 

 

The Committee was advised further that the Sub-Group met in private on a quarterly basis and received a range of reports in relation to fostering and adoption, the Leaving Care Service (provided by Barnardo's), residential homes, the Virtual School and Visiting Members; and the activities of the V4C (the Children in Care Council), who had a representative on the Sub-Group.

 

The Corporate Parenting Sub-Group also attended events involving Looked After Children, Care Leavers and foster carers.  Members also attended meetings of the V4C, Big Conversations events and the FAB Awards.

 

The Committee was advised that quite a lot of members had recently attended the last FAB Awards, which had been held on 1 July 2017, at which the achievements of Looked After Children and Care Leavers had been celebrated.  The awards presented were for Personal Endeavour, Educational Endeavour, Sport, Positive Activities, Art and Music, as well as awards for Supportive Superstars and Long Service Awards for Foster Carers.  The Committee noted that the next Big Conversation would be taking place on 25 October 2017; and that all Councillors would shortly be receiving an invitation to attend.

 

A copy of the minutes from the previous Corporate Parenting Panel held on 16 March 2017 was attached to the report presented for the Committee's information.  It was reported that the Sub-Group had subsequently met on 6 July 2017; and that Councillor D Brailsford had been elected Chairman and Councillor Mrs C L Perraton-Williams had been elected as the Vice-Chairman of the Sub-Group.  The draft minutes from the afore mentioned meeting would be presented to the next meeting of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee meeting due to be held on 21 September 2017.

 

During a short discussion, the Committee made comments relating to Health Assessments; and that all Councillors should be encouraged to get involved in the Corporate Parent role.

 

RESOLVED

 

That the work of the Corporate Parenting Sub-Group be supported and that the minutes from the Corporate Parenting Panel held on 16 March 2017 be received.

14.

Lincolnshire Safeguarding Boards Scrutiny Sub-Group - Update pdf icon PDF 130 KB

(To receive a report from Andrea Brown, Democratic Services Officer, which enables the Committee to have an overview of the activities of the Lincolnshire Safeguarding Boards Scrutiny Sub-Group)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee received an update for Councillor S R Dodds (Former Chairman of the Sub-Group), which provided an update on the role of the Sub-Group.  Appendix A to the report presented also provided the Committee with a copy of the draft minutes from the last meeting of the Lincolnshire Safeguarding Boards Sub-Group meeting held on 28 March 2017 for its consideration.

 

The Committee was advised that safeguarding adults and children were key activities for the County Council.

 

The Lincolnshire Safeguarding Boards Sub-Group had been established to scrutinise the activities of the Lincolnshire Safeguarding Children Board and the Lincolnshire Safeguarding Adults Board.  The Committee noted that the Scrutiny Sub-Group met in private on a quarterly basis.  The essential role of the Scrutiny Sub-Group was to ensure that the Lincolnshire Safeguarding Children Board and the Lincolnshire Safeguarding Adults Board were both operating effectively.

 

It was highlighted to the Committee that the meeting due to be held on 5 July 2017 had had to be cancelled.  As a result of this the new Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Scrutiny Sub-Group had not yet been appointed, and that this would now take place at the next scheduled meeting, due to be held on 26 September 2017.

 

RESOLVED

 

That the draft minutes of the meeting of the Lincolnshire Safeguarding Boards Scrutiny Sub-Group, held on 28 March 2017, be received.

15.

Performance - Quarter 4 2016/17 pdf icon PDF 21 KB

(To receive a report from Sally Savage, Chief Commissioning Officer – Children's Services, which provides key performance information for Quarter 4 2016/17 that is 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 2 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)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

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 4 2016/17, 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 – Complaints 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 Executive Director of Children's Services made particular reference to indicators that had not been achieved/or were improving, but not achieved, these were:-

 

·         Page 39 - Juvenile first time offenders – It was noted that the figure for Lincolnshire was 266 actual young people for the period October 2015 – September 2016, this figure had been higher that the target figure of 203, but was a reduction on previous numbers.  The Committee was advised that the Council had launched a new diversionary project in Lincolnshire in conjunction with Lincolnshire Police.  Through joint co-operation between both services, young people who offended for the first time and accepted that they had committed the offence, would be diverted through local panels that would try to prevent young people from getting a criminal record.  It was hoped that the restorative justice process would prevent young people obtaining a criminal record that would affect their future, which in turn would help reduce the number of first time entrants and reduce re-offending as the impact  of the young person engaging in restorative work instead of just accepting a caution was positive;

·         Page 49 – Looked After Children – It was reported that there were 684 children looked after in Lincolnshire at the end of March 2017, which had been an increase on the previous quarter.  It was highlighted that more work needed to be done to understand the cause of the increase.  It was highlighted further that the rate per 10,000 was still lower than similar authorities, and the England average;

·         Page 51 – Children who are subject to a child protection plan – It was reported that Quarter 4 had seen an increase in the number of children subject to a child protection plan.  It was noted that the target had remained the same as the previous year, which reflected the work around Early Help, which was the intervention and support put in place to help children and their families.  The increase was considered to reflect seasonal variations;

·         Page 60 – Achievement gap between disadvantaged pupils and their peers at Key Stage 4 - It was highlighted that although the target had not been achieved, it was performing better than this time last year, which had reduced the gap between the Council's disadvantaged pupils and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 15.

16.

Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee Work Programme pdf icon PDF 101 KB

(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)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Consideration was given 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.

 

A copy of the Forward Plan of Decisions relating to the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee was attached at Appendix B for the Committee to consider.

 

The Senior Scrutiny Officer advised that there was no amendment to the work programme presented.

 

RESOLVED

 

That the work programme as detailed in Appendix A to the report presented be received, subject to a progress report on the Inclusive Lincolnshire Strategy being received by the Committee in six months' time.

 

 
 
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