Agenda item

(To receive a report from Stuart Carlton, Assistant Director of Children's Services, which provides key performance information for Quarter 3 2013/14 that is relevant to the work of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee)

At this point of the meeting, the Chairman took the opportunity, on behalf of the Committee, to welcome Sally Savage to Lincolnshire County Council in her position as Assistant Director of Children's Services.

Consideration was given to a report of the Executive Director of Children's Services which provided key performance information for Quarter 3 2013/14 relevant to the work of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee.

Stuart Carlton, Assistant Director of Children's Services, introduced the report and circulated a further update in relation to Performance Indicator NI068 which provided detail regarding the percentage of referrals to children's social care going on to an initial assessment.  The figure included details about the number of assessments completed as a result of referrals.   It was reported that the national indicator would be phased out by the end of the year as it was no longer required.

During discussion, the following points were noted:-

·       PI 2023SC (Page 28) – it was difficult to manage Child Protection Plans with a target as this was determined by the number of referrals received which could vary considerably on a monthly basis.  Additionally, a child protection conference which includes a number of siblings could also increase the figures.  It was felt to be useful to have a target figure as a benchmark but noted that this was an indicator which was regularly debated.

·       Despite the number of complaints received in schools being included within the report, it was noted that these were for the school to deal with directly.  However, should a complaint relate to a specific member of staff and their suitability to work with children, the Local Authority would look at the issues raised through Children's Services as the Department was required to employ a Local Authority Designated Officer to oversee this function.  If found that any member of staff had acted inappropriately, the case would be investigated fully.

·       Child Protection Plans were complex and, although it would appear that a child had been removed from a plan and then put back on, in some cases, the child had moved out of county for the period where they were subject to a plan from another local authority. It was acknowledged that work was ongoing to develop ways to ensure consistent and accurate reporting of this indicator.

·       Sally Savage, Assistant Director of Children's Services, had been appointed predominantly to work with Clinical Commissioning Groups and Public Health to ensure there was an overarching senior position in the authority responsible for children's commissioning, bringing together the local authority, public health and the Clinical Commissioning Groups.

·       Common themes for referral were neglect and domestic abuse/violence issues rather than anything specifically unique to Lincolnshire although Members acknowledged that these reasons do vary over time.

·       Two compliments to the Scrutiny Committee had been reported and officers were asked to provide the detail of those compliments, if possible.

·       A suggestion was made that the Committee may be able to, in some way, support the complaints process.  Advice was given that the complaints process was outlined through a statutory process and, if the Committee were to be included in that process, this could be perceived as not following the process as required legally, although reporting from the complaints was an important scrutiny role.

·       The complaints process in schools was felt to be particularly daunting for parents and additional support could be required through the process, as it could be extremely stressful.  Although there was an appointed School Complaints Officer to provide support and advice both to schools and parents, Members suggested that it may be helpful to publicise this for parents also.

·       System problems remained a concern for the Committee as input errors were resulting in inaccurate reporting.  The new system was expected to be more intuitive and easier to navigate, reducing the amount of error.  It was hoped this new system would be in place by January 2015.  Members were reassured that data cleansing would continue to be undertaken to ensure that data was correct.

·       Social Workers undertake a number of unannounced visits but find that families were not in.  It had been suggested that IT tablets would be beneficial so that they could input data whilst waiting for families, etc, to return.  Unfortunately, the current ICS system was unable to be accessed via this method.  Judith Hetherington-Smith, Chief Information Officer, and Simon Oliver, Head of IMT, were being consulted on ways to rectify this and to make remote access of systems easier for Social Workers.

·       PI CS108 (Page 40) – The ePEP system had now been upgraded and, although this should be assisting staff, frustrations with the new upgrade and required training had initially made this more difficult. 

·       The majority of referrals made to the ombudsman were relating to Home to School Transport, of which there had been no "findings of fault".  In relation to referrals made to the ombudsman on Post 16,   national guidelines were to be followed, on two year programme, which made it difficult to provide reassurance to parents.  One finding of fault against the Local Authority had been made which would be presented to the Committee in due course.

·       Members were reassured that a number of pieces of work were ongoing around anti-bullying issues. It was agreed that a report on anti-bullying would be brought to a future meeting.

RESOLVED

That the report be noted.