Agenda item

(To receive a report which provides key performance information for Quarter 4 2014/15 which is relevant to the work of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee)

Consideration was given to a report which provided performance information for Quarter 4 2014/15 which was relevant to the work of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee.

Members were provided with the opportunity to ask questions to the officers present in relation to the information contained within the report and some of the points raised during discussion included the following:

·         It was queried whether there were any measures which could be introduced to improve the average time for a child to move in with an adoptive family.  Members were advised that Lincolnshire's court times were outstanding and the authority was one of the best in the country for this.  However, there were always one or two cases which experienced delays;

·         In relation to the percentage of privately fostered children visited within required timescales it was commented that there had been some improvement.  Members were advised that this was a strange indicator, as if one visit was missed, even if by only a day, then all scheduled visits would then be late.  Officers were not happy with this and would be re-examining it.  However, members were reassured that children were being visited and officers had no concerns in relation to this.  It was noted that the implementation of the new case management system should help to address this issue and make planning easier;

·         It was noted that the vacancy rate of social workers was slightly below target.  However, it was confirmed that this related to the earlier document presented with the action plan for the Frontline Social Workers and Safeguarding scrutiny review report;

·         The below target performance of children making expected progress in Maths between Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 was attributed to change in the maths requirement, and all results needed to be re-balanced so that they were more comparable at all levels;

·         It was queried whether there was any reason for the rate of permanent exclusions to be worse than target.  Members were advised that a new strategy around exclusions would shortly be considered by the Children's Services management team, and would be added to the Committee's work programme at the appropriate time;

·         In terms of families turned around, it was confirmed that 100% would be moving to phase two;

·         Members were informed that it was proposed that all ombudsman complaints which were recorded against the authority would be reported to the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee;

·         There was a need for a rethink in relation to how schools with extremely challenging children were supported, as the impact on the needs of other children in schools and academies who sit with these children was considerable;

·         It was commented that the Narrowing the Gap conference was inspirational, and there were three speakers who were particularly good, and it would be money well spent to run it again.  It was queried whether there would be a follow up with schools that attended to see what effect it had had;

·         It was confirmed that the Narrowing the Gap conference would be repeated;

·         It was noted that exclusion of pupils was an issue that affected all schools, including grammar schools, and that school engagement on this issue was crucial;

·         Bullying was a very subjective issue, and all schools had an anti-bullying policy.  It was noted that a report was scheduled to come to this Committee in July 2015 on this issue.  There was a need for schools to work with pupils and parents.  Officers would continue to monitor this, but it was the responsibility of the school;

·         100% of troubled families involved in the Families Working Together programme had been turned around, and the authority would be able to continue this work as it was funded by central government.  However, funding levels for next year had not yet been announced, but it was hoped that the same level of funding would continue.  There was a five year plan if the funding level was maintained.

In order for the Committee to discuss the content of Appendix F, which was marked as exempt, it was moved, seconded and agreed that the press and public be excluded for consideration of that information.

RESOLVED

            That the performance information presented be noted.