Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillor David Ross, Tim Reid (Church Representative), Councillor Andy Roberts (Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Children and Families), Councillor Karen May (Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Health and Well-being) and Tina Russell (Director of Children’s Services and Chief Executive, Worcestershire Children First).

None.

Members of the public wishing to take part should notify the Democratic Governance and Scrutiny Manager in writing or by e-mail indicating both the nature and content of their proposed participation no later than 9.00am on the working day before the meeting (in this case 2 November 2022).  Further details are available on the Council's website.  Enquiries can also be made through the telephone number/e-mail address listed in this agenda and on the website.

None.

(previously circulated)

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 20 September 2022 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

(Indicative timing: 10.05 to 10.40am)

The Panel had requested an update on developments relating to the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 and the specific support offered to children and families.

By way of introduction, the Head of Safer Communities (Public Health) made the following main points:

·         The Panel was reminded that the Public Health Team had strategic oversight of community safety including domestic abuse and the commissioning of relevant services.

·         The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 set out a range of requirements and responsibilities and placed some new duties on upper tier local authorities, with a focus on providing safe accommodation and support services for victims of domestic abuse and their families.

·         The Act required the setting up of a multi-agency Domestic Abuse Partnership Board (DAPB) to oversee the responsibilities, including developing a Needs Assessment and an associated Domestic Abuse Strategy.  The Strategy had been consulted on and was now in place alongside an action plan.  The DAPB was a subgroup of the Worcestershire Safer Communities Board which has strategic oversight of community safety across the County.

·         Other activity as part of the action plan included the development of a service directory and working with businesses to ensure they had access to information on how to support staff who may disclose domestic abuse.

·         The Domestic Abuse Grant was an annual rolling Government grant which provided funding to the County Council and the District Councils.

·         West Mercia Women’s Aid (WMWA) provided a spectrum of services as part of the Domestic Abuse Advice and Support Service contract.

·         Members were told about the Sanctuary approach which allowed victims/survivors and their children to stay in their own homes, subject to a risk assessment, by adding security measures and a package of support.  This would initially operate as a pilot funded by Public Health with a view to commissioning a service to deliver the model across Worcestershire in a consistent manner.

·         Training for staff on approaches to domestic abuse was provided regularly and was also open to Councillors.

·         In line with the requirements of the Act, the County Council had partnered with Herefordshire Council to jointly commission a Lived Experience Advisory Project.

·         Worcestershire Children First (WCF) Family Front Door received information on incidents of domestic abuse from West Mercia Police.  The Police also shared information with the WCF Early Help Family Support Service.

·         Work also included data analysis of referrals to look at the impact on children and young people.  WCF had developed open working relationships with partners, and were open to challenge and suggestions for improvement, demonstrating a maturity of cooperation.

·         Partnership with West Mercia Police had successfully delivered Operation Encompass to schools in Worcestershire for some years and a pilot project in Early Years settings was now being developed.

Members were given an opportunity to ask questions and the following main points were raised:

·      In response to a question about whether there were enough refuges in the County, Members were told that as a result of the Needs Assessment partners were looking at an additional 29 units of accommodation, although  ...  view the full minutes text for item 553.

(Indicative timing: 10.40 – 11.15am)

The Panel received an update on Worcestershire Children First’s Social Care and Safeguarding Quality Assurance Framework.  By way of introduction, the Group Manager Safeguarding Quality Assurance & Principal Social Worker made the following main points:

·      The Quality Assurance Framework covered three areas:

1.         Key Performance Indicators

2.         Feedback from Children, Young People and Families

3.         Audit activity

·      The aim was to build quality assurance into normal business practice and to evidence improvements and where the service made a difference for children.  The strength of WCF’s quality assurance framework had been recognised by Ofsted following a focused inspection visit to Children’s Social Care in 2021 and the service was proud that improvement had been recognised via independent verification.

·      Other areas covered by the framework were Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Fostering.  Further work was needed in these areas but improvements were starting to be seen.  Improvements in SEND had recently been independently validated by the Department for Education/NHS England and officers had been asked to present to the Council for Disabled Children’s Regional Conference.  Officers understood that concerns remained but were proud of the achievements seen so far.

·      Complaints were seen as an opportunity to learn and dedicated staff were identified to undertake investigations with the aim of ensuring that families felt heard.

·      Staff understood the importance of ‘closing the learning loop’ and would strive to celebrate successes but learn when things did not go as well, by acknowledging what had happened and acting to improve.

·      The series of appendices to the agenda report aimed to show the volume and depth of quality assurance work and to highlight that this was a priority.

Members were given an opportunity to ask questions and the following main points were raised:

·      It was noted that feedback on SEND for Q2 2022/23 indicated that, although only 50% of people felt it was easy to contact a Case Worker, support was good once contact had been made.  The Panel was reminded that WCF had invested in staffing and training and had introduced a communication framework to drive up performance and demonstrate what good looked like.  This would be a focus for the next quarter.

·      With reference to workforce development, officers were congratulated on Worcestershire being ranked 1^st in the region and 12^th nationally in a survey of social workers commissioned by the Local Government Association.  A question was asked about how this had been achieved and whether pay was a major factor.  The Group Manager confirmed that the service was proud of this assessment as it had been achieved via an independent survey.  It was confirmed that social workers were not paid over and above comparable rates in other authorities.  Pay rates were in the upper quartile but not at the top.  When asked, social workers did not reference pay as a main reason for staying in a job.  Instead, consistent and stable management, good continuous professional development/training and management structure were stated as key drivers for staff retention. 

·      With reference to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 554.

(Indicative timing: 11.15 – 11.35am)

The Panel received an update on performance information relating to Education and SEND.  By way of introduction, the Director of Early Help, Children in Need and the Family Front Door made the following main points:

·      Although the Director of Education and Early Help and the Director of All Age Disability had been unable to attend, where relevant they would provide answers to questions following the meeting.

·      Following a request at a previous Panel meeting, schools’ performance in relation to Ofsted inspections was now shown separately for academies and maintained schools.

·      Levels of school attendance continued to improve following the Covid pandemic.

·      The number of children missing education had increased significantly due to better reporting mechanisms giving a more accurate picture.

·      The large increase in the number of young people Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET) was typical of the September picture.  This figure would decline once post-school destinations for 16-year-olds were confirmed.

Members were given an opportunity to ask questions and the following main points were raised:

·      A Member requested more detail be provided on the new reporting system for children missing education to further explain the increase.

·      It was suggested that levels of school attendance were still quite low and further details were requested on what was being done to improve the situation.

·      The Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Education pointed out that, in relation to young people who were NEET, the figures for looked after children were concerning.  Although Worcestershire’s figures were good in relation to national data, they were still not good enough.

·      She went on to note that for young people who were looked after, remaining in their placement for a longer period post-16 was a real advantage in determining whether or not they would become NEET.

·      It was noted that the number of children with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) had increased in Q2.  A Member of the Panel requested details on the analysis of why this was the case.

·      The continued unavailability of the Trust’s electronic patient record system (Carenotes) was noted.  Members were concerned about the impact this might have on the Council’s ability to meet statutory deadlines and requested further information on the situation, including when the system might be available again and how many EHCPs had been effected.  The Cabinet Member confirmed that this issue had been raised with the Trust.

·      In relation to NEETs, further information was requested on whether the fall in numbers from Q1 to Q2 was usual and whether the figure was expected to rise throughout the year.

·      The Cabinet Member outlined actions taken to increase the capacity of Educational Psychologists (EPs).  Although there was a shortage of EPs nationally, junior EPs were being recruited to undertake preparatory work, allowing more senior colleagues to take cases forward.

·      In relation to children missing education, it was confirmed that new statutory guidance would come into effect from September 2023.

It was agreed that the Chairman would write to the Cabinet Member with Responsibility  ...  view the full minutes text for item 555.

(Indicative timing: 11.35am – 12.05pm)

The Panel received an update following the Department for Education (DfE)/NHS England (NHSE) review of the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Accelerated Progress Plan that had taken place in September 2022.  Although the Director of All Age Disability was unable to attend, where relevant, answers to questions would be provided following the meeting.

Members were given an opportunity to ask questions and the following main points were raised:

·      A Member who was new to the Panel requested further information on the context of the review including details of the remaining journey and where the Council was on the trajectory of improvement.  The Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Education reminded the Panel that detailed action plans lay behind each area and it was agreed that these would be shared with the Panel.

·      The Cabinet Member informed the Panel that the comments received from the DfE following the review had highlighted improved communication with parents.

·      Figures were requested on the lack of suitable specialist provision, including what provision was currently available and what additional provision was needed.

·      With reference to the effectiveness of leaders and managers, further information was requested on what had been done to secure improvement.

In conclusion, Members asked for the Panel’s thanks to be passed on to the Director of All Age Disability and her team for the service improvement demonstrated.

(Indicative timing: 12.05 – 12.10pm)

The Panel reviewed its work programme and it was agreed that Home to School Transport would be added to the work programme for March 2023.

In addition, Members were encouraged to promote and support the work of the Youth Cabinet where possible.