Agenda and minutes

Venue: Committee Room 2, Shire Hall. View directions

Contact: Helen Barnsley  Senior Democratic Services Officer

Media

Items
No. Item

1.

General

Additional documents:

1(1)

Apologies

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Apologies were received from Councillor Pete Gilbert, Councillor Jeff Morgan, Councillor Jill Simpson-Vince and John McRoberts (Co-opted Member of the Committee)

 

Apologies were also received from John Coleman, Assistant Director (Children & Families).

1(2)

Disclosures of Pecuniary and Non-Pecuniary Interests

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Minutes:

None.

1(3)

Minutes of the Previous Meeting pdf icon PDF 258 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on the 16th of November 2021 were agreed as a true and accurate record.

 

There were no matters arising.

2.

Public Speaking

Additional documents:

Minutes:

None.

3.

Question Time

Additional documents:

3(1)

Questions to Cabinet Portfolio Holders

Up to 30 minutes of the meeting are available for members of the Children & Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee to put questions to the Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Education and Learning and Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services

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Minutes:

None.

3(2)

Updates from Cabinet Portfolio Holders and Assistant Directors

Cabinet Portfolio Holders and Assistant Directors are invited to provide any updates they have on issues within the remit of the Committee.

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Minutes:

Following a question from Councillor Brett Beetham in relation to the Nuneaton Academy Trust, it was confirmed that officers are waiting for an update from the Reginal Commissioner and this will be presented to the Committee when available. 

4.

Quarter 3 Council Plan 2020-2025 Quarterly Progress Report (April 2021 to December 2021) pdf icon PDF 1 MB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Council Plan Quarter 3 performance progress report for the period 1st April to 31st December 2021 was approved by Cabinet on 17th February 2022. Chris Baird Assistant Director (contractor) (Education Management) presented a tailored update relevant to the remit of the Committee.

 

The report focused on the Council Plan 2020 – 2025, giving strategic context and a performance commentary, including the Council’s two high level outcomes. These were assessed against 54 key business measures (KBM), of which fourteen were within the remit of this committee. The education examination regime had been suspended for a second year due to the Covid pandemic. Eight proxy measures had been introduced for educational attainment.

 

The report set out two areas of note and good progress, concerning the number of children open to an early help pathway and the percentage of care leavers who were not in education, employment and/or training. Of the five areas not on track, one required improvement activity, which related to the number of children in care, excluding unaccompanied asylum-seeking children. The report set out the current performance narrative, improvement activity and an explanation of the projected trajectory.

 

Current performance showed that one KBM was paused from reporting due to national suspension of inspection or examination regimes. Eight KBMs were on track and three were not. There were two areas of note, with a current performance narrative provided for each of these. Of the three areas not on track, none required escalation at this stage. Summary information was provided and the associated commentary and improvement activity for all reporting measures was available.  The impact of the Covid pandemic on these measures was noted.

 

The report mentioned the ongoing impact of the Covid pandemic on some KBMs. A new performance management framework had been developed and was approved by Cabinet at its meeting on 10th March 2022. 

 

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the summer exam series for the 2020/21 academic year was cancelled. The report comprised the assessments used for 2021, the proxy measures used for both 2020 and 2021 and contextual information for 2021. Warwickshire results compared favourably to the national, regional and statistical neighbour data. Context was provided on the results data. Charts showed average attainment scores and data on grade five and above in English and maths. This was disaggregated to provide data for disadvantaged/non-disadvantaged pupils. Contextual information was provided about attendance levels in 2020/21, remote learning and the mental health of both pupils and school staff. Further sections focussed on disadvantaged and vulnerable pupils, performance levels prior to the pandemic, key trends and issues in 2019, closing the gap in disadvantaged pupil attainment and recovery from the impact of the pandemic. 

 

Following the presentation, the Chair asked a question in relation to disadvantaged pupils and what could be done differently to improve performance in this area.  Sophie Thompson - School Improvement Networks Lead Officer, confirmed that this had been an issue for the Council since 2015 but it is also a national issue.  Chris Baird added that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

5.

Progress of Integrated Front Door (MASH) pdf icon PDF 313 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

George Shipman (Service Manager, Initial Response, MASH) introduced this item.

 

Warwickshire’s Safeguarding Partnership established the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) in 2016. These were structures designed to facilitate information-sharing and decision-making on a multi-agency basis through co-locating staff from the local authority, health agencies, the police, and other partners.

 

Since that time, there had been changes to legislation, guidance and organisational constructs across the partner agencies. In addition, Warwickshire Children and Families Service (WCFS) was part way through an Ofsted Inspection abandoned due to the Covid pandemic. At the time Ofsted had raised concerns regarding the effectiveness of the MASH. It was agreed to undertake a joint review of the MASH in October 2020, in consultation with a number of teams and agencies. The purpose of the review was to look at the current structure, operating model and delivery of services to children and families to establish if they were safe, efficient, robust and whether they offered best value in terms of resource allocation.

 

In December 2020 a new permanent Service Manager overseeing the MASH, Initial Response Team, Emergency Duty Team and Family Information Service commenced employment and following this, a new Operations Manager was appointed in February 2021.

 

The outcome of the review was the development of an Integrated Front Door, which was agreed by partners and its development a major priority within the Service, with the new model officially launching in September 2021. The new service has changed the dynamic around which services can be put in place and how parents/families can be involved.

 

A key area of note has been the introduction of a triage system; where referrals are screened and initial decisions about referral paths are made.  This new initial conversation has led to a significant improvement in the service offered.  The Committee noted that a number of additional partners are now in place at the triage stage which has led to another significant improvement.

 

Councillor Jerry Roodhouse asked if the data collected at the point of triage contact was shared; and if trends are looked at and the information shared with partners.  George Shipman confirmed that the sources of referrals (GP, schools, ambulance service) has allowed officers to create the right path for each case; for example, a new domestic abuse pathway has been introduced and earlier support identified. 

 

Nigel Minns, Strategic Director - People Directorate, confirmed that there is a comprehension quality assurance programme in place and that the data is reviewed regulatory to identify patterns/changes and the causes.  A routine case audit process is completed every 4-6 weeks by the manager to identify trends in individual and overall cases.  Briefing notes are then shared with all partners.

 

The Ofsted Report published in February 2022 highlighted the progress made in the Front Door, noting this was an area of focus for Senior Managers, the benefits of the new structure, quality of management oversight and strong partnership relationships as some of it strengths.  Ofsted did highlight a couple of examples where it felt a strategy discussion  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

6.

Child Protection Performance pdf icon PDF 414 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Calvin Smith (Service Manager, Safeguarding & Support) introduced this item reporting on findings from the OFSTED inspection. These were a positive acknowledgement of endeavours to improve the County’s child in need & child protection services. However, the recent widely reported deaths of children provided a reminder of the need to seek ongoing improvement in services. Reference to the challenges from the Covid pandemic but the service had continued with staff visiting households throughout it, often the only professionals that were able to visit and supported all families not just the vulnerable.

 

Over the last four years, a series of themed audits had been undertaken aimed at improving the child protection performance and services. Other mechanisms were in place, including the Child Protection Escalation Panel to ensure a robust challenge to both the council and its partners. Audits were undertaken by key decision makers within Warwickshire’s child protection services. The audit process changed in the pandemic from a face-to-face, to a Microsoft Teams process. It was planned to return to the face-to-face process to enhance the action learning cycle. After each audit, the learning was shared in workshops with the teams who complete the child protection investigations and when appropriate, key partners. They provided a continuous cycle of improvement with key benefits being reported.

 

This process sought to improve the rates for key indicators reported annually in the Department for Education Child in Need return. The audits also aimed to monitor and improve factors impacting the experience families. Over the past four years child protection processes had become more robust and restorative. The learning from the OFSTED inspection would be adopted and the cycle of continuous improvement would be maintained.

 

Following a question from the Chair in relation to the retention of staff, it was confirmed that the professional life of a social worker is averagely seven and half years.  However, Warwickshire’s turnover of staff is currently not unacceptable.  For two years, there were no agency staff at Warwickshire County Council.  We are putting in place support for career pathways and aim to keep experienced staff in post.  In comparison with our statistical neighbours, we are doing well.  During their first year with the council there is a scheme in place to protect the workload along with additional training from the academy that has been set up, that newly qualified social workers must pass to move forward.  We will try and avoid giving child protection cases during the first year – they may co-work a case with another social worker.

 

Following a question from Councillor Brian Hammersley, Calvin Smith confirmed that if a child is at risk, the child protection process would be implemented but the assumption that parents are the problem was not always the case; so, child protection processes were not always the answer.  The team needs to be able to work with the parents, and other partners to protect the child.  Often, parents have done everything they possibly can to protect their child.  Recently social workers worked with the British  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

7.

Work Programme pdf icon PDF 315 KB

To consider the attached work programme, updated following the meeting of the Chair and Group Spokespersons. The programme includes an update from the Forward Plan showing items relevant to the remit of this Committee.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee noted and agreed the work programme as attached.

 

The Chair confirmed that following the recent survey sent to the Committee in relation to priority topics they would like to see presented at future meetings that work is still in progress to put a programme together.

8.

Any Other Business

Additional documents:

Minutes:

None.

9.

Date of the next meeting

The next meeting has been scheduled for 11 April 2022 @ 10am.

 

The meeting will be held in Committee Room 2, Shire Hall, Warwick.

 

Meetings for 2022/2023 have been scheduled as follows –

 

·         14 June 2022 @ 10am

·         27 September 2022 @ 10am

·         8 November 2022 @ 10am

·         14 February 2023 @ 10am

·         11 April 2023 @ 10am

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The next meeting has been scheduled for 11 April 2022 @ 10am

 

The meeting will be held at Shire Hall, Warwick.

 

Meetings for 2022/2023 have been scheduled as follows –

 

        14 June 2022 @ 10am

        27 September 2022 @ 10am

        8 November 2022 @ 10am

        14 February 2023 @ 10am

        11 April 2023 @ 10am