Agenda item

The report was introduced by Johnny Kyriacou – Director of Education, and confirmation was given that overall the performance within education services is on track with the exception of In Year School Place Applications.  Item 7 will cover this in more detail.

Johnny Kyriacou provided an update in relation to the work underway on SEND.  It was noted that there has been a lot of change recently and officers are working on bringing it all together.  Work includes reviewing what has happened previously and how officers can use lessons learnt to move forward more efficiently.  It was agreed that a member development session in relation to SEND and the current change programme be arranged and offered to all members, not just those on this committee. 

John Coleman – Director for Children and Families highlighted that the performance in relation to Child Protection Plans remains stable; it has risen slightly but is still within target. 

Regarding referrals to the Front Door service, the Panel noted that there had been an increase over the summer but that this is a normal trend and expected. 

It was confirmed that the performance in relation to the number of Children in Care was currently not on track but that the figure is coming down.  It is an area of focus for the team, and it was noted that the number has been affected by the number of Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children (UASC) taken in by Warwickshire.

Following a question from Councillor Justin Kerridge, John Coleman confirmed that the risk register for children’s service will always include a consideration of significant injuries or death.  It was noted that this was the same for the adult service risk register.  Officers do need to be aware that situations could arise that result in injury or death, especially within the children and adult services. 

Following a discussion in relation to the service overspend, it was noted that this was predominately in relation to the cost of residential placements which has increased recently by 23%.  The Warwickshire County Council regional framework is predicting another increase of 10%.  This isn’t unusual across children’s services in England’s local authorities. 

The demand for emergency placements has also increased and is often offered at a high cost to the council.  Work is underway for council owned children’s homes which mean that by the end of this financial year the council will have 13 residential places resulting in a large saving across the board.

Councillor Clare Golby requested further information in relation to the high cost related to children in care, asking if it was in relation to specific care needs.  Councillor Golby also raised concerns that behavioural issues in council run homes, within the county, could cause issues within the communities they are based in.  John Coleman stated that the placement market for children in care is broken and that providers are seeking “easier children” to look after and will not take those with higher needs.  There are complex needs with some of the children in Warwickshire care at the moment.  Regarding Councillor Golby’s concerns about the impact on communities, John Coleman confirmed this would be minimal.  Specialist provision will not be provided in the homes within communities and there will be no issues for the communities.  In addition, OFSTED measures will review the impact of the homes on the communities.  Officers are currently and continually working with the local communities to ensure that there are no negative impacts.

It was agreed that John Coleman will ask Dr Shade Agboola, Director of Public Health to provide further information to the Committee in relation to the public health matters such as self-harm and alcohol abuse.  The performance figures currently available are annual and the Committee would like more up to date information.  It was highlighted to members of the Committee that live data is available on the BI dashboard, and there has been an improvement since the report was published.

In relation to an increase in payments to families in emergency situations, the Committee noted that in one case, a payment was made to a family who were facing eviction for non-payment of rent.  While officers agreed that this was an unusual case, and not something that they would do regularly, making the payment for rent was much cheaper than the option of taking the children into care after the eviction.  Officers are working with the family to avoid the same situation arising again.

Following a question from Councillor Bill Gifford in relation to the forecasted overspend for the provision of SEND services, and the fact that one of the providers for this service was forecasting large profits, John Coleman confirmed that this is an issue and that the current review of the placement for children market confirmed the issues.  The

consultation on the government’s response is looking at pulling together regional care collaboratives to manage some of the issues and Warwickshire is very much involved in that conversation.  There is a regional framework in place and providers are reluctant to join this.  The council has rejected offers  for placements due to the high price asked for. 

It was agreed that a member development session will be arranged for all members to give a better understanding in relation to placements, costs and providers.  Helen Barnsley, Senior Democratic Services Officer, will work with John Coleman to arrange this.

Resolved

That the Committee considers and comments on Quarter 1 2023/24

organisational performance and progress against the Integrated Delivery Plan, management of finances and risk.