Agenda and minutes

A webcast of the meeting can be viewed here.

It was moved by Mr. R. Hills CC and seconded by Mr. C. Smith CC that Mrs. H. Fryer CC be elected Chairman of the Children and Families Overview and Scrutiny Committee for the period ending with the date of the Annual Meeting of the County Council in 2024.

RESOLVED:

That Mrs. H. Fryer CC be appointed Chairman for the period ending with the date of the Annual Meeting of the County Council in 2024.

Mrs. H. Fryer CC – in the Chair

Nominations for the position of Deputy Chairman were sought. Mr. R. Hills CC was nominated by Mrs. H. Fryer CC and seconded by Mr. M. Frisby CC.

RESOLVED:

That Mr. R. Hills CC be elected Deputy Chairman for the period ending with the date of the Annual Meeting of the County Council in 2024.

The minutes of the meeting held on 7 March 2023 were taken as read, confirmed and signed.

The Chief Executive reported that no questions had been received under Standing Order 35.

The following questions were received under Standing Order 7(3) and 7(5) and was put to the Chairman of the Children and Families Overview and Scrutiny Committee:

Question asked by Mr. P. King:

“Parent and carers in the Market Harborough West and Foxton division have informed me that they are increasingly concerned about the provision of respite care for parents of children with special needs in the Market Harborough area. Recently, both Melton and Glenfield respite centres run by Praxis Care were closed overnight by Ofsted on the 1st of December 2022 due to safeguarding issues.

Parents carers are concerned that despite repeated attempts to secure alternative provision nothing has been put in place as yet, to enable regular respite for parents/carers from their often highly complex, stressful and demanding carer roles.

Residents have asked me to ask what policies and procedures Leicestershire County Council has in place for when services like this are closed through emergency measures?

And what are children’s services doing to help affected parents/carers, and especially those in the Market Harborough West and Foxton locality?”

Reply by the Chairman:

When Ofsted places a Children’s provision into special measures, as Praxis has been, then the Local Authority has processes and procedures in place to ensure quality assurance of provision and appropriate action is taken in respect of any children living at or accessing the service. These process and procedures were activated as soon as Praxis Care was put into special measures.

Since the closure of PRAXIS, the children’s social care team have been working with children and families to review their packages of short break support. Where possible the Department has commissioned alternative packages, including where suitable, overnight care in the family home to support the child and their family. The Department is continuing to seek alternative provision that will support the children and their families in the local area, whilst longer term solutions are put in place.

Question asked by Mrs. A. Hack:

“In a recent survey, 22,000 school buildings were assessed from which a report that was published in May 2021. In this report 260* school buildings in Leicestershire and Rutland* were identified as grade C (poor) and more worryingly 77 were classified as category D condition which is described in the report as Life expired or at serious risk of imminent failure.

*the report includes 22 schools in Rutland.

1.    As the authority responsible for allocating students to school, what oversight does the County Council have over the condition of Leicestershire Schools?

There was a recent round of funding announced by the Government, 32 schools in Leicestershire have been allocated funding for 38 different improvement projects.  Works included a recently transferred academy school Ravenhurst Primary in my division for ‘Life Expired Condition Roof.  Of the remaining projects the word ‘urgent’ appears 21 times.  This funding was in addition to the 5 schools selected for rebuilds.  Which seems to offer repairs to a fraction of the schools identified in the 2021 report.

2.    Does the authority have a clear view to the condition of the remaining schools that are maintained as well as those managed by the Multi Academy Trusts.  This includes  the safety of children and the workforce at the sites that have been identified as having category C and D defects?

3.    What liaison does Leicestershire County Council have with the Head Teachers about the condition of Leicestershire Schools?

4.    If the information is available, can Councillors receive an update on the condition of the schools highlighted with category C/D defects within their divisions?

5.    Of the school estate that has been  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

There were no urgent items for consideration.

The Chairman invited members who wished to do so to declare any interest in respect of items on the agenda for the meeting.

No declarations were made.

There were no declarations of the party whip.

The Chief Executive reported that no petitions had been received under Standing Order 36.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Children and Family Services which provided an overview of the functions of the Inclusion Service and an overview of the strategic duty to promote the education of all children known to a social worker. A copy of the report marked ‘Agenda Item 10’ is filed with these minutes.

In presenting the report, the Director advised of an error in paragraph one which referred to a ‘temporary strategic duty’ but should read ‘permanent strategic duty’.

Arising from discussion, the following points were raised:

      i.         Members noted that the report arising from the Timpson Review of School Exclusion had been published at the same time as the Service had been reviewing its own strategy around exclusions. The findings of the report and recommendations were considered by the Department and incorporated into its strategy for supporting excluded children, their parents and working with their school.

     ii.         In response to questions raised, the Director explained that parents were choosing to home educate children at an increasing rate for a number of reasons such as the legacy of the COVID-19 pandemic and children having not felt comfortable in their school. Members were assured that the Department would continue to analyse data to understand the reasons behind this and would continue to provide guidance and support to those children and their families when considering whether to home educate.

    iii.         In response to a question regarding the number of children missing education (CME), the Director advised that the numbers had been particularly high during the COVID-19 pandemic and had unexpectedly continued to increase. The Department expected that the ongoing increase was due to sustained anxiety around attending school.  Members noted that a robust review of the data would take place to better understand and address the issue.

   iv.         In response to concern regarding the high number of CME who were in the ‘not known’ category, the Director acknowledged that the figure was concerning, particularly when a child was not on roll with a school. Members were reassured that the Department continued to work with partner agencies, other local authorities and with schools to locate children and to address any concerns for their wellbeing.

RESOLVED:

That the overview of the functions of the Inclusion Service and the strategic duty to promote the education of all children known to a social worker be noted.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Children and Family Services which provided an update on work to implement Family Hubs in Leicestershire and received a presentation on the development of the programme. Copies of the report and presentation marked ‘Agenda Item 11’ are filed with these minutes.

Arising from the discussion, the following points were raised:

      i.        Members were pleased to hear that the first two Family Hubs had been opened successfully, and that there would be at least one hub in every district area within twelve months. The Department aimed for a network of hubs across Leicestershire within two to five years. Members were keen to receive updates as the programme progressed and the Director agreed to present the Committee with progress reports at six and twelve months into the development.

    ii.        In response to a concern regarding funding, the Director assured members that the £1m allocated through Government funding would be used to support the initial implementation of the model including a communication strategy, as well as the training and development of staff. Following this, the service would be delivered within the existing departmental budget. Members noted that the aim of the Family Hubs model was to transform access to help and support through the network, building on already established integrated services, including the Children and Family Wellbeing service. The Hubs would support families and communities with advice and help to access existing services offered by the Department.

   iii.        Members noted that existing Council spaces would be used to create 'one-stop shops', for parents, carers, and families across Leicestershire to help access support and advice when needed. The Department had an agreement with the Council’s library service to implement the Hubs within its libraries but had also been contacted by community libraries who were interested in the developing the Family Hubs model within their premises.

   iv.        Engagement with families and communities would be central in the development and delivery of the programme. Members noted that parents and communities had been consulted on the language used in promotional material to ensure that it was appropriate for service users. It was suggested by a member that feedback forms would be a good way to understand satisfaction amongst service users. The Director explained that although the funding period was relatively short, evaluators would be asked to track the progress of the programme over the short-term and long-term to ensure that delivery was meeting the needs of service users.

    v.        In terms of the digital offer, members noted that a website space would be created whereby young people and parents could access specific information and resources. The Department was considering whether laptops could be available within the Hubs so that service users had the opportunity to access digital recourses there.

   vi.        The Cabinet Lead Member for Children and Families highlighted that the Family Hubs model would aim to create spaces where families and communities could access information and guidance relating to all services delivered by the Department and make it easier for them to access the right services at the best time.

RESOLVED:

That:

a)    the update on work to implement Family Hubs in Leicestershire be noted;

b)    the Director agreed to present progress reports at six and twelve months into the development of the Family Hubs model.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Children and Family Services which provided an overview of Leicestershire County Council’s duties and responsibilities to Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children (UASC) and the context in which the County Council delivers services to these children and young people. A copy of the report marked ‘Agenda Item 12’ is filed with these minutes.

Arising from discussion, the following points were raised:

      i.         Members noted that the average cost incurred by the Council in supporting and caring for one UASC care leaver being higher than East Midlands average could be due to older data being available to finance colleagues when data was published. It was expected that the East Midlands average would have risen by the time newly available data was published.

     ii.         In response to concern regarding the £7k funding gap per child per annum, the Director acknowledged that government funding should cover the full costs of supporting UASC. However, there was shortfall and to date the Department had already used its full annual allocation of funding. Members noted that local authorities nationally were experiencing the same issues with demand and funding. The Department would continue to raise the issue of funding with Government in order to reduce the funding gap.

    iii.         Members noted that the Department worked closely with the Home Office to support individuals to continue support individuals to continue living in the UK as they reach adulthood, and to access legal advice on making asylum claims, although it was noted that the process and right to appeal could often be lengthy.

   iv.         In response to concern regarding UASC having been placed alone in hotels with licensed premises, alongside a large number of adult asylum seekers, the Director acknowledged that this was a safeguarding concern. Members noted that the Home Office had transported children to Leicestershire as adults and placed them within hotels. Members were assured that as soon as individuals within hotels had been identified as children, the Council became responsible for their care, and they had been moved to a more appropriate setting.

     v.         The Lead Member for Children and Families acknowledged members concerns regarding UASC and assured members that she would continue to raise concerns regarding funding, safeguarding and accommodation with Government. Members were also reassured that the Department would continue to deliver a robust level of safeguarding despite funding and demand pressures.

RESOLVED:

That the overview of the Council’s duties and responsibilities to Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children (UASC) and the context in which the County Council delivers services to these children and young people be noted.

The Committee considered a joint report of the Chief Executive and the Director of Children and Family Services which presented an update on the Children and Family Services Department’s performance for the period January to March 2023 (quarter 4). A copy of the report marked ‘Agenda Item 13’ is filed with these minutes.

Members noted that the target for re-referrals to Children’s Social Care within 12 months was 22%.

RESOLVED:

That the update on the Children and Family Services Department’s performance for the period January to March 2023 (quarter 4) be noted.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Children and Family Services which provided members with an overview of the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme annual report 2022. A copy of the report marked ‘Agenda Item 14’ is filed with these minutes.

The Lead Member for Children and Families highlighted that the programme had a positive impact on children by enabling them to spend quality time with peers and to prepare healthy food.

RESOLVED:

That the overview of the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme annual report 2022 be noted.

The next meetings of the Committee are scheduled to take place on 5 September 2023 and 7 November 2023.

Meetings of the Committee in 2024 are scheduled to be held at 14:00pm on the following dates:

23 January

5 March

4 June

3 September

5 November

RESOLVED:

It was noted that the next meetings of the Committee would take place at 14:00 on 5 September 2023 and 7 November 2023. Meetings of the Committee in 2024 would be held at 14:00pm on the following dates:

23 January

5 March

4 June

3 September

5 November