Minutes:
The Commission considered this matter, the Chairman having decided it
was an urgent matter. This related to
concerns expressed regarding the decision making process leading to the
placement of an advertisement in the Guardian inviting expressions of interest
to manage the Authority’s Pupil Referral Unit.
The Commission considered the following documents in relation to this
matter:-
Copies of these documents are filed with these minutes.
The Chairman welcomed to the meeting Mr. I.D. Ould
CC, Cabinet Lead Member of Children’s Services who had kindly agreed to attend
the meeting and assist the Commission in its deliberations.
The Director of Children’s Services (Designate) advised the Committee
that, in the context of change in the Education Service, discussions had been
held within his Senior Management Team on options regarding the operation and
management of various units within the Department. In the course of these
discussions the possibility of exploring a different approach for the PRU was
discussed. That discussion had been prompted by difficulties being experienced
in managing the PRU. Whilst discussions had taken place, the Director assured
members that neither the Management Team nor the Cabinet had taken any decision
regarding the option of externalising the management of the PRU. The decision
to place the advertisement had been taken in error, by an Interim Manager, who
had recently joined the Department with a remit to review the operation and
management of the Advisory and Inspection Service, which included the PRU. As
soon as the error had come to light the Cabinet Lead Member was advised and
letters were sent out to staff explaining the advertisement had been placed
prematurely and that no decision had been taken to outsource the management of
the PRU. The staff were advised that they would be consulted beforehand if,
following a review, a decision were to be made to explore this option. The
Director apologised for the error and for the distress caused. The officer
responsible had been reprimanded and the Director gave an assurance that
measures were being put in place to ensure there was no repetition.
In response to questions by the members the Director advised the
Committee that:-
i)
Officers in ESPO had assumed that the Interim
Manager had the authority to place the advertisement.
ii)
All senior staff within the department had been
reminded of the limits of their delegated powers.
iii)
An independent review of the PRU had identified
areas of weakness and the need for significant improvements in the operation
and the management of the service. An OFSTED inspection had also recently been
completed. The formal OFSTED report was awaited. Officers would study that report
carefully before preparing an Action Plan on which staff would be consulted.
iv)
The Department had employed 3 Interim
Managers/Consultants to assist the Director. Each of these had been provided
with an induction which included the decision making process within the County
Council.
(v) A letter had been sent to all staff in
the Advice and Inspection Service recognising the distress which the
advertisement had caused.
The Chairman then invited Mr. Osborne CC, in his capacity as Chairman of
the PRU Management Committee to answer questions from members. In response Mr.
Osborne advised that he had not been aware of the advertisement until it had
been drawn to his attention. The staff at the PRU were also not aware and the
advertisement had caused a great deal of anxiety. As Chairman of the PRU
Management Committee he was aware of some of the concerns regarding the
operation of the PRU but was of the view that significant progress had been
made and that he had advised the OFSTED Inspectors of his unreserved support.
The Chairman thanked the Director of Children’s Services (Designate) for
his open and frank answers, and emphasised the importance of ensuring that
changes in relation to Education provision in the Children’s Services
Department were carefully managed.
RESOLVED:-
a)
That the information now provided be noted
b)
That the Director of Children’s Services be
requested to submit a report to the Education Scrutiny Committee the report of
the Independent Consultant engaged to review the activities of the PRU and the
subsequent OFSTED inspection report.
c)
That the Resources Scrutiny Committee be asked to
look at the process of engaging and monitoring the work of consultants,
particularly in senior management roles.