Agenda item

The Committee considered a joint report of the Chief Executive and Director of Children and Family Services which presented an update on the Children and Family Services Department’s performance for the period to March 2022 (Quarter 4). 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 nine which referred to ‘Intensive Referral Order’ but should read ‘Independent Reviewing Officer’.

Arising from discussion, the following points were made:

      i.         Members raised concerns about the delays in Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan assessments for those children transitioning to junior or secondary school in September 2022. It was noted that these should have been completed by mid February, but a number still remained outstanding. A member commented that this could be worrying for families, particularly given the level of vulnerability of those children affected. 

The Director provided assurances regarding the Departments intention to work through the backlog by the end of June and confirmed the issue was being monitored on a weekly basis and that discussions with schools and parents were ongoing to ensure they were kept informed of progress. 

Members noted that the Department had seen an unprecedented increase in the number of requests for EHC plans, particularly this year, which had contributed to the delays in meeting the statutory assessment deadlines. However, whilst acknowledging staff and demand pressures faced by the Department, having regard to the impact such delays had on families, the Committee requested more detailed information on the current number of assessments outstanding and details of how this was being managed.

     ii.         Members noted the Department’s plans to resolve significant staffing issues within Social Care though the implementation of a detailed recruitment and retention strategy. Difficulties in recruiting and retaining qualified social workers had been a national issue and the Director confirmed that the Department would work to address this locally by reviewing pay scales, reconsidering caseloads, and adapting working environments. Members were pleased to hear about a social work apprenticeship scheme for employees of the Children’s Social Care and Children and Family Wellbeing Service noting that the first cohort of apprentices would qualify in autumn 2022. Members were assured that a review of capacity within the Departments business support service had taken place to ensure that performance, in terms of case review meetings being conducted on time, could be improved.

    iii.         The Director reported that the percentage of children becoming subject to a Child Protection Plan (CPPS) for a second or subsequent time continued to be a significant area of focus for the Department. Performance had declined in this area for a number of reasons, but most significantly as a result of Covid and the lack of external support (including access to health services and schools) for children and families during that period.  Despite the increase in repeat plans, Members noted that a review by the Department had shown that in the majority of cases, the timescales between plans were in excess of two years. 

   iv.         In response to questions raised, the Director advised that regular audits were being conducted to understand themes around the circumstances leading to repeat CPPs and these had so far shown that substance abuse, parental mental health problems and domestic abuse remained key factors. Members were pleased to hear that the Department had provided additional training to staff around these issues. The Director also reported that the implementation of the new Domestic Abuse toolkit would aim to strengthen exit arrangements from CPPs, thus reducing the risk of repeat plans, where domestic abuse was a factor. 

     v.         In response to a question raised, it was noted that the refreshed High Needs Development Plan aimed to ensure that the best services were being made available to children and that individual SEND needs were being met. It was not yet known what affect this might have on wider performance targets, but some impact was expected (for example, the Plan may reduce EHC plan numbers if some children’s needs could be appropriately met without such a plan having to be put in place).

   vi.         Members noted that a detailed report would be presented to the Committee at its next meeting in September on SEND and this would include an update on the Department’s High Needs Development Plan, progress towards SEND system improvements, and an overview of how the financial challenges in this area were being addressed.

Mr. M. Hunt CC commended the work of the Department and thanked the Director of Children and Family Services for facilitating a visit to the Loughborough Early Years Centre.

RESOLVED

(a)  That the update on the Children and Family Services Department’s performance for the period to March 2022 (Quarter 4) be noted.

(b)  That the Director of Children and Family Services be requested to provide Members of the Committee with details of the current number of outstanding assessments for EHC Plans for those children transitioning to junior or secondary school in September 2022.

(c)  That it be noted that a report would be presented at the next meeting of the Children and Families Overview and Scrutiny Committee in September on SEND and this would include an update on the Department’s High Needs Development Plan, progress towards SEND system improvements, and an overview of how the financial challenges in this area were being addressed.