Agenda item
Children’s Social Care: Progress Update
The Cabinet Member for Children, Schools and Young People to provide an update on last Ofsted visit and preparation for future visits on 15th and 16th August, 2018.
Minutes:
The Committee received and noted a presentation from Councillor Danny Hassell the Cabinet Member for Children, Schools and Young People and Nancy Meehan the Interim Divisional Director, Children's Social Care that provided an update since the last Ofsted visit and the preparations being made for future visits on 15th and 16th August, 2018. The main points of the discussion are summarised below.
The Committee:
· Noted that quality assessments are subject to regular audits and dip samples and that there is an individual officer responsible to oversee each case;
· Was reminded of the OfSted Judgement on the Council collectively but they had been highly impressed by what has been achieved since the Judgement and the Council had come together collectively to make a really decisive turnaround which is a credit to both the elected Members and the officers;
· Commented that the appointment Nancy Meehan as the Interim Divisional Director, Children's Social Care had made a massive difference to the journey that the Council is now on. However, wanted to receive more details as to where the Council expected to be in the short and longer term;
· Noted that the Cabinet Member for Children, Schools and Young People had been impressed by the way that LBTH as an organisation had come together to work on the changes required;
· Was informed that whilst Ofsted had seen the changes the aim was for LBTH to be rated as good especially around leadership/management so as to ensure the positive direction of travel would continue;
· Noted that the Mayor; Councillor Hassell and the Chief Executive had attended training on the restorative approach to child protection which had outlined the mechanism to address harm in a way that brings together the people affected and how it afforded them the opportunity to make it better and in particular to make the children safe;
· Commented that with regard to the retention of social workers had consideration been given to how other agencies had retained and developed Mental Health Social Worker/General Practitioners;
· Noted that LBTH was considering the offer for social workers at Year 2 and Year 4 as theses milestones are considered that when social workers are most likely to consider leaving the authority;
· Noted that the Cabinet Member was happy to consider best practice regarding the recent local recruitment/retention campaigns aimed at Mental Health Social Worker and General Practitioners e.g. as a model upon which to base a recruitment campaign for all children’s services;
· Noted that LBTH carries out case reviews at the 3; 6 and 9 month period to ensure that the required targets are hit on a sustained and regular basis;
· Noted that there is now a regular reporting up of the relevant data and it is clearer in the minds of both the managers and staff what needs to be done. Whilst there is robust and regular oversight of the process and staff know clearly what is required of them;
· Noted that maintaining the chronology of case records is now a requirement, which means that the children do not have to re-tell their storey as they transit through the system. Whilst the dip sampling makes possible an effective oversite of this process and regular scheduled meetings with first line managers every 2 months is also being development;
· Noted that whilst progress has been made there is still more work to be done. Although there have been changes in culture so that staff and their management see why (i) they have to follow a process for the good of the child and (ii) why have to do interventions at certain situation times and in certain ways.
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