Agenda item
Children's Services Improvement- Progress Report
Minutes:
The Cabinet Member for Education and Children's Services presented the report in forming the Board that:
- This second quarterly update outlined progress made in delivering improvements to children's services arising from the findings of the OFSTED inspection in April 2017.
- A visit had been carried out by OFSTED during the week of 11 December 2017 involving a ‘front door’ visit, and looking at in-depth work on Family Support and Protection Teams. A second letter was, arising from this visit would be published by OFSTED at the end of January 2018.
- Following its visit, OFSTED provided the following
feedback:
- Improvements had been observed - changes at front door were now embedded and consistently implemented. The Family Support and Implementation Team has also implemented some changes; these were assessed as fragile at the time of visiting and there were still some challenges. Assurances were awaited around what services’ workload would be case led.
- The records of 50 children were sampled; it was found that none were at risk and there had been improvements around making work child-centred.
- Caseloads were found to be still too variable although some progress reducing caseload was noted.
- The volumes of contacts at ‘front door’ were large.
- There was positive feedback around investment in workforce strategy and now OFSTED awaited evidence of more permanent staff in the workforce.
- The Children’s Services Improvement Board and Children's Operational Board acknowledged the feedback and will build on the positive outcomes of this visit.
- The Cabinet Member was encouraged with the progress made, although there remained work to do.
- The next OFSTED visit was planned for early May 2018. At this time OFSTED would examine themes across the whole of the service and its partnerships.
- OFSTED’s latest visit in December 2017 had not identified any children at significant immediate risk.
- The fortnightly meeting between Mayor, Cabinet Member and senior officers was an important instrument to ensure that the service did not become complacent.
The Corporate Director for Children’s Services advised that she had met with the Chief Executive and her staff to discuss the outcome of the OFSTED visit. The key messages of the visit had been conveyed to all. She also noted that corporate and practical leadership are necessary to ensure that progress is maintained.
The Board noted that:
- ICT was a risk and agreed that it should review ICT arrangements. Officers acknowledged that ICT was an area for improvement and informed the Board that this would be addressed as part of the corporate ICT improvement programme.
- Reducing levels of agency social workers was a problem nationally, notwithstanding this it would be necessary to set targets to achieve this outcome. The Cabinet Member for Education and Childrens Services responded highlighting that fragility reported following the visit was linked to staff churn, in particular at the ‘front door’ element of the service where there were a number of agency staff. The Board acknowledged that in the circumstances, the task of increasing the numbers of permanent social workers at the authority would be challenging to achieve. Additionally it was noted that the caseload had increased therefore interim staff had been engaged to meet the additional demand.
The Chair highlighted that there was a role for the whole Council to consider around how it was able to act as a ‘corporate parent’ and necessary work with NHS and other Partners in children’s safeguarding.
The Board asked that the following matters be taken forward:
- That ICT arrangements should be reviewed by the Best Value Improvement Board
- That targets toward reducing levels of agency social workers should be set.
- Consider how the NHS and other Partners may be engaged to fulfil their role in children’s safeguarding
RESOLVED
1. That the report be noted
2. That the above actions identified as during the discussion be taken forward
Supporting documents: