Agenda and minutes

The Chair to introduce the meeting and receive apologies.

Cllr Erin Hill welcomed everyone to the meeting and introductions were made around the table.

For approval as a correct record and to consider any matters arising.

The Minutes of the previous meeting of the Trust held on 15th December 2016 were approved as a correct record.

Including inter relationship between Children’s Improvement Board and Children’s Trust Executive and Board.

Including Inter relationship between Children’s Improvement Board and Children’s Trust Executive and Board

Tina gave an overview of the Children’s Services Improvement Plan, advising Board members of a rigorous internal review of Family Support and Child Protection Services which began in late 2015. This was due to a number of factors including a Safeguarding Board audit which was carried out in August 2015. Significant deficits were identified across the Service and were recognised as systemic and cultural. Kirklees Cabinet endorsed a report in May 2016 which outlined areas for improvement and a Development Plan was put in place.

Ofsted carried out an unannounced inspection of Child Protection Services in September 2016. Focussing on local services for children in need of help and protection - looked after children and care leavers. A Single Inspection Framework report was published by Ofsted on the 25^th November, highlighting a number of concerns about standards of practice in Kirklees. Overall judgement was ‘inadequate’ and separate judgements on a number of other areas were identified.

Ofsted have made 27 recommendations on which the Improvement Plan is based. The Secretary of State appointed a Commissioner (Eleanor Brazil) to work with the Council until the end of March 2017. Eleanor Brazil will make recommendations to the Minister (Secretary of State) about:

·         The immediate improvement of Children’s Social Care, including additional support required.

·         Review our leadership and management capability and capacity to drive the changes we need.

·         Whether alternative arrangements would be the most effective way of achieving long-term improvement.

Proposal - a clear programme needs to be in place in order to manage this large and complex scope of work, the programme has 4 key projects of work that are the 4 main themes of the Children’s Improvement Plan. Each of these projects, in turn, will deliver against multiple recommendations from the Ofsted report. These are:

·         Theme 1: Children who need help and protection.

·         Theme 2: Leadership, Management and Governance.

·         Theme 3: Children looked after and achieving permanence.

·         Theme 4: Effectiveness of the Kirklees Safeguarding Children Board.

Governance of the Children’s Improvement Plan is being politically led by the Leadership Management Team and the Cabinet via Councillor Erin Hill (Portfolio holder for Family Support and Child Protection). The governance arrangements will support a cycle of accountability that will be clearly measurable, owned and evidenced.

The Improvement Board is the key partnership body with ownership of the improvement plan and responsibility for its delivery across the district. It is made up of strategic representation from partner agencies, working to agreed terms of reference.

Getting to Good Programme Board - this is an operational group of key officers brought together to monitor, challenge, support and oversee the progress of the Kirklees Children’s Improvement Plan. Is accountable to, and reports directly into, the Improvement Board.

Sponsorship Role - each of the four improvement plan themes will be ‘sponsored’ by a Senior Leader from the Council, VCS Partnership, Clinical Commissioning Group and Police.  The sponsor is not accountable for the delivery  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

Comments on latest draft of Priorities and Challenges

Board members discussed the latest draft of Priorities and Challenges - including strategic ambitions, added value and the avoidance of duplication. Minor amendments to the wording were agreed and a final version will be circulated to the Board.

Nomination of Senior Responsible Officers and Management Leads for each Priority Board members agreed that the words ‘Senior Responsible Officer (Board Member)’ would be changed to ‘Board Sponsor’. 

It was agreed that the sponsor role should be taken on by a Board member who does not have a direct management role in relation to the priority.  And that the role is very well described in the Children’s Improvement Plan report discussed earlier in the meeting: 

‘The sponsor is not accountable for the delivery of their sponsored area.  The role it to provide challenge and oversight of the areas of work associated with the sponsored area.  The purpose of this arrangement is to ensure that partners can provide their unique insight and expertise across the broad range of development activity.  This approach will ensure that the senior leaders take an active interest and the Board fully draws on and applies their collective experience’.

There was a discussion around each of the 10 Priorities and how this may fit the expertise and experience of individual Board members. A number of members agreed to take on the role of ‘Board Sponsor for each of the Priorities. The list will be updated and circulated to Board members. There will be an operational discussion later to identify who will fill the remaining Management Lead’s.

Board members approved the overall approach of the document on Kirklees Children’s Partnership – Future Working. 

The timeline and steps for developing the Children and Young People’s Plan was endorsed.

There was no other business.