Agenda and minutes

To receive apologies for absence from those Members who are unable to attend the meeting.

Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Joshua Sheard.

To approve the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 20^th October 2021.

The minutes of the meeting of the Panel held on the 20^th October 2021 were agreed as a correct record.

The Councillors will be asked to say if there are any items on the Agenda in which they have disclosable pecuniary interests, which would prevent them from participating in any discussion of the items or participating in any vote upon the items, or any other interests.

No Interests were declared.

Most debates take place in public. This only changes when there is a need to consider certain issues, for instance, commercially sensitive information or details concerning an individual. You will be told at this point whether there are any items on the Agenda which are to be discussed in private.

All items were considered in public session.

The Committee will receive any petitions and hear any deputations from members of the public. A deputation is where up to five people can attend the meeting and make a presentation on some particular issue of concern. A member of the public can also hand in a petition at the meeting but that petition should relate to something on which the body has powers and responsibilities.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 10 (2), Members of the Public should provide at least 24 hours’ notice of presenting a deputation.

No petitions or deputations were received.

The Board will hear any questions from the general public.

No questions were received from the public.

The Panel will consider a progress update on the Ad Hoc Scrutiny Panel’s Action Plan recommendations for Elective Home Education.

Contact: Diane Yates, Acting Portfolio Manager (Education Safeguarding Service)

The Panel received an update on the New Elective Home Education (EHE) Policy presented by Diane Yates, Acting Portfolio Manager (Education Safeguarding Service, Learning and Early Support).  Following findings from the Ad Hoc Scrutiny review in March 2020, the Children’s Scrutiny Panel had made several recommendations including the need for a new Kirklees EHE Policy as below:-

1.         A new Kirklees Policy on EHE be produced, in consultation with home educators, at the earliest possible opportunity - The Panel was informed that the new EHE policy had been approved by Cabinet on 5^th October and had now been adopted.

2.         Consider the implementation of a dedicated EHE Team, including a qualified teacher, with dedicated budget provision sufficient to implement the policy effectively and consistently - The Panel was informed that an EHE Team was a long-term plan as part of the overall Service Plan, in the interim there was a dedicated EHE Team which helped build positive relationships with carers/parents.  Diane Yates explained that a qualified teacher had been considered and it was felt that there were few occasions when a qualified teacher was required, this could be managed on an Ad hoc basis by tapping into resources as and when required.

3.         Provide a dedicated telephone number and email address – the Panel was informed that a dedicated email address was now in place which had been beneficial in streamlining communication and improving accessibility to the EHE Team. An automated telephone system was currently being explored which would enable the caller to link directly to the EHE Team.

4.         Implement a new form for schools to complete when taking a child off roll, for submission to the EHE Team within a short timescale – Diane Yates advised the Panel that new ways of working had been introduced, this included telephone contact directly with schools upon receipt of all new EHE notifications, which helped identify families who required additional support and enabled the team to provide advice and support to schools on the correct procedures they were required to follow.

5.         Update and improve the relevant section of the Council’s website – the Panel was informed that work on the website was taking place and would cover all the Panel’s recommendations.  The website was due to go live by the end of 2021.

6.         That the possibility for the provision of at least one centre where home educated students could sit exams be explored, preferably one for North Kirklees and one for South Kirklees – the Panel was informed that two independent provisions were now offering exam facilities to private candidates in North Kirklees, one specifically for female students and were continuing to explore other options in South Kirklees.

7.         That the options for alternative provisions particularly in respect of the Key Stage 4 cohort be investigated – Diane Yates explained that the team had worked in partnership with Kirklees College to look at early access to college opportunities and a pilot started in September 2021 for a small  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

The Panel will consider an update on the Outcome of the Ofsted Inspection of Children’s Services undertaken in October 2021.

Contact: Elaine McShane, Service Director (Family Support and Child Protection)

8                     

The Panel received an update on the letter received for the focused visit to Kirklees Children’s Services from Elaine McShane, Service Director for Family Support and Child Protection.

The Panel noted that the letter summarised the findings of the visit to Kirklees Children’s Services on 6^th and 7^th October 2021.  Inspectors looked at the local authority’s arrangements for the experiences of children in care, in particular the quality of matching, placement and decision-making for children in care.  They also looked at the quality of management oversight and whether performance management information and quality assurance activities provided managers with an accurate view of social work practice to help senior leaders improve outcomes for children.  The visit was carried out in line with the inspection of local authority Children’s Services framework.

Elaine McShane advised that one weeks’ notice was provided to prepare for the inspection. The inspectors spoke with practitioners on the ground and two young people were identified to provide information regarding their experiences.

The headline findings were that continuously ambitious and effective senior leaders had created a culture where strong social work practice improved outcomes for children in care who were in need of permanence.  Skilled and committed social workers provided sensitive, child-centred practice to children and their carers.  Elaine McShane further explained that despite the challenges of the pandemic, a wide range of effective services had been developed to support children and their carers, with many children benefitting from improved placement stability and live in timely, well-matched permanent placements.  Staff had reported that professional development was strongly encouraged and supported, however, supervision did not take place frequently enough for some social workers with their direct line managers.

The Panel was informed that there was one area of improvement which was around the quality and frequency of social work supervision, including management oversight of children’s progress and experiences.

Elaine McShane advised that social workers were resilient, persistent and took into account the children’s culture and community.  Advanced practitioners were very supportive, however, some team mangers didn’t always show their workings out and weren’t always consistent.  A session with team managers was to take place on supervision and recording the decision making on the child’s record.

RESOLVED:-

·         That the Panel noted the letter regarding the focused visit and thanked the team for the good work on the improvements that had been made and Elaine McShane for the udpate.

Panel Members who attend Corporate Parenting Board will feedback on issues considered by the Board.

The Panel received an update from the last Corporate Parenting Board from members of the Panel who had attended the last meeting. It was noted that a robust discussion took place around data received and showed that numbers of looked after children had reduced, questions were asked as to why that was happening and feedback was provided on differences with Kirklees and other areas. Ongoing work around ethnicity and how other local authorities were looking at Special Guardship Orders was being undertaken.

The Panel received feedback on the Annual Fostering Report, work had taken place to ensure there were sufficient foster carers to meet the needs of children and young people in Kirklees.  Interviews had taken place for foster carers who chose to not continue with further foster placements.  The fostering network played an important role within the interviews.

The Panel received feedback from the Virtual School, the Virtual School was made up of a Head Teacher, Teachers and a Virtual School Governing Body.  It was noted that the Virtual School Governing Body was seeking foster carers or young people who had recently left foster care to join the governing body.

The Panel received feedback on the Youth Justice Service which highlighted that looked after children within the youth justice system were treated the same as any other looked after child.   Work had been carried out around CAMHS to try and improve wating list times.

The Panel was informed that there was now a care leaver on the Corporate Parenting Board who was able to provide feedback on direct experiences.

RESOLVED:

·         That the feedback from Members of the Panel who had attended the Corporate Parenting Board be noted.

Members of the Panel will consider the work programme and agenda plan for the 2021/22 municipal year and will discuss progress and consider new issues for inclusion.

Contact Officer: Helen Kilroy, Assistant Democracy Manager

The Panel received an update on the face-to-face visits which were to take place with various teams in Children’s Services.  Visits had been arranged with Batley and Dewsbury Front Line Social Work Teams. A visit to the Youth Justice Service took place on the 18^th November 2021, a discussion regarding HM Inspectorate of Probation inspection, which recognised the interaction within the team and young people within the Youth Justice Offending Team and the restorative practice which took place with the offender and victim.

A discussion took place around Child Sexual Exploitation and names of offenders that had been released.  A concern was raised by the Panel around the impact on the wider family.  The Panel agreed that a detailed discussion would take place at a future meeting along with a discussion around the practices as the team were moving into a contextual safeguarding process.

The Panel agreed that a progress update on the Learning Strategy be added to the Educational Outcomes scheduled for March meeting in 2022.

RESOLVED:

·         That the work programme and Agenda Plan for the 2020/21 municipal year be noted and updated.

·         That information of the offenders of Child Sexual Exploitation be scheduled as an item for consideration at a future meeting.

·         That a progress update be added to the Educational Outcomes item at the March 22 meeting.