Agenda and minutes

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

To note changes to the membership of the Panel for the 2023/24 municipal year and to formally note that Cllr Ebrahim Dockrat has replaced Cllr Elizabeth Reynolds and Cllr John Lawson joins the Panel.

Apologies were received from Councillor Anwar, Councillor Moore and Oliver Gibson (co-optee).

The Panel noted the changes to the membership of the Children Scrutiny Panel and welcomed Cllr Lawson and Cllr Dockrat to the Panel.   

To approve the Minutes of the meeting of the Panel held on the 28^th July 2023.

That the minutes of the meeting held on 28^th July 2023 be approved as a correct record.

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

No Interests were declared.

Most agenda items take place in public. This only changes where there is a need to consider exempt information, as contained at Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972. You will be informed at this point which items are to be recommended for exclusion and to be resolved by the Committee.

All items were considered in public session.

The Panel will receive any petitions and/or 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 submit a petition at the meeting relating to a matter on which the body has powers and responsibilities.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 10, Members of the Public must submit a deputation in writing, at least three clear working days in advance of the meeting and shall subsequently be notified if the deputation shall be heard. A maximum of four deputations shall be heard at any one meeting.

No deputations or petitions were received.

To receive any public questions.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11, the period for the asking and answering of public questions shall not exceed 15 minutes.

Any questions must be submitted in writing at least three clear working days in advance of the meeting.

No questions were received from members of the public.

The Panel will consider a verbal update on the performance highlights from the latest Children’s Services data report covering period ending 31July 2023.

Contact:          Jo-Anne Sanders, Service Director

Vicky Metheringham, Service Director

                        Kieran Lord, Service Director

The Panel received a verbal update on performance data for July 2023, which was provided by the Service Directors in Children’s Services.

Kieran Lord, Service Director, Resources, Improvements & Partnerships explained that:

• There had been a progressive increase in the timeliness of initial child protection case data,
• There had been a reduction in the timeliness of initial health assessments,
• There had been an increase in foster care placements for children and young people looked after within family arrangements,
• There had been an increase in placements provided by independent foster carers,
• There had been a decrease in CAMHS and Neuro Developmental referrals,  but an increase in timeliness of both areas.

In response to a question around caseloads slowly increasing and work practice of staff, their workloads and wellbeing, Vicky Metheringham advised that caseloads were being monitored closely.  The Panel were informed that staff had an average caseload of 19.7, weekly oversight of caseloads for social workers was carried out which was analysed. Senior Managers were assured that social workers were able to see children frequently and that staff were appropriately supported and received case supervision. In terms of social workers feeling supported, a range of mechanisms had been introduced where managers were visible and were reaching out on a frequent basis.  Vicky Metheringham further explained that a  range of opportunities had been introduced to engage positively with social workers and to reward them for the things they were doing really well and to thank them for the steps they took, and resources were being utilised to support social workers with their emotional wellbeing and resilience on a frequent basis.  A number of other mechanisms were in place to ensure managers were able to speak to practitioners.

In response to a question regarding in house provision, and what was done to keep social workers engaged within Kirklees, Vicky Metheringham advised that Kirklees did not use agency workers but there were some vacancies. The Panel was informed that very few vacancies resulted in social workers leaving Kirklees, vacancies were generally relating to promotions, or transfers to another part of the service.  Kirklees valued the importance of having a structure which was consistent, and that engaged with social workers, was rewarding, and made them feel valued. Vicky Metheringham further explained that Kirklees took an approach to growing their own social workers and engaged with the front-line programme, this enabled the employment of a number of unqualified social workers who had access to front line social worker graduates and wanted to become a social worker. The Panel noted that 10 front line practitioners had moved into social work teams and 10 had been recruited onto the frontline programme. There were apprenticeship opportunities which were available to employees across Kirklees.

In response to a question regarding the increase to section 47 referrals, Vicky Metheringham explained that when referrals were received where it was considered a child was at harm, a strategy meeting took place within 24 hours of the referral to consider the next steps.  One step  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

The Panel will consider any potential areas of pre-decision scrutiny in accordance with any cabinet decisions relating to children and young people which are on the horizon and receive update from Senior Officers in Children's Services. 

Contact:          Jo-Anne Sanders, Service Director

Kieran Lord, Service Director

Vicky Metheringham, Service Director

Kieran Lord advised the Panel that a paper was to be presented to Cabinet on the 26^th September 2023, regarding consultation on the redesign of short breaks and respite facilities for children and young people and their families where their children had disabilities.  Kieran Lord explained that Pre-decision scrutiny had not yet been sought due to this being a consultation exercise.

In response to a question regarding the young people that used the service, and what the impact of the decision would be, Kieran Lord advised that the request to Cabinet was to seek permission to consult. Officers hoped for a better integration of services that was in line with council’s place based approach, with services that met the needs of children and young people and their families in a locality that was better to access and at a time that was convenient for them, whilst simultaneously looking to make efficiencies by way of integration of services.

RESOLVED: The Panel noted the items for pre-decision scrutiny and thanked the officers for their updates.

Panel Members who attend the Corporate Parenting Board, will feedback on key areas of focus considered by the Board, which will be of interest to the Panel.

Councillor Cooper advised the Panel that Corporate Parenting Board last met on 12^th September 2023.  At the meeting an update was provided on how looked after children, who were for the first time going into their own homes and being part of the community, were supported to manage their own life and be part of the community.

There was also an update regarding children’s residential homes and how they were inspected, along with the way that was measured.

Councillor Cooper advised the Panel that he had suggested a representative from Kinship Carers be a member of the Corporate Parenting Board.

RESOLVED: That the Panel noted the updates given regarding matters considered by the Corporate Parenting Board on 12^th September.

The Panel will consider the proposed areas of focus and activity for the 2023/24 municipal year and discuss the method and means to be used to continue the Panel’s work going forward. 

Contact:          Helen Kilroy, Assistant Democracy Manager

The Panel considered the work programme and agenda plan for the 2023-24 municipal year.

Cllr Reynolds, Cabinet Member for Learning and Aspiration, raised some queries regarding items on the work programme.

RESOLVED: The Lead Member agreed to meet with the Cabinet Members for Learning and Aspiration and Children to discuss the work programme for 2023/24