Agenda item

The Board will consider a report giving key highlights from the latest Performance Monitoring data for the Children’s Service

Contacts:

Ophelia Rix, Head of Service for Children in Care, Care Leavers and Looked After Children

Louise Hallas, Virtual School Headteacher

Gill Addy, Designated Nurse for Looked After Children

Ian Mottershaw, Head of Service –Contextual Safeguarding and Y.E.S, Family Support and Child Protection

The Board considered the latest reports giving key highlights on Performance Monitoring data for Children’s Services. Rahila Habib, Service Manager – Children in Care Service presented the key highlights in relation to Children Entering Care, Children in Care and Placement Stability and explained that:

·         There was a continued fluctuation in the number of children coming into care from 607 to 621.

·         It was important to note the work undertaken in respect of Connected Carers and Special Guardianship Orders (SGO’s) in respect of this data. 

·         3 further SGO’s had been made in September and work continued to increase these numbers in the best interest of children and young people.

·         There had been an increase in unaccompanied asylum-seeking young people through the national transfer scheme.

·         Following the recent opening of adult accommodation there had been an increased volume of referrals to Children’s Services from adults claiming to be children.

Ophelia Rix, Head of Service for Children in Care, Care Leavers and Looked After Children added that the data showed that children did continue to become looked after, but there had also been an increase in placements with parents and connected cares which should be considered alongside the data.

Ophelia Rix referenced the Children’s Act and its emphasis on keeping children with their families and connected communities where it was safe to do so. It was explained that this was the key principle underpinning the SGO’s and it was important to make sure that where children wanted to and could return home that there was the correct structure to facilitate this.The approach prevented children from remaining looked after, and Kirklees offered a support plan to enable this, but it was important to note that this was only the case where it was safe and appropriate to do so.

The Ex-offico noted the update and the explanation of the data in relation to children entering care and expressed that this was positive and reassuring. In relation to the data around unaccompanied asylum-seeking children showed a slight downward trend and it was important to monitor this going forwards. 

The Board noted it was satisfied by the continued good work in relation to kinship carers and SGO highlighting that this together with the Councils investment in early support helped contribute to preventing children from becoming looked after. The Board further noted that it would be helpful to receive comparative data including learning points and long-term outcomes to evidence this. 

Ophelia Rix presented the data in relation to Care leavers and highlighted that:

·         There had been an increase in the performance indicator for Children in Care (aged 17 years) with an allocated Personal Advisor.

·         The increase was from 96.0% in August 2022 to 97.9% in September 2022, but the target was 100%.

·         There had been an increase in the percentage of Care leavers in Employment, Education and Training (EET) but this was a key area for improvement.

·         A programme of work was to be produced along with education, housing, and businesses in relation to improving EET opportunities for care leavers.

·         There had been an increase in staying put arrangements (post 18), and the new financial policy was successful in enabling this.

·         The number of young people with a pathway plan had increased but a key priority was to improve the timeliness of updating the plans.

The Board noted the data in respect of Care Leavers, and it was agreed that an update in relation to improving EET opportunities be provided to a future meeting of the Board.

Louise Hallas, Virtual School Head Teacher presented the data in relation to Children Looked After Educational Outcomes, and it was highlighted that:

·         Work continued with education and social care providers to make sure all young people had at least one Personal Education Planning (PEP) meeting each term.

·         100% of PEPs had been completed within the Summer Term in-line with the termly processes.

·         100% of initial PEPs had been completed within 10 school days of the child coming into care since 01/09/2022.

·         Persistence Absences continued to be key area for improvement, and in September there was a decreasing trend.

·         There continued to be a strong focus on pupils not in full-time education and reducing the number of school moves.

Responding to a question from the Board around the decreasing trend in Persistence Absence for September, Louise Hallas explained that previous absence data could be a result of Covid-19 absences. The Board were informed that some measures around persistent absence had been actioned, but it was too early to identify if these had impacted on the decreasing trend. 

The Ex-Offico, highlighted the educational outcomes as positive, especially the work around PEP’s highlighting this was an example of strong partnership working achieving good outcomes for young people.

Gill Addy, Designated Nurse for Looked After Children presented the data in relation to Children Looked After Health and it was highlighted that:

·         Kirklees Local Authority (LA) rolling 12-month data showed that 80.5% of Initial Health Assessments were completed in the statutory 20 working day timescale.

·         Locala monthly data for September showed that 16 Initial Health Assessments were completed ‘in house’ and 100% were completed within timescales.

·         For Review Health Assessments (RHA), Kirklees’s 12-month data showed that 89% of the ‘Developmental’ assessments (under 5 years old) and 93.7% of ‘Annual’ assessments (over 5 years old) were completed in statutory timescales.

·         Locala monthly data for September showed that 85% of under 5-year-olds and 63% of over 5-year-olds RHA’s were completed in timescales.

·         There were 12 in-house breaches, 9 were in relation to capacity, 2 due to holiday, and 1 was re-arranged.

·         In relation to breaches it was reported that other Local Authorities reported similar issues.

·         A Business Case had been delivered to senior managers and Locala to request additional nursing resources to mitigate capacity and KPI issues.

·         For Dental Checks, Kirklees rolling 12-month data showed that 61.6% of children aged 1+, at the point of their RHA had attended the dentist.

·         Locala monthly data showed that 91% and 97% of children aged 18 months -under 5 years, and 5-18 years, had attended the dentist at the point of their RHA.

·         Locala data showed that 93% and 100% of children aged 18 months to 4 years and 5 years+ at the point of their RHA, were registered with a dentist.

·         The use of the ‘Flexible Commissioning Project’ had supported Children Looked After and Care Leavers to register with a dentist. 

·         The Designated Nurse attended the ‘Kirklees Oral Health Advisory Group’, to advocate for vulnerable children and care leavers.

·         In relation to substance misuse, 6 young people (1.26%) admitted to, or were known to use substances when asked at their last RHA.

·         All cases had been discussed with the local Substance Misuse Outreach worker, to ensure support had been offered.

·         If a young person declined their RHA, a check was made with the social worker to ascertain if substance use was an issue.

·         Any young person misusing substances at any level was offered support.

In relation to increased pressure on health services and the requirement to hold extra clinics, the Board agreed that additional support should be prioritised and progressed.

RESOLVED: The Board noted the Children’s Performance Highlights Report, and it was agreed that:

1.    The data for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children continued to be monitored and reviewed going forwards.

2.    The Board receive comparative data, in respect of the Councils investment in early support, learning points and long-term outcomes. 

3.    A programme of work was to be produced along with education, housing, and businesses in relation to improving EET opportunities for care leavers.

4.    Additional support to alleviate the pressure on health services should be prioritised and progressed.