The Panel will consider a verbal update on the performance highlights from the latest Children’s Services data report covering period ending 31st May 2023.
Contact: Jo-Anne Sanders, Service Director
Vicky Metheringham, Service Director
Kieran Lord, Service Director
Minutes:
The Panel received a verbal update on the performance data for May 2023, which was provided by the Service Directors in Children’s Services.
Vicky Metheringham, Service Director for Child Protection and Family Support explained that:
· There had been an ongoing reduction in the number of contacts through the front door and that re-referral numbers had reduced with an understanding of the reason for re-referrals,
· The timeliness of initial child protection case conferences had risen to the highest it had been throughout the year, resulting in children subject to a repeat child protection plan reducing,
· The number of children going missing had declined with the number of children entering care remaining stable, ensuring that children and young people who did not need to be looked after lived with family members in Special Guardianship Order arrangements,
· Social Workers continued to see children in care frequently, and 98% of their reviews were held on time,
· 98% of care leavers had a pathway plan, with 92% of them being in suitable accommodation,
· Caseloads for workers had increased, there was work in the team taking place to improve the number of assessments that needed to be completed on time,
· The number of children on a Child Protection Plan had risen in Kirklees, this was lower than neighbouring Local Authorities and across England,
· 90% of children who were looked after were seen on time, work was ongoing to ensure that health checks were completed in time, particular dental checks.
Anna Gledhill, Head of Children’s Improvement, Partnership and Voice advised that Ofsted judgements for some of the residential children’s homes had declined. This had been impacted by sufficiency and a national capacity crisis that developed throughout the pandemic. As a result, identifying and securing safe living environments for children and teenagers had been increasingly challenging. Childrens homes had identified that risk management needs for children in the homes had grown significantly, with the issues in the homes being related to demands in staffing skills.
In response to a question regarding recruitment and retention of staff in Children’s Services, Vicky Metheringham advised that recruiting and retaining social workers was a national issue. Due to social worker posts being vacant, in March 2023 it was agreed that the service could recruit agency social workers, however, these posts were not successfully filled. Through government reforms there had been a national agreement that the use of agency workers would not be a possibility anymore, and there was a consultation around the parameters of agency workers. Kirklees was clear that they would not breach the memorandum of understanding which was an agreement with Local Authorities and the Yorkshire & Humber region on how much agency workers were paid. Caseloads were higher for some social workers than the service would like them to be. A weekly case load meeting took place with Head of Services considering the workload of all teams and the cases allocated to them. Directors and Managers were doing everything they could to ensure that staff felt supported and that their work was recognised.
In response to a question around the contact source information in the data, it was noted that there was a very low number of contacts from the housing department. Housing staff would go into homes on a regular basis where concerns would arise, a question was asked what training those staff had received in relation to safeguarding. Vicky Metheringham advised that the service had a very close relationship with housing colleagues through the front door, and that housing colleagues did understand what their responsibilities were with regards to safeguarding. The Panel was informed that it was an area for the service to look at to assure themselves that safeguarding concerns were recognised and referred into the front door. Jo-Anne Sanders, Service Director - Learning & Early Support advised that through the children’s safeguarding partnerships, safeguarding training was reviewed across all partner agencies, which any colleague across the council would be involved with. Jo-Anne Sanders confirmed that the service would approach the partnership to ensure that there was take up of the training sessions and would bring back data to the Panel on the take up of training from front line housing staff, and systematically, what was done to record concerns around safeguarding.
Jo-Anne Sanders advised that it had come to the end of the academic year and that a report on the educational outcomes would be provided for the panel to consider in the September meeting. Jo-Anne Sanders acknowledged the work of the Virtual School for children that were looked after and explained that the team undertook personal educational planning and had 100% compliance. The team had worked hard with colleagues in children social care, the looked after children’s team, to ensure there was robust planning, and looked after children’s education was secure. One challenge was suspensions and exclusions across the district within different groups. The was an increase in suspensions which was a key theme in our Kirklees Futures, Our Learning Strategy, and it was agreed with the educational learning partnership board that it would be a key priority from September 2023. It was noted that far too many suspensions took place, particularly in Secondary Schools. The Panel noted that there was good partnership working with schools on how suspensions and exclusions could be reduced.
Jo-Anne Sanders explained that the number of Health and Care Plans were stabilising, although quite high, Kirklees had a higher than national average number of youngsters with special educational needs, which provided an opportunity for youngsters to be supported in the right place to receive their education. The Panel noted that there was a sufficiency challenge with the re-build of two specialist schools, and that there were 5 new additionally resourced provisions opening in September.
During discussion the panel agreed to arrange supported visits to schools to look at a range of practices regarding exclusions and the good work that was being undertaken.
RESOLVED:
1) That the report be noted and that officers be thanked for their contributions.
2) That a report be provided at a future meeting on the sufficiency of Children’s residential homes,
3) That the panel arrange supported visits to children’s residential homes,
4) That a report be provided at a future meeting providing data on the take up of training from front line housing staff, and systematically, what was done to record concerns around safeguarding.
5) That the panel arrange supported visits to schools to look at the range of practices regarding exclusions.