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
Minutes:
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:
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 was the section 47 assessment, which included gathering additional information from a variety of agencies which needed to be completed within 5 working days of the assessment. The section 47 assessment would then be referred to the child protection conference. The Panel was informed that officers felt there were too many section 47 assessments happening unnecessarily and the service had looked at the reasons why, it was recognised there was some learning from the outcome.
Jo-Anne Sanders, Service Director for Learning & Early Support, advised that a process was ongoing to look at last year’s Outcomes Data which included exclusions and attendance. Cllr Elizabeth Reynolds advised that improving outcomes and building on challenges of Covid and the effect this had on children, that there was a real commitment from schools to get the best outcomes.
A question was asked by the Panel regarding young people attending university and the reduced numbers, and what the impact was on vocational courses. Nina Barnes advised that a number of post 16 institutions were revising their curriculum offer with a number of vocational qualifications due to finish this year, which meant there was the option of A levels or T levels only. Apprenticeships was another option but not in post 16 sixth forms. The Panel was informed that traditionally, 70%-80% of A level routes taken moved onto university places.
In response to a question regarding unauthorised absences and data that monitored the absences, Jo-Anne Sanders advised that robust monitoring was in place where a dashboard monitored attendance daily. Examples of the areas the dashboard showed were, vulnerable people, the curriculum year, or geographical areas of Kirklees. The Panel was informed that the previous academic year highlighted that the highest percentage for absence was illness, followed by unauthorised absence which included unauthorised holidays. The service worked closely with the school system and had a strong educating safeguarding offer. New attendance duties for the Local Authority had come into place in September 2023, once data had been gathered it would be shared with the Panel.
In response to a question regarding nursery provisions impacting on early years, where some schools fed into the system, Emma Brayford advised that data was available on how children progressed through the school system, and that officers wanted to look closer around the impact of mobility when children moved from early years settings into mainstream schools and the academy system.
RESOLVED: That the update be noted and that officers be thanked for their contributions.