Agenda item

To note the alterations in the presentation of document as requested by the Committee.

The Committee noted the amended RAG rated OFSTED Action Plan for Children and Young People’s Services. Although there were no Red ratings, there were a number of Amber ratings which officers advised were being given the highest priority. An amber rating was possibly awaiting sign off and therefore the action had been completed but was not showing as completed on the system. Additional resources were being put into IT and training and that the department was almost fully staffed.  The Committee requested an update on Amber rated actions and were advised as follows:

Timely Completion of Assessments

There were difficulties in assessment timescales owing to processes which were under review, however, officers stressed this situation would never compromise child safety.  

Chronologies in Child Protection

Generally these were of good quality but some were not. System reprogramming was necessary in order to implement the action fully.  Members received assurances from Officers that casework was up to date but not perfect.  A running case record would have every conversation whilst a good chronology would select significant events and conversations. The new CCM system had a chronology tool and that this system would be fully operational by May 2014.

Collation and analysis of Management Performance Data

Officers advised that OFSTED had felt that this was not sufficiently robust in the way information was presented to the monthly Children’s Social Care Performance Monitoring Board, however, performance management frameworks had been refined throughout the year in line with OFSTED requirements.  A new performance reporting cycle would be implemented from February 2014.   

Workforce strategy

OFSTED had found the strategy did not translate into a coherent action plan in line with transformation of services.  Officers advised that an action plane was in place however delays had occurred because additional recruitment had been required in order to take the strategy forward.

Quality of Supervision variable

The quality of supervision during the OFSTED inspection ranged from good to adequate. The supervision policy had been refreshed to reflect the OFSTED findings and was due to be implemented by March 2014. As a permanent management team was now in place, this would also ensure consistency.  Officers advised that this action would be rated green very soon as it was a high priority.

Quality Assurance

The inspection found that plans were not consistently coherent and all too often focused on tasks or services required rather than what was needed to change for the child.  Progress had been delayed owing to staff turnover issues which were being addressed and that target timescales had been put back to March 2014.

Children’s and families viewpoints

As Children’s and families viewpoints are sought on their experiences, current feedback to improve service delivery had yet to be embedded.  Officers underlined that views were being sought and that improvement had continued at all levels although there was not yet consistent evidence that feedback was informing service delivery. 

Officers advised that all LAC contribute their views and this is evidenced in their files.  In response to being questioned about how often Social Workers would talk to children, the Committee were informed that there were statutory times which vary according to which plan the child was on. None the less, it was also important to give children space to talk to others – ie teachers.

Officers advised that this was an area where improvements would continue to be developed and asked the Committee to note that 100% of LAC contributed their views to a statutory review. Early Help Services also generated a lot of feedback and this was would be systemised following restructuring.

The Committee noted the report and were of the view that a lot of work had still yet to be done in order to achieve a good standard and that the recruitment and retention of staff was a key component. Officers advised that they were looking to implement better pay and reward structures as well as training and development programmes in order to address this.

Officers asked the Committee to note that there was a new OFSTED framework for Children and Young People’s Services.  The scope of the inspection would cover the following:

·                     Children and young people at risk of harm

·                     Children and young people referred to the local authority

·                     Those who become the subject of a multi-agency child protection plan

·                     Children and young people or whose families are receiving social work services

·                     Children and young people accommodated under section 20 and those in care

·                     Children and young people who have been looked after under the Children Leaving Care Act 2000

·                     Children and young people who have left care

Officers advised that a four point judgement scale would be made in relation to the service – outstanding, good, requires improvement and inadequate.  There would be three judgements and sub-judgement categories as follows:

·                     Experiences and progress of children who need help or protection

·                     Experiences and progress of children looked after and achieving permanence, including graded judgements on adoption performance and care leavers

·                     Leadership, management and governance, including a review of the effectiveness of the Local Safeguarding Children Board.

A judgement of inadequate in any category wold mean that overall effectiveness wold be also judged inadequate.

The Chairman requested that the new framework be presented at the forthcoming Corporate Parenting Panel meeting on 18 March 2014.