Agenda item

Purpose of the report:  Scrutiny of Services and Budgets

An update on the Children’s Improvement Plan 2015 is presented following its publication in September 2015. This will enable the Board to review and understand the arrangements in place to scrutinise delivery of the Plan.

Witnesses:

Caroline Budden, Deputy Director for Children, Schools and Families

Key points raised during the discussion:

[Dorothy Ross-Tomlin arrived at 10.15 am]

1.    Officers outlined the context of the Children’s Improvement Plan and asked the Board to note its governance actions. This included a requirement for the Board to establish a performance and finance sub-group in order to track the progress of the improvement plan.

2.    The Board raised a question concerning taxi licensing and how individual cases of licenses being revoked were passed to the relevant agency. Officers agreed to clarify the process for doing this with the Board. The Cabinet Member commented that the success of the Improvement Plan was dependent on engaging with all agencies, including district and borough partners.

3.    The Board discussed communication with services and key workers and how areas for improvement were fed back. Officers commented that there was ongoing communication between management, the services and the key workers regarding spotting signs of neglect and abuse. The Deputy Director also noted that Surrey Safeguarding Children’s Board (SSCB) and the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) was moving towards an agreed methodology for an approach to safeguarding. The Board was informed that multi-agency training methodologies were being implemented through the SSCB.

4.    The Board commented on the need for strategic leadership in delivering the Children’s Improvement Plan. The Cabinet Member highlighted the need to make changes in the culture of Children’s Services and that this would be a long term challenge. The Cabinet Member praised the leadership of the Deputy Chief Executive and the Deputy Director in tackling this through the Children’s Improvement Plan.

5.    The Board asked for further detail on the difficulties faced in recruiting social workers. Officers commented that retaining staff was a key issue, and that a number of options were being explored in order to incentivise staff and recognise their value. The approach taken to retaining staff in residential homes had highlighted some areas of good practice which could be applied across the wider service.

6.    The Board highlighted that it would want to see a further report on how the views of young people and children were taken into account in the delivery of the Children’s Improvement Plan. The Chairman informed the Board that there would be independent training provided for Members on how to scrutinise Children’s Services and social care.

Recommendations:

1.    That the Board to establish a Performance and Finance Sub-Group that will track Children, Schools and Families progress against key performance milestones set out in the plan, in addition to budget planning.

Membership: Keith Witham, Margaret Hicks, Ken Gulati, Yvonna Lay, Ramon Gray, Ernest Mallet and Fiona White.

2.    That officers clarify the formal mechanisms by which District and Borough Councils can share information and concerns related to safeguarding issues, particularly in relation to housing, taxi and premises licensing.

3.    That the board receives an update on what actions have to be taken in line with the Improvement Plan to ensure the views of children and young people are heard.

4.    That the report receives a further report on the step-down processes in place for children’s and families receiving support from children’s services.

Actions/further information to be provided:

            None.

Board next steps:

            None.