Purpose of the report:
The Board will receive a verbal update from the
Strategic Director of Children’s, Schools and Families
regarding any news or updates within the service.
Minutes:
Witnesses:
Julie Fisher, Strategic Director
for Children, Schools and Families and Deputy Chief Executive
Julian Gordon-Walker, Head of Safeguarding, Children’s
Services
Declarations of Interest:
None
Key
points raised during the discussion:
1.
The Strategic Director for Children, Schools and
Families outlined the plan for continuous improvement within the
service. The efforts undertaken since summer 2015 with regard to
creating a stable leadership team, improving work with partners and
the Safer Surrey practice guidelines were all highlighted as
particularly successful.
2.
It was noted that the Department for Education (DfE)
review of July 2016 confirmed the improvement of the service with
regard to its Improvement Plan. The service reported that its
progress had met internal expectations, but that an Ofsted comment
noted that improvement needed to be initiated with greater speed
across the service. However, Ofsted also noted that staff morale
was at a high level and that the service had taken the correct
initial steps. It was noted that a full report was due to be
published autumn 2016.
3.
It was noted that a refreshed Improvement Plan with
a focus on improving practice was due to be formulated in September
2016.
Bob Gardner entered the meeting at
10.45am
4.
Officers highlighted that the service was in the
process of creating a quality assurance record which was due to be
delivered to the Improvement Board on 29 September 2016.
5.
It was explained by officers that there was an
improvement in practice within the service, but that its
implementation was inconsistent. The Strategic Director for
Children, Schools and Families did, however, note that in areas
where the Safer Surrey practice guidelines were being utilised,
instances of good practice had increased significantly and that
parent and child understanding of the service aims and
responsibilities had improved. It was emphasised that the Safer
Surrey practice guidelines were being implemented across the
service.
6.
Members highlighted their concerns regarding the
high level of caseloads for social workers within the
service. The Strategic Director for
Children, Schools and Families pointed out that the service
response of recruiting a team of temporary specialist assessors
with a focus on completing new assessments was a positive step
towards easing this issue.
7.
It was noted that the long term solution to issues
regarding high caseloads would be resolved by: the establishment of the Multi-Agency Safeguarding
Hub (MASH) in October 2016, the revision of thresholds guidance and
review the Early Help strategy.
8.
Members queried the procedures in place for young
people leaving the system and whether the current “step
up” and “step down” procedures were sufficiently
robust. It was noted that the Ofsted judgement of the procedures
was positive and that the service had addressed the previous
concern that children were being “Stepped Down” without
being signposted on to further support.
9. Members suggested that the service engage with other partners to work with to improve service quality. Officers noted that the service was working to scope all possible partners and would welcome suggestions and connections from the Board regarding ideas relating to this.
Recommendations:
None