Witnesses:
Clare Curran, Cabinet Member for Children and Families
Wellbeing
Mary Lewis, Cabinet Associate for Children, Schools and
Families
Sam Bushby, Assistant Director
for Children’s Services
Belinda Newth, Head of Quality
& Experience
Declarations of interests:
Nick Harrison declared a non-pecuniary interest of
being a Member of the Children’s Improvement
Board.
Key
points of discussion:
- The
Assistant
Director of Children’s Services highlighted that the service
was developing and introducing into the service an effective and
independent quality assurance framework. It was highlighted that
the quality assurance framework was held within the Directorate but
was outside of service delivery, so offered independent scrutiny,
and indicated the overall position of quality within the service.
It was highlighted that the quality assurance framework was
developed with the Safer Surrey practice guide as a
guideline.
- Officers explained that the quality assurance
framework was being implemented across the entire Directorate
equally.
- The Board questioned
the role of Members in the implementation of the quality assurance
framework within the service. It was noted that the Cabinet Member
would be invited to shadow frontline service on several instances
per annum to gain an effective insight into service practice. It
was also noted that the Social Care Services Board would scrutinise
the quality assurance annual report. Officers highlighted the
Member role as corporate parents and suggested Members could have a
role in working with officers on Regulation 44 visits to
children’s homes. The Board expressed gratitude that the
service was open to Member interaction and welcomed the role of
corporate parent interaction.
- The Board expressed
concerns regarding the high number of audit and self-assessment of
Children’s Services recommendations that were requiring
improvement. While the level of self-awareness was commended within
the service, Members requested assurance and a future update from
the service that work was being undertaken to resolve these
issues.
- Members questioned
Child Protection Plan (CPP) timelines and the effects of cases
being left open for significant periods of time. Members noted that
there had been some improvements in reducing this, but queried if
any further improvements could be undertaken. Officers noted that
this was a key area of concern for the service.
- Officers highlighted
that Area Heads were accountable for longstanding open cases. It
was also noted that cases open for more than 18 months would be
open for closer review, pointing out that the aim was to reduce the
threshold for review from 18 months to 12 months.
- The Board expressed
concerns regarding the numbers of missing children and children at
risk of Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE), noting an increase.
Officers explained that this was a result of better identification
and data changes. It was noted that the service was working to
create consistent data models within the service.
- It was noted that the
service was setting up a Signs of Safety implementation group, to
plan and oversee the roll out of Signs of Safety across the
service. This was a key area for improving practice.
- Officers noted that
the service was focussing on several key areas for the Ofsted
Monitoring Visit in January 2017:
- Care
Leavers
- Children at risk of
Sexual Exploitation
- Children who go
missing
- Officers noted that
there was an improvement in staff retention over the year 2016,
highlighting there were new permanent staff members and had also
converted seven locum social workers into permanent members of
staff.
- The
Cabinet Member
for Children and Families Wellbeing noted that there were some
challenges facing the service with regard to quality, but that the
service was working positively to resolve the issues facing
it.
Recommendations
The Board endorse the report
and welcomes the emphasis on independent oversight in the Quality
Assurance framework.
It recommends:
-
That the Framework includes additional
responsibilities for Members as independent visitors to
children’s homes
-
That the Framework articulates which KPIs are
reported to which Board/responsible officer/team, and a principle
of reporting consistently on the same, relevant KPIs is
included.
-
That a trend analysis report for the key performance
data and case audits over the last financial year is prepared for
the Social Care Services Board (or equivalent) of the new
Council