Agenda item

Purpose of the report:

This report relates to the agreed Performance Management information created for both this Board and the Improvement Board.  It is also utilised to satisfy other interested groups and parts of the wider council.  It is an attempt to keep things targeted and focused and is the “one single vision of the truth”. 

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:

1. 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.
   
   
2. Officers explained that the quality assurance framework was being implemented across the entire Directorate equally.
   
   
3. 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.
   
   
4. 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.
   
   
5. 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.
   
   
6. 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.
   
   
7. 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.
   
   
8. 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.
   
   
9. Officers noted that the service was focussing on several key areas for the Ofsted Monitoring Visit in January 2017:
   1. Care Leavers
   2. Children at risk of Sexual Exploitation
   3. Children who go missing
      
      
10. 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.
    
    
11. 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:

1. That the Framework includes additional responsibilities for Members as independent visitors to children’s homes

2. 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.

3. 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