Agenda item

Purpose of the report: The Select Committee is apprised of the latest CFL performance information, which consists of:

(a)  Key indicators in children’s social care measuring progress made in Ofsted recommendations following the January 2022 inspection of Surrey Local Authority Children’s Services;

(b)  Key indicators relating to the additional needs strategy and EHCP timeliness recovery plan;

(c)   Turnover of social workers and foster carers to measure progress in the Children’s Recruitment, Retention and Culture Workforce Planning Strategy;

(d)  External assessments of all areas within the Committee’s remit.

Witnesses:

Clare Curran, Cabinet Member for Children and Families, Lifelong Learning

Rachael Wardell, Executive Director - Children, Families & Learning

Patricia Denney, Director – Quality and Performance (remote)

Key points made in the discussion:

1. The Chair asked if more up to date information on additional needs and disabilities key performance indicators (KPIs) could be brought to the February 2024 Full Select Committee. The Executive Director for Children, Families & Learning said that it would be shared as soon as possible.

2. The Chair asked when the social worker recruitment and retention statistics would this be available. The Executive Director for Children, Families & Learning noted that it was a priority to access the data and would be shared once received. 

3. A Member asked how the Service was increasing the number of Children In Need visits.  The Director for Quality and Performance noted that there were only marginal increases to Children In Need visits, but this was being rectified under the new delivery model that would address this issue.

4. A Member asked if everything promised to be delivered around EHCPs was on track, The Executive Director for Children, Families & Learning and the Director for Quality and Performance confirmed yes.

5. The Chair asked to see a comparison of progress to date of improvements of KPIs 2.3, 5.2, 6.4 and 6.8 against the original target plan ahead of the February 2024 Select Committee Meeting.

6. A Member asked a question on the 341 looked after children who were not placed in Surrey.  The Executive Director for Children, Families & Learning agreed that sufficiency issues around placements in surrey were an issue but that solutions were being explored to improve it, such as working with independent foster providers and the work around the Extended Kinship Network or reunification. The Director for Quality and Performance noted that there were constant conversations with health colleagues to notify them of children coming into care in order to provide medical care such as EHCP demands.

7. A Member expressed concern over the number of pupils absent from schools and asked witnesses to send further information on school attendance in Surrey.  The Director for Quality and Performance noted that Surrey had high school attendance during the pandemic as compared with other counties.

8. A Member noted that MindWorks was closed for referrals. The Executive Director for Children, Families & Learning noted that there had been no further recent data from MindWorks and that neurodivergent pathways had stopped accepting referrals.

9. The Chair thanked witnesses and Members.

Actions/requests for further information:

1. Director – Quality and Performance Extend action CFLLC41/23 [Provide a short report explaining performance in and steps to improve KPIs 4.3, 5.2, 6.4 and 6.8] and have a comparison of progress to date against the original target plan in July 2023 and the current reprofiled plan, ahead of the February Select Committee meeting.  

2. Committee to make the Adults and Health Select Committee aware that the percentage of Looked After Children Initial Health Assessments completed dipped below 90% in September due to both Initial & Review Health Assessments continuing to be affected by health staffing issues. 

3. Executive Director – Children, Families & Learning to share report on school attendance in Surrey and reasons why parents were keeping children at home as opposed to attending school. 

Jonathan Essex left the meeting at 14:46