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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- The Chair thanked
witnesses and Members.
Actions/requests for further information:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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