Agenda and minutes

There were no Disclosable Pecuniary Interests.

a)  To agree the minutes of the meeting held on 14^th April, 2016

b)  Matters Arising

The minutes of the meeting held on 14^th April, 2016 were approved.

Further to minute 72/15 ‘Children’s Social Care Performance Report’ members had received information about Barnados return home interviews and children who had had 3 or more placements but were awaiting other information they had requested.

Briefing Note of the Executive Director for People

Further to Minute 74/15 the Scrutiny Board noted a joint briefing note which detailed progress on the Children’s Services Improvement Plan, reported to the Children’s Services Improvement Board on 11^th May, 2016 based on data from March, 2016.

The progress report included an update on the six themes aligned to the Department for Education (DfE) Improvement Notice including an update on the Local Safeguarding Children’s Board.

The Scrutiny Board questioned officers on the following:

·  Government Initiative to increase the number of student placements in social work

·  Whether the current successes in recruitment were in the areas where we most needed them

·  Support to retain staff and creative thinking

·  Task and finish group support

·  Inspiring middle leaders

·  Celebrating what we are good at and championing children’s services

·  Comparisons with other local authorities

·  National and regional concerns about lack of social workers

·  Alternative models of delivery

·  Ofsted

·  Social workers working with schools

Report of the Scrutiny Co-ordinator

Further to Minute 74/15 the Scrutiny Board considered a report of the Scrutiny Co-ordinator which sought to establish a task and finish group of the Education and Children’s Scrutiny Board to consider recruitment and retention of social work staff.

Members discussed with officers whether there could be useful recommendations resulting from focussing on these issues.  Officers were supportive of a member investigation into improvements that could be made to stabilise the workforce.

RESOLVED that the task and finish group be established and membership be sought from Scrutiny Members

Briefing Note of the Scrutiny Co-ordinator (attached)

The Scrutiny Board considered the draft work programme and requested that the following areas of interest be considered during the year:

·  Educational performance including vulnerable groups and especially those home schooled and excluded

·  Connecting Communities

·  Special Educational Needs and short breaks

·  Prevent

·  Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)

·  Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH)

·  Young People and Anti-Social Behaviour/Police school panels

RESOLVED that the work programme be updated

Any other items of business which the Chair decides to take as matters of urgency because of the special circumstances involved.

There were no other items of business.