Agenda and minutes

There were no Disclosable Pecuniary Interests.

a)  To agree the minutes of the meeting held on 13^th July, 2017

b)  Matters Arising

The minutes of the meeting held on 13^th July, 2017 were approved.

Further to Minute 8/17 ‘Improvement Board’ the Children’s Services Redesign was on the agenda for further discussion at this meeting, documents had been circulated and the meeting requested took place on 12^th September, 2017.

Report of the Local Safeguarding Children’s Board

The Scrutiny Board considered a briefing note of the Deputy Chief Executive (People) which presented the Annual Report of the Local Safeguarding Children’s Board (LSCB).

The report outlined the achievements and challenges of the LSCB and assessed progress on outcomes for children and young people.  It evaluated the impact of Coventry’s services on outcomes for children and showed how the work of the Board had contributed to improving outcomes.  The report covered the period from September 2016 to March 2017 so that the time period was now in line with the reporting guidelines as set out in Working Together 2015.  It summarised progress over the last six months and set out a new direction for the Board for 2017/18.  The report was also presented to the Health and Wellbeing Board on the 16^th October 2017.

The Board welcomed the Independent Chair of the LSCB, David Peplow and the Safeguarding Board Business Manager, Eire Hale.

The Scrutiny Board discussed the following:

·  Changes to the timing of the annual report and subsequent reports to Scrutiny

·  Collecting evidence that Common Assessment Framework (CAF) has positive impacts

·  Barriers and challenges for the LSCB

·  The “other” category in the financial breakdown

·  Training provided by the LSCB

·  Working with partners

·  Family Group Conferencing

·  The role of the Safeguarding Board

The Board noted that the Safeguarding Board was influential and supportive of improvements.

RESOLVED that the Scrutiny Board

1)  noted the report, progress made and areas for development

2)  a)  request further information about the ‘other’ categories in

the finance breakdown

b)  request information about the next round of training sessions that the Board were invited to

Briefing Note of the Deputy Chief Executive (People)

Further to minute 8/17 the Scrutiny Board considered a briefing note of the Deputy Chief Executive (People) which provided an overview of the changes made to the transformation of Children’s Services.

The Board had requested further information on the re-design and a presentation was appended to the briefing note.  The re-design was a response to the proposals in the Connecting Communities report agreed at Cabinet on 7^th March, 2017.  The fundamental aim of the children’s transformation changes were to ensure that Coventry City Councils Children’s Services were fit for purpose to:

•  Respond earlier to children’s and parent’s needs

•  Target vulnerable and potentially vulnerable children

•  Reduce the number of repeat assessments and hand-offs or changes in worker that children and families experience

•  Enable single assessment or support plans to be created and sustained through a child’s service journey

•  Create more opportunities for other agencies and professionals to integrate their services with ours around the needs of individual children

•  Support new ways of working based on a sustainable structure and resource base as part of the Councils medium term financial strategy

•  Develop a self-improving system of working where doing the right thing is made easier

The consultation on the proposals closed on 3rd August 2017 and changes made to the original proposals had been made in consideration of the feedback received.  The changes reflected the requirements of and underpined the successful Improvement Plan as well as the learning from the recent Ofsted inspection.  The final proposals had been shared with the trade unions.

The Scrutiny Board discussed the following:

·  Timescales for implementation of the changes

·  Partners involvement in the new structures

·  Job losses

·  Changes to services provided across the City with the new hub and spoke model

·  Support from partners for the new model

RESOLVED that the Scrutiny Board

1)  Note the report and request a report back early in 2018 after implementation

2)  Request the Cabinet Member be briefed regularly on the redesign

3)  Agree that members would contact the Director of Childrens Services regarding detail within wards of the proposed changes

Briefing Note of the Scrutiny Co-ordinator

The Scrutiny Board noted the briefing note of the Scrutiny Co-ordinator regarding actions requested by the Board.

RESOLVED that the officers responsible for outstanding actions be contacted.

Briefing Note of the Scrutiny Co-ordinator

The Scrutiny Board noted the work programme and that the Children’s Services Redesign implementation would be added early in 2018 as agreed at this meeting.

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.