Agenda and minutes

There were no disclosable pecuniary interests.

a)  To agree the minutes of the meeting held on 4^th April, 2019

b)  Matters Arising

The minutes of the meetings held on 4th April, 2019 were approved.

Further to minute 65/18 ‘Emotional Well-Being and Mental Health Support to Children and Young People in Coventry’ the Board noted that a Joint Scrutiny Board meeting would be arranged.

Briefing Note of the Scrutiny Co-ordinator and Presentation of the Deputy Chief Executive (People)

The Scrutiny Board considered a presentation of the Deputy Chief Executive (People) which provided an introduction to Children’s Services and the Education and Skills Services.

The presentation detailed 

·  Partnership working

·  Management Team members

·  Overview of areas of responsibility and services

·  The Ofsted Profile

·  The 2017-18 priorities and achievements

·  The 2018-19 priorities

·  Next steps

·  Transformation Programmes

·  Corporate Parenting

·  Legislation

·  The Children’s Services Journey from 2014

·  Service redesign

·  Possible areas for scrutiny

The Board questioned the Cabinet Members, Deputy Cabinet Member and officers on the following:

·  Timelines and progress of the alternative provision service and communication with families of vulnerable learners

·  Violent crime concerns 

·  Partnership working

·  Voluntary sector

·  Curriculum pathways and connection to the jobs that were available

·  Benefits and challenges to having a high number of newly qualified social workers

·  Why numbers of Looked After Children were rising

·  Education of Looked After Children

·  Social worker case loads

·  Ofsted

·  Legislation

·  Task and finish groups

·  Criminal youth justice

·  Missing from education

RESOLVED that, the Education and Children’s Services Scrutiny Board (2):

1)  Considered the presentation and identified the following areas for further consideration on the work programme:

•  Libraries

•  Criminal Exploitation of Children (Gangs and Knife Crime) Youth Offending Service/Youth Justice

•  Curriculum Pathway post 16

•  Support for Ofsted

•  Children missing education

•  Early Years/ school readiness

•  Possible task and finish groups

2)  The Board also requested that information previously considered by SB2 regarding youth provision and Looked After Children’s data be circulated

3)  The Board requested a briefing note about plans to tackle Criminal Exploitation of Children (Gangs and Knife Crime) be circulated to include details on funding from Troubled Families as soon as possible

4)  The Board requested that consideration be given to holding a meeting in a school/college/hub

Briefing Note of the Scrutiny Co-ordinator

The Scrutiny Board considered the Work Programme and noted that further to minute 72 above, the areas identified for further consideration would be added to an appropriate meeting.

RESOLVED that the work programme 2019-2020 be updated

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

Signs of Safety Training

Members were encouraged to attend training on ‘Signs of Safety’ which was the practise framework used for child protection.