Issue - meetings

Report from the Cabinet Member Children and Young People is attached.

Councillor Lucy Smith, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Children and Young People presented to Cabinet Bury Local Area SEND response to local area inspection.  The Cabinet member reported between the 12th and 16th February, Bury’s local area SEND services were inspected by the Care Quality Commission and Ofsted.

The inspection team identified widespread, systemic failings in services and highlighted the challenge that we need to do more to improve the outcomes of children and young people with special educational needs. The inspection identifies 6 priority actions which Bury Council and NHS Greater Manchester ICB are jointly responsible for, along with 3 areas for improvement. As a result of the inspection outcome, the local authority will be issued with an Improvement Notice, and we will be subject to monitoring visits followed by a re-inspection in approximately 18 months.

Members discussed the difficulties in recruitment in Childrens Services.  The Cabinet member reported that she remained confident that the Department will be able to recruit as well as providing the other identified support including training and improved communication with relevant stakeholders.

DECISION

1.   Cabinet notes the findings of the local area inspection and the Priority Impact Plan.

2.   Cabinet notes

· A review is being conducted of Educational Psychology Services, and Cabinet will receive this update via a separate report.

· A comprehensive and effective Outreach offer is being reviewed and codesigned, in accordance with current capacity to determine service delivery that is aligned with our strategic objectives, and which addresses our challenges. This service has recently been restructured and is considered sufficient at this time.

· Further exploration of the Liquid Logic SEND Portal is required to establish functionality and efficiencies and consider how it can support our identified issues. Data cleansing is currently underway to migrate the information to the data system and the anticipated timeframe for completion is December 2024.

· The SEND Assessment and Review Team comprises of staff with varying knowledge, experience and skills. There is a need for a core programme of training and development to support Continued Professional Development (CPD) and improve service delivery.

3.   Cabinet approves the proposals in respect of the additional capacity required to deliver on the Local Area SEND Partnership Priority Impact Plan and Project Safety Valve (PSV) Agreement:

a. Additional capacity in the SEND Service

b. Designated Social Care Officer (DSCO)

c. Training costs

d. Project management

Reasons for recommendation(s)

·         To ensure Cabinet Members are sighted on progress of SEND improvement activity following the local area inspection.

·         To ensure that the SEND Service can deliver on Local Area SEND Partnership Priority Impact Plan, PSV Action Plan and meet the expectations of DfE, Ofsted and CQC as part of their ongoing monitoring arrangements.

·         To ensure compliance with the Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment, in accordance with the Childrens & Families Act 2014, SEND Regulations 2014 and the SEND Code of Practice 2014.

Report of the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Children and Young People attached.

The Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, and the Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, attended the meeting and provided Members of the Committee with a verbal update, following the recently jointly undertaken, Care Quality Commission and Ofsted inspection of SEND.

The Cabinet Member for Children and Young People reported that the inspection team, identified widespread, systemic failings in services and highlighted the challenge that we need to do more to improve the outcomes of children and young people with special educational needs.

The inspection identifies 6 priority actions which Bury Council and NHS Greater Manchester ICB are jointly responsible for, along with 3 areas for improvement. As a result of the inspection outcome, the local authority will be issued with an Improvement Notice, and we will be subject to monitoring visits followed by a re-inspection in approximately 18 months. 

In considering the report’s findings, the following issues were raised:

Members expressed concerns with regards to the report’s findings and particularly, that the Scrutiny Committee had not been informed, in advance, of the extent of the issues identified, despite discussing SEND, at numerous previous meetings.

With regard to concerns relating to SEND, the Cabinet Member for Children and Young People reported that she had shared these concerns previously with the Committee.  The Cabinet Member acknowledged that the SEND service was in need of improvement and that is why the department had worked to develop a improvement plan. 

The inspection report highlighted the progress that the Council, working with its partners had made but that there had been insufficient time, prior to the inspection, to see any real impact. 

In addition, the Chair, raised concerns about the lack of information, and detail shared with the Committee, to the extent of the problems facing the SEND service.  The Cabinet Member for Children and Young People reported that she was happy to work with the Committee and suggested moving forward, that Members review the format and the type of information shared with the Committee.

The Executive Director (Health and Adult Care) reported that the recommendations, did not constitute a surprise.  The Council, together with partners believe that they had made significant progress, including reducing waiting times and an increase in the number of Health Visitors, this is not, as of yet, transferring in to better outcomes for service users.

Members agreed that they would like to see a dashboard highlighting SEND performance, whilst at the same time measuring impact and outcomes.  Responding, the Interim Director of Education and Skills reported that this information is regularly shared with the Improvement Board and can too, be shared with Members of this Committee.

Responding to a Members question, with regards to PIP, the Executive Director (Health and Adult Care)– reported that NHS partners are confident that can deliver and make progress, demand continues to be problematic, with some services experiencing a 300% increase in demand for services.

Members discussed priority 2 of the action plan; “to improve or embed the use of the graduated approach  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18