Agenda and draft minutes

Safeguarding Sub-Committee - Tuesday, 16th October, 2018 5.30 pm

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Items
No. Item

1.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

2.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Members of this Group are asked to consider if they have an interest in any of the matters on the Agenda and if so to formally declare that interest.

Minutes:

Councillor J Walker declared a prejudicial interest in Minute CS.06

 below, Troubled Families Update, as the Deputy Cabinet Member

for Communities. Councillor Walker left the meeting during

consideration of this item as the issue is an area of policy that falls

 within his portfolio area.

 

3.

OFSTED VISIT UPDATE pdf icon PDF 203 KB

A representative from Children’s Services will report at the meeting.

Minutes:

The Interim Executive Director of Children’s Services presented a report setting out the findings of a recent focussed visit to Children’s Services. The visit had taken place on 25 and 26 July 2018. 

 

The Inspectors had reviewed the local authority’s arrangements for contacts and referrals in the multi-agency safeguarding hub (MASH) for children who need help, including safeguarding. Inspectors also considered thresholds for early help and statutory services for children in need, including those in need of safeguarding.

A wide range of evidence was considered, including case discussions with administrators, social workers, managers, representatives from partner agencies, and senior staff responsible for quality assurance and performance management. Performance data and management reports were also reviewed, and children’s case records were sampled.

 

The Interim Executive Director reported on the following positive findings:

 

·         That the MASH is an effective multi-disciplinary service which provides clear pathways for members of the public and professionals to raise concerns about children. Contacts are prioritised and processed in a timely way by skilled and experienced staff. Management oversight is robust and all recommendations for next steps are reviewed prior to authorisation.

 

·         That Contacts and referrals are authorised promptly by managers and there is no backlog. Partner agencies routinely use the agreed referral form. Consent is sought from families, and referrers are informed of the outcome of their referral. This ensures that families’ rights are fully considered, and that referrers know what is happening in response to their referral and what to do if they disagree.

 

·           That information-sharing by those partner agencies in the MASH is a strength. If a child needs specialist services, this triggers swift information-gathering from a range of agencies. Responses are generally prompt, and all gaps are followed up.

 

·           That decision-making and information-sharing is supported by co-location and effective joint working between children’s social care, police, health and education staff. Information from different providers is gathered and analysed by the health specialist, ensuring that the significance of health information is understood.

 

·           Strategy meetings in the MASH are convened swiftly and have improved significantly since the internal audit at the end of 2017. Composition, chairing and minuting have all improved. However, the MASH health and education specialists are unable to participate in all meetings, although background information from their service area is gathered and shared. Strategy meetings held in other teams are well attended and minuted, and the rationale for decisions made is set out.

 

·           Children who may have complex safeguarding needs, such as children who go missing from home or care and those who may be vulnerable to sexual exploitation, benefit from prompt consideration by staff in the specialist complex safeguarding team. Contacts are swiftly routed from the MASH to the appropriate service.

 

·           Children who require social work assessments are allocated promptly to staff in the initial response teams. The social workers know their children well and can articulate the strengths and difficulties in families, which means that the right support can be put in place.

 

During discussion of this item, the Interim  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

4.

URGENT BUSINESS

5.

EXCLUSION OF PRESS AND PUBLIC

To consider passing the appropriate resolution under Section 100 (A)(4), Schedule 12(A) of the Local Government Act 1972, that the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the reason that the following business involves the disclosure of exempt information as detailed against the item.

 

6.

PERFORMANCE REPORT

Bart Popelier will report at the meeting.  Report attached.

Minutes:

     PERFORMANCE REPORT

 

Bart Popelier gave a presentation setting out Children’s Social Care Performance in respect of the key performance indicators for children’s safeguarding. Performance information was set out in respect of the following indicators:

 

·   Number of Contacts

·   Number of Referrals

·   Number of Repeat Referrals

·   Number of S47 Enquiries

·   Children in Need

·   Child Protection

·   Public Law Outline

·   Edge of care – Start of Care

·   Children with Disabilities

·   Workforce

Questions were asked and responses given in respect of the presentation, however a number of causes for concern remained for the Group, which can be summarised as follows:

 

·         Whilst acknowledging that a number of new systems had been introduced and would take time to bed-in, the Group had serious concerns over a lack of improvement in terms of performance across the indicators. Members felt that they were receiving similar responses to those received 12 months ago.

 

·         IT systems were not as advanced as they could be, resulting in staff not being able to work efficiently. The Group felt that improved technology and agile working would free up staff to make more efficient use of their time and produce improved quality in their work.

 

·         With regard to recruitment and retention, the Group expressed concerns in relation to workloads and case load numbers. Members highlighted the correlation between staff turnover and performance as a result of cases having to be re-allocated. Issues were also raised about the use of agency staff.

 

·         Concerns were expressed in respect of relatively high levels of sickness, with much of the long term sickness being stress related. The Group highlighted the issue of capacity and workloads as potential contributory factors.

 

·         In respect of children in need, the Group expressed serious concerns about children not being seen.

 

It was agreed:

 

That the Chair of this Group, meet with the Interim Assistant Director (Social Care & Safeguarding), with a view to raising the issues above in advance of a formal response to the next meeting.

7.

TROUBLED FAMILIES UPDATE

Ahmed Ajmi will provide members with an overview of the Troubled Families programme.  Report attached.

Minutes:

A report was submitted form the Interim Executive Director for Communities and Wellbeing outlining how the Council safeguard the most vulnerable families in Bury, an overview of the programme, the successes of interventions and how residents are safeguarded. 

 

Bury Council’s response to the programme has been the SCIL (Supporting Communities and Improving Lives) team. The team comprises of Family Co-ordinators and a member of staff from DWP. There are two analysts that also provide data support for submissions to central government and also the GMCA.

 

Greater Manchester, on behalf of the 10 districts, has signed up to the Troubled Families 2 (TF2) programme and has committed to improve the lives of 27,200 families over the next 5 years. Bury’s contribution is 1297 families.

 

Troubled Families is at Greater Manchester (GM) level, part of a wider package of reforms (Public Sector Reform) to help individuals and families.  This includes supporting 50,000 people into employment, reducing reoffending, implementing the Early Years New Delivery Model and greater integration of service provision through Place Based Integration.

 

The report set out information in respect of numbers on the programme; actions undertaken and risks within the programme. Ahmed Ajmi, Projects Officer, attended the meeting and briefed the Group on a number of positive interventions which highlighted how well Bury had performed to date, which was backed up by positive feedback comments from partners. Included within the report were a number of case studies setting out the issues faced by families and the outcomes achieved. 

 

In response to a question from the Chair, Ahmed undertook to provide the number of re-referrals to the programme from phase 1.

 

With regard to the voice of the child, Ahmed explained about the tools and initiatives in place to ensure this is captured. An undertaking was given to provide copies of the feelings wheel toolkit.

 

During discussion of this item, Members of the Group acknowledged the good work being undertaken in respect of the Programme. 

 

It was agreed:

 

The an update on the programme be provided to this Group in 12 months time.

 

8.

DATE OF FUTURE MEETINGS

Tuesday 8th January 2019

Tuesday 2nd April 2019

Minutes:

It was agreed:

 

That the next meeting of the Group be held on 8 January 2019,

 to consider the following items:

               

·         Performance Report Response - Interim Assistant

Director (Social Care & Safeguarding) to be invited.

 

·         Leaving Care Service

·         Healthy Young Minds