The Chief Executive to provide a verbal update.
Minutes:
Geoff Little, Chief Executive of Bury Council, provided an update on the progress of the Children’s Services Improvement Programme. Members noted that since the last meeting of Cabinet Jeanette Richards had been appointed as the permanent Executive Director for Children and Young People, a position she was filling on a fixed term basis previously. This would bring certainty and stability to the leadership of Children’s Services, which was important in recruiting and retaining staff, and give confidence in the Council’s capacity to improve. Regarding capacity, it was noted that recruitment was underway for the Assistant Director of Social Work.
The final version of the Improvement Plan had been submitted to the Department for Education (DfE) by the deadline of 31 March. Prior to submission there was widespread involvement in the drafting from young people (via the Children in Care Council), frontline staff, Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee, and the Children’s Improvement Board. It was also subject to peer challenge by other NW Local Authorities. Feedback from the DfE was now awaited. A communication process was now being prepared for April and May to explain and embed understanding of the Improvement Plan with staff and partners.
The DfE advisor (who was also the Independent Chair of the Improvement Board), Linda Clegg, had submitted her first progress report. The next milestone would be an in-depth review to be submitted in May. Ms Clegg also provided feedback to the Board at their meeting in March, along with an update from the Executive Director, and the Board discussed priorities on the Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub, quality assurance, a new approach to performance management meetings, and improvements to the data dashboard used to track progress (though this was a work in progress).
Work had started on the review of the Bury Integrated Safeguarding Partnership by an external expert and a peer review had been conducted of the Multi Agency Safeguarding Team, the actions of which were being taken forward. Issues raised by frontline staff were being addressed and Bury was reaching out to other Local Authorities for their support in making improvements, including Hertfordshire and Essex County Councils. The focus of the next Improvement Board meeting will be the recruitment and retention of staff, which remained the highest priority.
In response to Members’ questions, it was noted that more detail on the work with other Local Authorities would be brought to the Improvement Board, Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee, and to Cabinet if required. Apprenticeships would be part of the discussion regarding recruitment and retention of staff, including ensuring vacancies and incentives were in place to enable Bury-trained social workers to stay working for the borough. The Leader advised that this was being supported by wider GM work looking at reducing competition between Councils and encouraging cooperation, which would benefit councils, social workers and the young people and families involved. It was also noted that social work caseloads were reducing but work was ongoing to reduce these further. Finally, Councillor Tariq advised that work with schools around children’s social care was progressing through existing primary and secondary networks to secure sustainable and long-term relationships for the future.
Decision:
Cabinet noted the update.
Reasons for the decision:
This update was provided in response to a resolution of Council at the meeting held on 19 January 2022.
Other options considered and rejected:
N/A