Councillor Lucy Smith, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, presented the report which sought Cabinet approval to progress to formal consultation with affected staff on the restructure of the Children & Young People’s Directorate Management structure. Members welcomed this report and it was noted that the intention was for the creation of the Director of Social Care & Early Help post to be expedited to Council for approval.
Decision:
Cabinet:
1. Agreed in principle the commencement of consultation with affected staff in January 2024 on the proposed structural changes to the Children & Young People’s Directorate, as set out within the body of the report;
2. As part of these proposals, Council be recommended that the vacant post of Director of Social Care Practice (Chief Officer Band E, £93,102-£101,596) be redesignated as Director of Social Care & Early Help, evaluated as (Chief Officer Band F, £103,767-£112,636) to reflect the post’s expanded portfolio; and
3. Delegated authority to the Executive Director of Children and Young People and the Cabinet Members for Children’s Services and HR and Corporate Affairs, in consultation with the Director of People and Inclusion, Monitoring Officer and S151 Officer to consider responses received from the consultation and produce a final version of the structure.
Reasons for the decision:
The proposal will support effective service delivery of Children’s Services, via stronger integration of key services, bringing all early help and support services under the leadership of the proposed director of social work and early help, and aligning children vulnerable in education services under the responsibility of the virtual school.
The proposed planning reflects the requirements of recent statutory guidance, the Revised Working Together Guidance 2023, and the Childrens Social Care National Framework 2023. The former is clear that within early help the role of education and childcare settings is strengthened and made explicit and within safeguarding it clarifies a broader range of practitioners who can be the lead practitioner for children receiving child in need support (s17 CA) such as early help practitioners.
Other options considered and rejected:
The rationale for the proposal is driven by our aspiration that all children and young people in Bury reach their potential, are happy, healthy, and safe and are therefore able to make the best use of their skills to lead independent and successful lives.
The Department is committed to delivering service improvement across the whole gamut of its responsibilities encompassing, Education, SEND, Early Help and Social Care. Current departmental structures could be maintained, although a recent recruitment exercise for the post of Director of Social Care Practice was unsuccessful, and market testing broadly supports the combined Social Care and Early Help role as being a better positioned proposition.