To receive apologies for absence

Apologies were received from Councillors CR Butler and JF Johnson and from Mr P Sell.

The Chairman welcomed all in attendance including witnesses for the autism strategy.

The Chairman reported that Councillor Butler had recently been appointed to the Committee but had unfortunately been unable to attend on this occasion.

She thanked Councillor JA Hyde for her work on the committee.

To receive details of members nominated to attend the meeting in place of a member of the committee.

Councillor SD Williams substituted for Councillor CR Butler.

To receive any declarations of interest from members in respect of items on the agenda.

None.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting on 5 February 2018.

The Chairman reported a minor amendment to the minutes.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held on 5 February 2018, as amended, be agreed as a correct record.

To receive any written questions from members of the public.

Deadline for receipt of questions is 5:00pm on Wednesday 11 April.

Accepted questions will be published as a supplement prior to the meeting.

Please submit questions to: councillorservices@herefordshire.gov.uk. 

A copy of the public question and answer is appended to the minutes.

To receive any written questions from members of the council.

Deadline for receipt of questions is 5:00pm on Wednesday 11 April.

Accepted questions will be published as a supplement prior to the meeting.

Please submit questions to: councillorservices@herefordshire.gov.uk. 

None.

To preview the draft autism strategy before it is presented to the cabinet for approval. The committee is asked to agree recommendations and comments to submit to the cabinet member health and wellbeing for consideration during the finalisation of the strategy.

The Committee was invited to preview the draft autism strategy before it was presented to the cabinet for approval, and asked to agree recommendations for consideration during the finalisation of the strategy.  

The Chairman welcomed all in attendance including witnesses for the autism strategy.

The HAN gave a presentation, as included with the agenda papers.  The ACCSM added that the strategy was in draft.  Work was ongoing to develop support services in conjunction with the CCG.

The following witnesses were then invited to speak:  Debbie Hobbs, Branch Chair, National Autistic Society – Herefordshire Branch, Nikki Pitt, Chair of the Herefordshire Autism Partnership Board and Jade Brooks, Deputy Director of Operations, Herefordshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG).

In summary they made the following principal observations:

Debbie Hobbs (DH)

She requested that the action plan be amended to contain 6 monthly outcomes over the three year life of the strategy to bring it in line with the national strategy. She also outlined the work of the branch and the aim to address the issues that were brought daily to their attention.

Nikki Pitt (NP)

She commented on behalf of the Board and also as a person on the autistic spectrum herself whose son also had autism. She outlined the work of the Board and highlighted the role it might play in relation to contributing to the delivery of the strategy and monitoring progress against the action plan, noting that some actions were the responsibility of the Board itself.

Jade Brooks (JB)

She reported that the CCG supported the strategy and the action plan and was mindful of the accountability to the Partnership Board.   She commented that it was important that the strategy was not seen simply as a diagnostic assessment process but rather that it involved ensuring a wider awareness of all staff and the general public of the health inequalities experienced by those with autism.

Adults and Wellbeing

The IDAW commented on the work being undertaken within the directorate that linked to the strategy. He remarked that there had been a change in approach to focus on need rather than diagnosis enabling teams to offer more effective support.

Discussion

In the committee’s discussion the following principal points were made:

·         It was suggested that that the action plan should include milestones to allow progress towards achieving outcomes to be effectively monitored to ensure that the action plan was on track.  The ACCSM agreed that this would be a sound approach.

·         In response to a question about the achievability of action plan priority 4 – action d -– ‘Develop and enhance opportunities to local employment services’, the ACCSM commented that further work needed to be undertaken on this aspect including how the council could support training and employment.

·         It was asked what impact the increase in autism, as recorded in the school censuses, had upon commissioned places in the school system?

The HAN replied that the vast majority of pupils would have their needs met in mainstream schools so the recorded increase in autism  ...  view the full minutes text for item 46.

To receive a presentation (attached) on the outcomes of the LGA Safeguarding Peer Review and to consider any additions to the committees work programme resulting from the issues raised.

The DCW gave a presentation, as included with the agenda papers, on the draft findings of the Local Government Association (LGA) Safeguarding Peer Review.  He indicated that the formal letter setting out the findings would be provided to the Committee.

The committee was invited to consider any additions to the committee’s work programme resulting from the issues raised. 

In discussion the following principal points were made:

·        It was requested that information be provided to the Committee on referrals to the multi-agency safeguarding hub (MASH) in view of particular concerns about the level of referrals from West Mercia Police, to establish whether the referrals were appropriate, or whether different approaches needed to be considered.

·        In relation to the quality of record keeping the DCW commented that some of the issues did include instances where recording had not historically been as good as it could be.  However, some records in some areas were currently not as up to date as they needed to be.  One of the issues was the workload of some teams meaning that whilst the case work was being carried out there was a time lag in recording it. 

·        It was asked if more administrative support would assist in improving record keeping and retaining social work staff.  The DCW commented that a range of issues including improved use of technology were being explored to make recording easier and simpler.

·        The findings were good news and when formally confirmed should be communicated widely.

·        In relation to a question about the relationship between schools and social workers, referencing previous concerns expressed about a lack of continuity as a result of turnover of individual social workers, the DCW stated that the review had not commented on this specifically.  However, there were comments that a range of partners, which included schools, had a high regard for social workers.  The review had also found that there were appropriate arrangements for early help which included the approach by schools.  There was still an amount of turnover of social work staff.  However, there was a focus on retention, and recruitment to hard to fill experienced social worker posts.

·        Further information was sought on the headline findings that there was good support from elected members, and whether areas for improvement had been identified.  The DCW commented that the review had found that members had a good understanding of the issues for children in the county and that it was a priority for all councillors, with a corporate plan and investment in place.  The review had asked in relation to the early help offer whether there could be more focus on some services to help reduce the need for higher threshold services.  This would be beneficial to the children but also to the council given that number of children requiring some services were comparatively high.  Some help to address workload pressures would also be good.  However, the key message was that there was an awareness of the range of issues involved.

·        It was suggested that all members needed  ...  view the full minutes text for item 47.

To consider and agree the attached draft work programme for 2018/19, including a proposal for a task and finish group and the recommendations tracker.

The Committee reviewed the work programme for 2018/19.

It was noted that a performance report on safeguarding was to be added to the agenda for 14 May.   No further additional items were proposed, subject to the inclusion of the matters identified for consideration during discussion of the previous items on the agenda.

In relation to the establishment of a task and finish group on section 20 orders, a minor addition was proposed to ensure that, whilst the task and finish group would be looking to the future,  there was an understanding of the judgment by the High Court and how this has been addressed.  Expressions of interest in serving on the group were made.

RESOLVED: 

That    (a)        the draft work programme as amended be approved;

            (b)        the draft terms of reference as set out at appendix b to the report for a task and finish group concerning section 20 orders as amended be approved, Councillor Gandy be appointed as Chairman with the membership also to comprise Councillors Chappell, Norman and Seldon with the Liberal Democrat Group to be invited to nominate a fifth member of the group; and

            (c)        the recommendation tracker in appendix c be noted.

To note the following meeting dates of the committee during 2018/19 (all meetings to start at 10.15 a.m. in Committee Room 1):

14 May 2018

16 July 2018

17 September 2018

19 November 2018

18 February 2019

25 March 2019

RESOLVED:  That the following schedule of meeting dates be agreed:

14 May 2018

16 July 2018

17 September 2018

19 November 2018

18 February 2019

25 March 2019