To review the progress of audit recommendations implementation.

The committee considered a report on the progress of audit recommendations implementation.  Attention was drawn to the further updates from the Children and Young People Directorate that had been circulated in the meeting room immediately prior to the start of the meeting (link to the further updates).

The Performance Team Lead introduced the report and drew attention to the following:

i.             In relation to recommendations that were overdue, paragraph 8 of the report (agenda page 24) should read ‘These updates identified that 4 5 recommendations have since been completed and 23 remain outstanding’, i.e. 19% had been completed.

ii.            In relation to recommendations due for completion between April 2022 and September 2022, 73% had been completed.

iii.          In relation to recommendations due for completion between October 2022 and March 2023, 63% had been completed or were on track to be completed within timescale.  The committee was advised that there would be focus on historic overdue recommendations and on the mechanism to ensure that recommendations were reviewed regularly by directorates.

The Service Director, Education, Skills and Learning explained the further updates from the Children and Young People Directorate, the key points included: for EHC (Education, Health and Care) Plan – Annual Review, a review of the process had taken place and systems had been strengthened; for Support for Young People who are NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training), the March 2021 data demonstrated that Herefordshire (7.5%) compared favourably with the national level (9.3%) for those young people with SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) EHCP, and a target of 6.5% had been set; for EHCP Preparation for Adulthood, a specialist consultant had not been able to undertake the work and there would be further engagement with internal audit on quality assurance, informed by a recent peer review on SEND; and a business case to increase resources in line with demand had been prepared.

The principal matters raised during the discussion included:

1.           A committee member made reference to a scrutiny task and finish group report on ‘Review of Special Educational Needs and Disability Provision’ (link to the executive response).

2.           The Performance Team Lead commented that there was an improving position in terms of recommendations due for completion, and confirmed that further work would be undertaken on historic overdue recommendations.

3.           There was a brief discussion about the potential for some actions with target dates at the end of the financial year to slip into the next municipal year.  The Chairperson noted that there was a well-structured methodology for tracking the recommendations and updates.  The Performance Team Lead offered to provide an update on the position to the end of December 2022 at a future briefing for committee members.

Resolved:

That the status of current audit recommendations has been reviewed.