To receive apologies for absence

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor A Seldon.

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

Councillor D Summers attended as a substitute for Councillor A Seldon.

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

The following members of the committee declared non-pecuniary interests in: Item 5 - Commissioning intentions for universal and early help services for children, young people and families; Item 6 – Herefordshire Safeguarding Children’s Board annual report 2016/17; Item 7 – Outcomes of casework peer review; and Item 8 – Children’s wellbeing self-assessment:

Councillor Hyde as the support team member (looked after children), the chairman of the corporate parenting panel and a member of the fostering panel.

Councillor Norman as a member of the corporate parenting panel.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 5 July 2017.

Resolved: that the minutes of the meeting held on 5 July 2017 be approved as a correct record and signed by the chairman.

To preview the draft decision report concerning the commissioning intentions for universal and early help services for children, young people and families.

The committee considered a report from the cabinet member health and wellbeing and the cabinet member young people and children’s wellbeing concerning procurement of universal and early help services for children, young people and families. The report was introduced by Lindsay MacHardy, public health specialist, who advised the committee that the proposal contained in the report placed the family and child at the heart of the commissioning exercise. The commissioning exercise would enable further integration of the approach for early help and public health nursing services.

Hazel Braund, Director of Operations at Wye Valley Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) spoke on behalf of the CCG and raised concerns regarding the procurement exercise. It was not felt that the proposal took account of safeguarding issues and no discussion with the safeguarding board had taken place. The principles of the commissioning exercise were supported but there was disappointment that the CCG had only been made aware of the proposals at a late stage and without sufficient detail on which to base a proper assessment. It was a significant paper that the committee was being asked to consider, proposing a very different model of operation to existing arrangements. There was concern that without an understanding of existing models it would be a challenge to scrutinise effectively the new arrangements proposed in the report.

Chris Baird, interim director for children’s wellbeing, said that the early help strategy had been to the Herefordshire Safeguarding Board (HSCB) and the board had considered the approach in Herefordshire. Commissioners and providers of children’s services had to ensure that the service had appropriate safeguarding in place and followed the HSCB’s procedures.

The committee made the comments below during the debate:

·         Concern regarding a lack of consideration of safeguarding issues in the proposals and the reported lack of engagement with the safeguarding board.

·         Concern regarding the reported lack of consultation with the CCG.

·         The redesign survey report attached to the draft cabinet report demonstrated that there was a lack of awareness of WISH in the local community. Very few respondents accessed the site for guidance and advice. Further work was required to raise the profile of the service and ensure that it was accessed more readily by the community.

·         There was not felt to be a sufficient level of evidence in the report to provide assurance that the contracts currently in place were providing value for money and effective service. However the committee was content to support the extension of the family befriending services, proposed in the draft cabinet report contracts up to March 2018 with Vennture and Homestart to ensure a consistency of service during the current year.

·         The committee required further detail of the services that would be procured in order to undertake effective scrutiny of the proposal. The draft cabinet report was not clear about tangible outcomes and quantifiable results sought through the procurement. The committee was unable to assess the terms of the proposed commissioning exercise to determine if it could realistically achieve its stated aims.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.

To consider the annual report 2016/17 and the business plan 2017/19 of the HSCB.  The committee is asked to scrutinise the recommendations and strategic priorities contained in the attached appendices and consider if they provide assurance.

The committee received a report concerning the annual report of the Herefordshire Safeguarding Children’s Board (HSCB) for 2016/17 and the business plan covering 2017/19. The report was introduced by Sally Halls, Independent Chair of the HSCB who explained to the committee the priorities that had informed the work of the Board during the previous year. The priorities consisted of child sexual exploitation, child protection, neglect and early help. In the current year the Board continued to focus on these areas and assess the rates of looked after children in Herefordshire. 

The committee made the following points in the discussion that followed:

·         If the committee would have the opportunity to see the neglect assessment tool or to have a demonstration of the facility. The Board would be receiving a presentation from the NSPCC shortly on the use of the tool and if appropriate there would be consideration of how to make it available on the Board’s website.

·         A summary of the work of the child death overview panel was requested. The panel was a multi-professional body which examined the deaths of all children under 18 in Herefordshire, which include deaths due to medical conditions.

·         There was concern that very few referrals to the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) were forthcoming from certain agencies. It was explained that the LADO dealt with very specific referrals regarding perceived conduct.

·         The location of the Emergency Duty Team at Worcester for emergency out of hours social work services was questioned and whether it would be desirable to locate the service in-county. It was confirmed that the service was contracted jointly with Worcestershire County Council and was based in Worcester. The service was currently under review but was deemed to be effective. Providing a distinct service in Herefordshire would be much less cost effective given the volume of work.    

·         Clarification was requested regarding the totals in the diagram showing totals for: children in need; with child protection plans; and in care. The high number of children in care was raised. It was confirmed that each of the totals was a separate figure and that the high number of children in care was attributable to difficulties in removing children from care. There had been a reduction in the number of children being admitted to care. The chair of the HSCB agreed that the diagram would be would be changed.

·         It was suggested that the Board could publicise its activities to local parish councils and the details of the parish liaison officer at the Council would be shared with the Board.

A motion was proposed by Councillor JF Johnson and seconded by Councillor MD Lloyd-Hayes to note the report and the strategic priorities of the Board. The motion was carried by a unanimous vote.   

Resolved – that:

a)    The annual report and effectiveness of the safeguarding arrangements for children and young people in Herefordshire as assessed by the Board are noted; and

b)    The strategic priorities identified by the Board are noted.

To consider and provide views on the outcomes and recommendations from the casework peer review, which took place between 13 and 15 June 2017, and to consider if the outcomes provide assurance to the committee that there is a robust environment in which good quality social work can take place. 

The committee received a report concerning the outcomes and recommendations of the casework peer review in June 2017. The report was introduced by Chris Baird, interim Director of Children’s Wellbeing, who advised the committee that the review formed part of the improvement work being undertaken in Children’s Wellbeing and further reviews were scheduled in September and spring 2018. Mr Baird provided a summary of the presentation from the LGA Peers outlining the outcomes and recommendations from the review.

The committee discussed the following points during the debate:

·         A further review of some cases had taken place in September and an update on any outcomes currently known was requested. The review in September had concerned a smaller sample of cases and the resulting themes had been broadly similar to the earlier review. Generally good outcomes were identified and the teams were effective however some work was required on making improvements to process and practice.

·         It was recognised that the outcomes of the review in June had been positive and the teams in the service should be congratulated.

·         The need for improvement in some processes was also recognised including better record-keeping. This was felt to be a very important area for the service to improve to ensure complete records were in place.

·         The committee queried the focus on reducing the level of looked after children and how this would operate in practice. It was explained that a change in culture was required. The notion that children were safe in care and should therefore remain in such circumstances throughout their childhood was in some cases being reviewed to see how best to meet the child’s need.

Resolved – that the committee notes the report and offers congratulations to the   teams involved in the review for the positive feedback received.

To consider if the children’s wellbeing self-assessment provides the necessary assurance for the committee. In addition to agree any comments and recommendations to enable the self-assessment to be developed further.  

The committee received a report concerning the development of the Children’s and Wellbeing Directorate’s draft self-assessment in readiness to participate in the peer challenge among authorities in the West Midlands. The report was introduced by Adam Scott, assistant director safeguarding and early help, who advised the committee that the process to produce a self-assessment was now a national requirement and heads of service within the Directorate would be adding to the draft document to be finalised later in the autumn. The outcomes of the recent reviews would be included in the self-assessment and when finalised, the document would be subject to the Ofsted inspection exercise.

The committee made the points below in the discussion that followed:

·         The difficulties involved in the recruitment of staff with experience. It was confirmed that a new HR representative was currently developing a recruitment strategy to assist in the hiring of experienced staff. However recruitment to middle management positions had been a success.

·         It was queried whether the target completion dates in September 2017 in the improvement plan had been achieved. It was confirmed that the tasks had been completed with the exception of the case load target which had been readjusted to a later date.

·         Training for teachers in respect of mental health issues. It was confirmed that this was a topic that could be explored at the December meeting of the committee when mental health was an item on the agenda.

A motion was proposed by Councillor McEvilly and seconded by Councillor Hyde to note the report. The motion was carried.

Resolved – that the notes the draft self-assessment document for the Children’s Wellbeing Directorate.        

To receive any written questions from members of the public.

Deadline for receipt of questions is 5:00pm on Wednesday 27 September.

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

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

No questions were received from members of the public.

To receive any written questions from members of the council.

Deadline for receipt of questions is 5:00pm on Wednesday 27 September.

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

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

No questions were received from members of the council.

To review the attached work programme for 2017/18 and update as appropriate.

The committee received and noted its work programme. The following updates were provided:

·         At the meeting on 4 December 2017 there would be a presentation from Children and young people Mental Health Partnership;

·         In Mid December there would be an LGA Children’s scrutiny training session; and

·         At the meeting on 22 January 2018 the committee would consider the draft Autism Strategy.  

The date of the next meeting is 4 December 2017.

The next meeting of the committee was scheduled for Monday 4 December at 10.15 a.m.