To receive apologies for absence

Apologies for absence were received from Andy James and Sian Lines.

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

Councillor John Hardwick acted as the substitute for the Herefordshire Independent vacancy on the committee.

To receive declarations of interest in respect of Schedule 1, Schedule 2 or Other Interests from members of the committee in respect of items on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting on 15 July 2019.

The minutes of the previous meeting on 15 July were agreed as a correct record.

To receive any written questions from members of the public.

Deadline for receipt of questions is 5:00pm on Tuesday 10 September 2019.

Accepted questions and answers will be published as a supplement prior to the meeting. Please submit questions to: councillorservices@herefordshire.gov.uk. 

The questions received from members of the public are attached at the appendix. There were no supplementary questions at the meeting.

To receive any written questions from members of the council.

Deadline for receipt of questions is 5:00pm on Tuesday 10 September 2019.

Accepted questions and answers will be published as a supplement prior to the meeting. Please submit questions to: councillorservices@herefordshire.gov.uk. 

There were no questions from members of the council.

To undertake pre-decision scrutiny of the cabinet decision for an accommodation based support service for care leavers.

The committee considered a report from the Senior Commissioning Officer (SCO) concerning pre decision scrutiny of an accommodation based support service for care leavers. The report was presented by the SCO who explained that the proposal represented a new type of service for care leavers with complex needs. It consisted of two sites, one which offered 24 hour care to care leavers with complex needs and a second which offered a lighter touch approach for care leavers with a greater degree of independence. The age of young people would range from 16 to 25 years however it was likely that the service would provide for care leavers between the ages of 19 – 22 and in some circumstances it was recognised that 16/17 year old looked after children may need to access the service. The focus of the service was to move care leavers towards a greater level of independent living by supporting their wellbeing whilst providing skills to live independently. Partnership working was an important element of the new service and work would be undertaken to ensure that employment and educational opportunities were available to care leavers in the service. It was explained that during commissioning young people would be engaged.

The committee made the principal points below in the debate that followed:

·         The location of the accommodation was queried and whether it was situated in a residential area. The Head of Community Commissioning and Resources (HCCR) explained that it was located in a city centre location and was not in a predominantly residential area.

·         The number of care leavers currently placed outside of the county was queried and how the council ensured the suitability of accommodation. The Head of Looked After Children (HLAC) explained that she would provide a response to query concerning the numbers of children out of county following the meeting. It was explained that the council sourced placements out of the county for care leavers through a regional framework; providers included on this framework were required to meet standards to ensure that accommodation was suitable. The council also undertook visits to out of county accommodation.

·         It was queried what visitors care leavers at the facility would be able to receive. The HLAC explained that the house rules would be determined when the service had been commissioned but it was unlikely that overnight guests would be permitted. It was likely that the care leavers would be able to stay at locations away from the service on some nights if this was agreed.

·         More information was requested regarding the innovative approach of the new service and the positive responses it had received. The SCO explained that 10 responses had been received from a soft market test from providers who were excited by the prospect of a new form of service. The HCCR explained that there was a diverse market with a number of providers including charitable and voluntary organisations together with private operators. The commissioning would focus on providers’ approaches to and management of risk. Providers would  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18.

To endorse the Youth Justice Plan 2019/20 for approval by full Council and consider whether there are any comments the committee would wish to make that would inform the production of the Plan for 2020/21.

The committee considered a report by the Cabinet Member Children and Families concerning the youth justice plan 2018/19. The Head of Service (HoS), West Mercia Youth Offending Service introduced the report and explained that there had been a decrease in the number of first time entrants in 2018/19, custody was only used once during 2018 and there had been a reduction in the reoffending cohort. The HoS was joined by DCI Jon Roberts who assisted in answering questions relating to youth justice on behalf of West Mercia Police.

The committee raised those comments below in the debate that followed:

·         The reoffending rate had improved but it was still high in Herefordshire compared to West Mercia. There was some contradiction in the service user feedback which stated that 92% of individuals made better decisions. The HoS explained that the rate in Herefordshire was better than the national average of 40% however it was recognised that within West Mercia the county’s reoffending rate was higher than other areas. DCI Roberts explained that the joint review panel had been effective in identifying children at risk of criminality and diverting them from offending.

·         The first time entrants rate was raised and it was queried why Herefordshire as a rural county was not significantly outperforming urban areas in West Mercia. The HoS explained that Herefordshire used to have the highest first time entrants rate in the West Mercia region but was now lower than the region as a whole.

·         It was requested that in future the plan contain an addendum with the latest statistics available for the measures.

·         It was queried how the youth justice service worked with CAMHS. The HoS explained that support was provided to the youth offending team from psychologists from CAMHS who worked with staff in the team to provide advice on the handling of complex cases.

·         The success of the initiative to increase multi-agency assurance reporting was queried and whether there were any partners in particular that were difficult to engage. The HoS explained that the assurance reporting had not been undertaken before the current year. It was confirmed that engagement in the high risk panels had improved.

·         The issue of delays to the processing of young people through the justice system was raised. The HoS and DCI Roberts explained that there was a delay in those cases where young people had been released under investigation. This was a delay in the criminal justice process but this did not cause a delay in the youth justice process and consideration by the youth justice panel.

·         It was queried how the youth justice team was working with the early help at the council to prevent young people becoming involved in crime. The HoS explained that work between the youth justice team and the early help team consisted of developing a pathway for young people whose siblings were involved in criminality. The timescale for the completion of this piece of work would be provided after the meeting. In addition the early help team  ...  view the full minutes text for item 19.

To review the committee’s work programme 2019/20, review the executive responses to task and finish groups undertaken in 2018/19 and agree terms of reference for proposed task and finish groups in 2019/20.    

The committee considered a report containing its work programme 2019/20, the executive responses to task and finish groups conducted in the previous council term and terms of reference for task and finish groups proposed in 2019/20.

It was noted that the report concerning a review of performance and progress against the safeguarding and family support improvement plan 2019/20 was not presented to the current meeting and it was agreed that it would be brought to the next meeting of the committee on 25 November.

It was requested that a correction to the work programme was undertaken to change the title of the spotlight review to peer on peer abuse in schools and that a further proposed spotlight review was added to the work programme concerning speech and language therapy.

The committee reviewed and noted the executive responses to the task and finish groups conducted in the previous council term.

The committee considered and agreed the terms of reference for the peer on peer abuse in schools spotlight review. It was agreed that Councillor Carole Gandy would act as chairperson of the review and the membership would include: the members of the committee; Councillor Peter Jinman and in accordance with the terms of reference any other member expressing an interest. As part of the review it was requested that an anonymous case study was presented concerning a case of peer on peer abuse that resulted in a successful prosecution. The committee also considered whether a victim of peer on peer abuse should be invited to the spotlight review to give evidence. This was not supported by the committee which had concerns regarding the potential trauma caused to such a witness appearing at a meeting in public to provide evidence and the potential implications on any current or future criminal proceedings.

The committee considered and agreed the terms of reference for the child exploitation task and finish group. It was agreed that Councillor Diana Toynbee would act as the chairperson of the group and the membership would include Councillors: Paul Andrews; Peter Jinman; Mike Jones; and David Summers. In accordance with the scoping document co-optees from voluntary/charitable organisations and a member from the general scrutiny committee would be sought.

RESOLVED: That the committee agrees:

·         the 2019/20 work programme subject to the correction and reallocation of the report above and notes the executive responses to the tasks and finish groups concerning SEND Provision, PRU Referrals and Court Judgements;

·         the terms of reference for the peer on peer abuse in schools spotlight review, the appointment of a chairperson and its membership as outlined above; and

·         the terms of reference for the child exploitation task and finish group, the appointment of a chairperson and its membership as outlined above.