To seek the views of the committee on the draft medium term financial strategy (MTFS) 2017-21 and the budget proposals for 2019-20 relating to Children and Families.

The CFO and DCF introduced the draft budget in relation to the children and families directorate, as appended to the agenda and outlined the presentation published as a supplement ahead of the meeting. The CFO explained the financial circumstances in which the draft budget had been developed and the changes to the income of the Council.

The DCF explained that the majority of spend in the children and families directorate related to placements costs. Spend on the high needs block was also highlighted which was a pressure that the service faced in meeting the cost of providing special educational needs support to children on Education and Health and Care Plans. The pressures on the high needs block had increased significantly for authorities across the country and Herefordshire Schools Forum would consider potential savings proposals. The Council was spending more than was planned for on looked after children placement budget and this was replicated nationally at other local authorities. Projects were being established to investigate alternative methods to meet needs more effectively earlier to lessen the need for placements. The cabinet had made money available to support the retention and recruitment of social workers during the year which was welcome and had had a positive effect.

The DCF raised the investment that was planned in targeted prevention and ensuring that children make use of universal services and access local community based services where it would help. The investment would also develop proposals for early help and edge of care services and would support greater placement stability. Proposals would be completed and presented to the executive and the cabinet proposal was that other funding rather than base budget would be used to support this work. 

The committee raised the points below in the debate that followed:

·         The signs of safety practice model was raised and it was queried whether there was any provision in the budget to support the mental health of social workers. The decrease in the number of sick days of staff in the Children’s and Families directorate was noted and it was suggested that changes which had produced this effect could be considered in other directorates across the Council. The DCF explained that sessions had been offered to social workers over the summer but had only attracted a small turn out. Social workers had stated through surveys that they valued supervision and this was recognised that support through supervision was a central element of supporting social workers wellbeing. Increases in recruitment of social workers helped to lessen caseloads and pressure on social workers.

·         The committee queried how people were being signposted to early help services. The DCF confirmed that the early help service was coordinating family network meetings throughout the county. These involved wider services including housing, police, and advice on accessing benefits.  Early help assessments had been introduced and 820 had been carried out. The Assistant Director Education, Development and Skills explained the troubled families programme had been provided through the early help service and had assisted 320 families to realise significant progress.

·         The committee requested detail of the outcomes of the work with Staffordshire and Doncaster when it was available. The DCF explained that work was just starting, focusing on looked after children and edge of care. A briefing note on progress could be provided.

·         It was queried when business cases for early help and edge of care services would be available. The CFO explained that the business cases were being worked up and would be available in the future.

·         It was queried whether there would be any savings resulting from joining a regional adoption agency (RAA). The Assistant Director Safeguarding and Family Support (ADSFS) explained that preparations to join an RAA were at an early stage and any savings that would result from membership would be known at a later date.

·         The potential savings involved in the recruitment of permanent social workers and a reducing reliance on agency staff was queried. The DCF confirmed that there would be a reduction in cost of having permanent staff in place of agency staff but newly qualified permanent social workers would require greater support from the Council. The ADSFS explained that whilst agency staff continued to be used programmes to recruit permanent social workers continued.

·         The committee queried how the Council was lobbying central government regarding increases in the high needs budget. The CFO explained that the society of county treasurers had conducted analysis around the high needs block funding and had written to the minister about the challenges that local authorities face.

·         The committee queried what assurances could be provided of the likely outcomes of the early help services. The DCF explained that proposals were being developed and were focused on assisting families to help themselves as well as supplementing that with support from statutory services, including those from the Council. The ADSFS explained that the signs of safety model that was being developed with Doncaster was looking at working with willing families and edge of care services.

The Cabinet Member Children and Families thanked the committee for its considerations and explained the close work that took place between Adults and Children’s Services.

The committee agreed those recommendations below.

RESOLVED – That the committee:

-       supports investment in early help, edge of care and placement stability services and requests that business cases are shared with the scrutiny committee when available; and

-       supports the separate monitoring and reporting of overspends on the LAC budget from the children and families budget.