To advise the Committee of issues within the Children’s Services portfolio.

The Committee was advised by the Cabinet Member (Children’s Services), of issues within the Children’s Services portfolio.

The Cabinet Member (Children’s Services), elaborated upon points made in the briefing report contained in the agenda and reported that priorities for the Children and Young People’s Plan in Herefordshire, indicated in his report, were currently being shaped and would be subject to consultation before being submitted to the Children’s & Young People’s Partnership Board in February 2006 for confirmation.  These priorities had been based on needs analysis and anticipated the outcomes from the Joint Area Review (JAR) inspection.

He highlighted that a current challenge for the Service was a potential over-commitment of £382,000 (as at September 2005), which the Service was actively working to reduce to a minimum.  This was largely due to out of area placements; secure orders and payments for bed and breakfast for homeless young people leaving care.  Out of area placements for specialist education resources were also high costs. There was a projected overspend of £427,000 with further placements required before the year-end.  This would result in greater budget pressures for future years.  The inclusion policy in the school sector was supported by a banding policy for additional needs resources in schools.  This was an important policy to support but the funding was stretched.  Currently the budget was predicted to overspend by £20,000 for primary schools.  However, this was likely to be offset by a similar under-spend for banding by high schools.

The Cabinet Member also reported that since publication of the agenda the Joint Area Review (JAR) report for Herefordshire Children’s Services Authority Area had been made publicly available.  The JAR report was disappointing in that it concluded that not all those youngsters at greatest risk got consistent help and that the Council’s systems needed improvement.   The overall contribution of services to keeping children and young people safe was regarded as inadequate, although the inspectors found some good support to prevent family breakdown, abuse and neglect and good support for looked after children.  He reported that actions were already being taken on the key outcomes and an overall action plan to address the recommendations in the report would be produced as soon as possible.

The Director of Children’s Services emphasised that the JAR inspection report was not all bad news and highlighted a number of areas receiving a good assessment namely: good quality early education and childcare provision; good overall support for young people in the local authority’s care and good partnership working.

She commented upon the areas identified as ‘of concern’ in the JAR.  She also highlighted an example that whilst the County had 59 children on the ‘at risk’ register, national statistics indicated that the County “should” have nearer 70.  This had been of concern to the inspection team and was a contributory factor to the overall inspection outcome.  However, the inspection team had provided no evidence of bad practice or that the Service was not identifying any children in this category.  She emphasised that this, and the other concerns raised in the report were already being investigated or reviewed and that while maintaining the high quality of work being carried out, the Service would strive to improve those areas identified in the report.  It was necessary to focus on the improvement needed.

During the course of debate the following principal points were noted:

• Additional resources to improve the areas identified in the JAR would need to be investigated.  The Director of Children’s Services reported that all partner agencies were already heavily prioritising their resources.  Assuming no new investment the Children & Young People’s Partnership Board would need to consider possible areas for decommissioning or reprioritisation.  The Sure Start Grant would need to be used to the best effect.
• Public perception of the JAR outcomes may be confusing as a number of issues related to processes rather than the frontline service.
• In relation to staff morale the Director of Children’s Services reported that she had already met with the managers, social workers and the duty team to discuss the JAR report.
• It was suggested that a seminar be arranged for Members on the organisation and management of the Family Support Services.
• Responding to an allegation that in some instances a heavy-handed approach was adopted to the investigation of cases for the Child Protection Register, the Head of Social Care (Children) commented that any issue of concern was taken into account.  A balanced but robust risk assessment was needed.
• The Cabinet Member (Children’s Services) commented that levels of services were good in areas covered by children’s centres.  However, due to the rural nature of the County and financial constraints, the most rural areas were less well provided for.
• Multi-agency meetings were already being held to look rigorously at the implementation process for the ‘3 levels’ under the Child Concern Model.  Members were issued with a copy of the Herefordshire Child Concern Model for information.
• In response to a question on the availability of baseline data to facilitate the measurement of any improvement to areas identified in the JAR report the Director of Children’s Services reported that the Service already collected performance data and ‘Needs Analysis’ data.
• Questioned on the rigour with which contracts and fees were negotiated for ‘out of area placements’, the Head of Children’s and Student’s Services reported that providers were robustly challenged on service level and fees.  However, the Service had to deal sympathetically and appropriately with the most challenging and complex young people.  When appropriate the Service considered ‘spend to save’ measures to reduce the long-term cost of individual care, which may be between £50,000 and £400,000 per annum per placement.

It was noted that a report on the actions taken to address the shortcomings identified in the JAR inspection report would be presented to the March 2006 meeting.

RESOLVED:

THAT

a)      the report of the Cabinet Member- Children’s Services be noted and a report on the actions to address the shortcomings identified in the JAR inspection report be presented to the March 2006 meeting; and

b)     a seminar be arranged for Members on the organisation and management of the Family Support Service in the County.