Agenda and minutes

Councillor David Simmonds welcomed Members to the meeting.

No declarations of interest were made.

Samantha Ramanah, Advisor – Community Wellbeing, introduced the report which provided an update on the transfer of the responsibility for the commissioning of public health commissioning for 0-5 year olds to Local Government from 1 October 2015.

The report detailed the progress that has been made and sought Members’ views on what could improve progress and ensure a smooth transition.

Members discussed:

·         The need for data upon which funding is to be based, particularly that from NHS Area Teams, to be up to date.

·         The important role that Health Visitors can play in ensuring a smooth transition.

·         The need for good communication to remove barriers to integration.

·         The need to avoid a restricted programme for commissioning and to develop a system that values innovation and integration in new ways.

·         The lessons learnt from the Public Health integration.

·         The need for properly geared budgets that allow for a wide impact.

·         The importance of workforce development in the sector.

Decision

Members noted the report.

Ian Keating, Senior Adviser, introduced the report which detailed the LGA improvement offer for Children’s Services and gave a picture of performance across the country.

Members discussed the importance of developing support for Local Safeguarding Children Boards (LSCBs). There should also be support with the contract tendering inspection framework. 

They also discussed the need for continual checking and evaluation of the peer challenge process. Authorities should not be shocked by the outcome of an inspection that follows a peer challenge. Ofsted should use the output from the peer challenge process to understand the service that they are inspecting.

Edwina Grant, National Children’s Improvement Adviser, discussed the good quality of training for Peer Challenge teams and the important nature of this work in the sector helping itself.

Children’s Services Principle Advisers have been well received.

Inspectorates have raised standards and the Requires Improvement (RI) category is now extremely broad. It is essential that there is a dialogue about the RI category. A discussion followed on the use of members on inspection teams and their involvement in improvement seminars.

Members discussed changes to the appointment system for Improvement Board Chairs and the DfE tender process for adoption services.

Decision

Members noted the children’s improvement work undertaken this year.

Action

Officers to develop the 2015/16 improvement offer in the light of member views.

Helen Johnston, Head of Programmes, introduced the report which provided updates on other business relevant to the Board.

Nick Porter, Senior Adviser, Children, discussed the review of Youth Offending Teams (YOTs) that has been announced by Andrew Selous MP. The Chair wrote to the Minister to emphasise the success of the YOT model, to ensure the review looks to understand and build on what has underpinned this success, and to call for the range of partners contributing to that success be involved in designing and leading the review.

Members discussed the success of the YOT model,

Members discussed the LGA response to the creation of a £20 million national employer-led Careers and Enterprise Company to encourage collaboration between schools, colleges and employers. This is seen as a wasted opportunity to resolve the skills gap and is a response to pressure on the quality of careers advice.

Members also discussed the success of locally commissioned Hidden Talents programmes where there is more value for money.

Decision

Members noted the updates provided in the Other Business Report.

Action

Officers will share with members the correspondence between the Chairman and Andrew Selous MP regarding YOTs.

Cllrs Burns, Cullen and Evans requested that the attendance record be amended to show that they were present at the meeting of 31 October 2014.

Decision

Members approved minutes of the previous meeting.

Action

The attendance record be amended accordingly.

Jonathan Bacon, Private Secretary to Isabelle Trowler, will discuss the work of the Chief Social Worker in tackling CSE.