Agenda item

Richard Cooke introduced the report about the progress made through 2018/19 in delivering leadership capacity and development, early years peer challenge and children’s services peer challenge.

He outlined key successes, including strong collaboration across the LGA and partner organisations to deliver the support offer, considerable uptake of the support offer, and regional networks which are sharing learning effectively and aiding professional development.

Richard briefed the Board on plans to recruit a new cohort of children’s improvement advisers, to deliver 30 early years peer challenges by the end of this financial year, and to develop the bespoke capacity of the children’s services peer challenges.

Discussion

The Board thanked Richard for the update, and requested that more care is taken to use accessible terminology in future reports.

Members emphasised the importance of continuing to develop the multi-agency approach taken with this work, including ensuring that all partners understand the peer challenge approach and that the peer team is selected appropriately.

The Board asked Richard about the extent to which young people’s experiences of services are considered in the peer challenges. Richard explained that case studies are reviewed and some people are interviewed, but that work is ongoing to develop this area.

Action

Officers to continue to deliver the LGA children’s services improvement programme subject to the Board’s direction.