Issue - meetings

Report of the Head of Legal and Democratic Services providing an overview of performance across the Children and Family Division since October 2015, attached.

The Panel considered the report of the Head of Legal and Democratic Services providing an overview of performance across the Children and Families Division since October, 2015.  At the meeting the Panel received performance information up to November, 2015.

The Panel looked in detail at the data provided in Appendix 1 to the report which had been altered to include a column identifying the data owner and a detailed commentary against each performance area.

The Panel noted in particular the high percentage of referrals of Children In Need and those dealt with by MASH.  Managed processes were now in place and with an improved close partnership working these percentages were being managed more effectively. 

Focus was made on the high number of agency staff being used by the service and how this can be reduced by retaining council staff.  It was noted that the current transformation process was being engaged to redesign staffing structures in a different way. 

RESOLVED:

(i)  That the Panel are provided with a breakdown of the ages of the children who have been reported missing in October and November, 2015;

(ii)  That a discussion on workforce development, reflecting work underway in this area, is scheduled for a future meeting of the Panel;

(iii)  That information clarifying the Ofsted inspection of local authority children’s services grading criteria is circulated to the Panel;

(iv)  That the Chair of the Panel meets regularly with the Service Director for Children and Families to enable effective identification of key issues and agenda planning.