Agenda and minutes

To approve and sign as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 3 September, 2015 and to deal with any matters arising, attached.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 3^rd September, 2015 be approved and signed as a correct record.

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

Focus was made particularly on the areas where there had been significant changes.  It was reported that some of the significant changes since the previous month would be a result of school holidays and lower reporting during August.

The Cabinet Member indicated that if members found it beneficial they were welcome to attend any of the briefings on areas of work covered by the portfolio.

RESOLVED that from the December 2015 meeting of the Panel, benchmarking information be included in the performance table to enable comparisons to be made with other cities.

Report of Keith Makin, Independent Chair Southampton Local Safeguarding Children Board detailing the Annual Report 2014/15, attached.

The Panel considered the report the Independent Chair of the Local Safeguarding Children’s Board looking at whether the Board’s annual report provides a rigorous and transparent assessment of the performance and effectiveness of local safeguarding services.

It was agreed that the document, together with the summary sheet, was in a good format and easy to read and understand.

Recognition of positive matters detailed, such as early years provision, was given.

The Panel considered the points raised under “Learning from Ofsted” and what actions were being undertaken to improve.  This include the establishment of the Scrutiny Panel and also the Cabinet Member chairing the Corporate Parenting Panel.

It was reported that the LSCB monitored and coordinated the actioning of information, follow by auditing the work and outcomes.  The priority areas for 205-18 were noted.  It was also noted that stronger links were now established with the Local Safeguarding Adults Board, as often these adults were having an impact on children.

With regards to commissioning the LSCB were ensuring that all services were including safeguarding in their services.

The police had strong links with the Youth Offending Team and were trying to gain early involvement and action with the youths in an attempt to divert them away from major problems in the future.

It was noted that child sexual exploitation was a major priority within the police and that they were working with the Local Authority to identify children at risk.  Visits had been made to schools to see how support could be given to the children.  An event had been organised for January, 2016 for all agencies to look at better profiling and understanding.

It was reported that children effected by mental health issues were supported by a specialist team.  However, many issues prevented them from becoming engaged in these services and it was important to ensure that it was the “right” service.

Work was being undertaken in schools for children to understand consent.  This was done within the context of explaining healthy relationships.  It was important to ensure that there was a consistent approach across all schools.

Ensuring the voice of the child was heard and understood at LSCB was a challenge.  Children were engaged directly and were involved in the appointment of two lay members onto the Board.  When quality assurance was undertaken one point of focus related to the voice of the child.

RESOLVED:-

  i.  that the Panel review a draft of the 15/16 LSCB Annual Report in July 2016 and again following publication in order to enable a timely oversight;

  ii.  that a link to the LSCB Annual Report 2014/15 and Summary be circulated to all Councillors, to raise awareness and ownership; and

  iii.  that the risk assessment template, and the definitions used by the Missing, Exploited and Trafficked Group relating to Child Sexual Exploitation be circulated to the Panel.

To move that in accordance with the Council’s Constitution, specifically the Access to Information Procedure Rules contained within the Constitution, the press and public be excluded from the meeting in respect of any consideration of the following Item.

The confidential report contains information deemed to be exempt from general publication based on Category 2 (Information which is likely to reveal the identity of an individual) of paragraph 10.4 of the Council’s Access to Information Procedure Rules.  In applying the public interest test it is not considered to be in the public interest to disclose this information as the individuals' legal expectation of privacy outweighs the public interest in the exempt information.

RESOLVED that in accordance with the Council’s Constitution, specifically the Access to Information Procedure Rules contained within the Constitution, the press and public be excluded from the meeting in respect of the confidential item below.

This is based on Category 2 of paragraph 10.4 of the Access to Information Procedure Rules. The information contained therein is potentially exempt as it relates to individual personal details and information held under the Data Protection Act 1998.

Having applied the public interest test it is not appropriate to disclose this information as the individual’s legal expectation of privacy outweighs the public interest in the exempt information.

Confidential report of Keith Makin, Independent Chair Local Safeguarding Children Board detailing learning from Serious Case Reviews, attached.

The Panel noted the confidential report of the Independent Chair of the Local Safeguarding Children’s Board summarising the four serious case reviews published by the board in the last 18 months.

The cases detailed all had very different issues, however some of the themes for learning were the same.

Monitoring was being undertaken to ensure that the highlighted learning was ensuring that improvements had been made.

It was reported that there was now a dedicated officer working with families whom had opted for elective home education.

It was noted that work relating to the prevention of female genital mutilation was investigated at a task and finish working group to ensure that the work was coordinated.  It was reported that there were now dedicated actions plans relating to this.  And that this, together with forced marriages, was scrutinised at a very high level by the police.

Report of Service Director Children and Families providing an update in relation to the core outcomes for young people within the current cohort of care leavers in Southampton, attached.

The Panel considered the report of the Service Director – Children and Families Services giving an update in relation to the core outcomes for young people within the current cohort of care leavers in Southampton.

The Panel indicated that this was a priority area and it was important to ensure that the appropriate support was given to this group of young people.  Priority also needed to be given to the support relating to educational attainment at the end of Key Stage 4.

Concerns were raised about the current position with regards personal education plans (PEPs).  It was noted that this was a key priority area and there was a high expectation for all PEPs to be completed and tracked.

RESLOVED:-

  i.  That, in order to show the progress of cohorts of care leavers over time, an overview of the outcomes for care leavers over a 3 year period be circulated to the Panel;

  ii.  That significant improvements be made with regards to the number of Looked After Children (LAC) that have up to date Personal Education Pans, with an expectation that by the 17 December Panel meeting every LAC in year 11 has an up to date PEP; and

  iii.  That an example of a PEP be circulated to the Panel.

Report of the Head of Legal and Democratic Services relating to recommendations made at previous meetings, attached.

The Panel noted the report of the Head of Legal and Democratic Services setting out progress on recommendations made at the previous meeting.