Issue - meetings

To submit a report by the Head of Children’s Services.

It was resolved to confirm that the Executive is satisfied with the following –

·        The steps taken to progress implementation of the Service Improvement Plan and the pace of progress.

·        The pace of progress and improvements made to date within Children and Families’ Services.

The report of the Head of Children and Families’ Services setting out the progress to date with implementing the Service Improvement Plan was presented for the Executive’s consideration.

The Leader and Portfolio Member for Social Services reported that over the period since CIW’s inspection of Children’s Services, the Service has been significantly involved in putting in place a series of important changes which it is considered will better deliver in line with legislation.  These are described in the report with particular emphasis on restructuring the Service with the focus being on Early Intervention and Prevention and Intensive Intervention; developing a Prevention Strategy with the aim of de-escalating need at all levels; systems and process development; and the quality and consistency of Practice. The Children’s Services Improvement Panel meets on a monthly basis and has been closely scrutinising progress in implementing the Service Improvement Plan.

The Head of Children and Families’ Services confirmed that a great deal of work has been undertaken at all levels of the Service, the work is ongoing and it is beginning to yield results. The Service now needs a period in which to concentrate on the practical aspects of Social Work in order to progress plans; overall the Service is on track and is moving in the right direction.

The Executive noted the progress update and sought assurance on the following points -

•  The Executive noted that a priority for the Service has been the development of Prevention and Early Intervention Strategies and that applying these strategies is leading to improvements. The Executive therefore sought clarification of the impact of this work in terms of the number of cases where early intervention has taken place during the previous six months and whether this has led to improved outcomes both for the Service and for children and families.

The Head of Children and Families’ Services said that whilst the number of referrals to the Service has remained constant, the Service has been able to respond in different ways following referral e.g. by making increasing use of Team around the Family (TAF) responses. The capacity of the TAF team has been increased from three to six officers who all have full caseloads. By intervening in this way families who are considered vulnerable and who would otherwise be dealt with through the Social Work system can have their needs de-escalated before they become more serious. The Resilient Families Team has also been working with five families in a proactive way which has resulted in the needs of 8 children being addressed without them having to enter the care system. Additionally, the Service has been reviewing cases and where appropriate, it has been discharging Care Orders so that children can return to live with their families without being children in care.

•  The Executive sought clarification of whether the Children’s Services have had to intervene at short notice in cases where the needs are acute.

The Head of Children and Families’ Services said that intervention can take different forms  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5