Agenda item

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

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

The Portfolio Member for Social Services reported that the latest update including the response by CSSIW to the Authority’s written review, was considered and scrutinised by the Corporate Scrutiny Committee at its meeting held on 31 January, 2018.The Scrutiny Committee confirmed at the meeting that it was satisfied with the progress made and with the pace of implementation.

The Head of Service (Children and Families) reported on the main areas of progress as follows –

•  The Service restructure is all but complete with some work remaining to be done on reviewing arrangements for the Child Placement Team, maximising the use of Support Workers and ensuring appropriate administrative support for the Practice groups

•  Recruitment is progressing well with only 5 Social worker posts remaining to be filled. A proactive drive is in place to try to recruit experienced Social Workers to these posts. In addition, the Service is broadening its approach to recruitment e.g. by developing Social Work Traineeship arrangements internally as part of the Grow your Own drive and by offering 6th form work experience placements.

•  Policies and Strategies continue to be reviewed and developed including the Workforce Strategy; Supervision Policy and Practice Guidance.

•  A Practice Improvement Plan is being developed in 2018 which will sit alongside the Service Improvement Plan.

•  The work of strengthening partnership working arrangements continues. A new strategy for Preventative Services is to be developed jointly with partners.

•  CSSIW has responded positively to the Authority’s written review and the Regulator will continue to meet with the service; those meetings will now be held on a bi-monthly rather than monthly basis.

The Executive noted the information and the progress made. The Executive sought corroboration of the improvements made to ensure consistency of practice across all areas as well as to strengthen Quality Assurance arrangements, those being characteristics of a good service.

The Head of Service (Children and Families) said that the Quality Assurance Framework has been approved by the Service and is relatively new. However, the service plans to use a wide range of evidence sources to underpin the quarterly practice evaluation report including monthly case file audits, practice observation, supervision audits, oversight and challenge, learning from partner feedback. It is also the intention to learn from the people who use the service. Although practice remains inconsistent in some areas there is also positive evidence of the workforce working directly with families leading to improved outcomes. Improved quality is also reflected in other ways in fewer complaints and in a reduction in long-term sickness absence. The Independent Support Team has also noted a change in staff response and approach which the service will seek to build on. It is a matter of changing culture and this takes time.

The Chair said that the Children’s Service Improvement Panel meets on a monthly basis and is fully committed to ensuring continuous improvement in Children’s Services.

It was resolved to confirm that the Executive is satisfied with the steps taken to progress the implementation of the Service Improvement Plan and with the pace of progress.