To receive apologies for absence from Members.

Apologies for absence were received from the following Members:

Councillor PA Davies

Councillor RL Thomas

Councillor K Watts

To receive declarations of personal and prejudicial interest (if any) from Members/Officers in accordance with the provisions of the Members Code of Conduct adopted by Council from 01 September 2008 (including whipping declarations).

None

To receive for approval the minutes of the Children and Young People Overview and

Scrutiny Committee of 21 January and 9 March 2016. 

The Committee queried the outcome of the questions shown on pages 13 and 14 of the agenda pack.  The Scrutiny Officer advised that she was awaiting one response and that she would circulate all of the responses as soon as possible.

RESOLVED:     That the minutes of the meetings of the Children and Young People’s Overview and scrutiny Committee held on 21 January and 9 March 2016 be approved as a true and accurate record.

Invitees:

Cllr Huw David, Deputy Leader

Cllr Hailey Townsend, Cabinet Member, Childrens Social Services and Equalities

Deborah McMillan, Corporate Director – Education and Family Support

Nicola Echanis, Head of Education and Early Help

Michelle Hatcher, Group Manager - Inclusion

Youth Council Representative

The Committee received a report from the Corporate Director – Education and Family Support which described the development of more strategic approaches to supporting vulnerable groups of learners. This included pupils who are eligible for free schools meals, looked after children on the Child Protection register identified as a child in need, those for whom English is an additional language, those with additional learning needs, young carers, those excluded from school and young offenders.

It was explained that there has been a multi-level strategic approach to supporting and targeting the educational performance of vulnerable groups of children in Bridgend which was a key priority in the Directorate business plan.  The report outlined the Vulnerable Groups Strategy which identified a range of groups of children who were deemed to be vulnerable.  It was expected that the interventions and practices which are proven to have the greatest impact in raising the attainment of looked after children and those children entitled to free school meals will be replicated to benefit other vulnerable groups.

Following the pattern of a high number of fixed-term and permanent exclusions, a Fair Access Strategy Group was formed and an action plan written for 2015-2016. The implementation of the Fair Access Strategy Group has ensured that there is a strategic approach to enable all pupils to have a fair access to education.  Robust tracking and data analysis was used to provide targeted early prevention and intervention to meet the needs of children and young people.

The report provided information regarding the number of permanent and fixed-term exclusions in previous years.  Partnership working had resulted in no further permanent exclusions.  This has been due to the creative use of the Bridge Alternative provision with pupils who were at risk of permanent exclusion. 

The Committee indicated that the use of fixed term and permanent exclusion were only used as a last resort but these created additional pressures for finding suitable placements.  Members were advised that provision mapping was being undertaken and that the although Heronsbridge School had no physical space extra funding was being used as part of the 21^st Century Schools to improve special needs capacity.  It was intended that all fixed term exclusions needed to attend Ysgol Bryn Castell (YBC) but permanent exclusions would attend a different school.

Members queried the reasons for fixed term exclusions and were advised that exclusions were for a variety of reason as shown in the report which included Racial Harassment, Theft and Substance misuse.  Officers were working to tighten up in these criteria to enable specific issues to be identified and managed appropriately.  The Corporate Director – Education and Family Support added that the culture to exclude pupils had changed since her arrival and exclusion was the last resort.  The figures identified that the number of days lost had been halved in the last period. 

The Committee queried the support which a child could expect.  It was explained that although the provision varied they could be provided with a youth worker, Family  ...  view the full minutes text for item 225.

Invitees:

Cllr Hailey Townsend, Cabinet Member, Childrens Social Services and Equalities

Susan Cooper, Corporate Director, Social Services and Wellbeing

Laura Kinsey, Head of Children’s Social Care

The Corporate Director Social Services and Wellbeing presented a report which updated the Committee on the recent changes to Children’s Social Services since the function was transferred to her six months ago.  She advised of the introduction of the Social Services and Wellbeing Act, the implementations of the Welsh Community Care Information System (WCCIS) being led by Bridgend and the current budget pressure faced by the Authority and the Directorate.  She added that this was a complex statutory service with a high demand and the importance of protecting children from harm. 

Members queried the retention of staff and their training and development to enable them to stay with the authority.  The Corporate Director responded that there was a training budget provided by the Welsh Government to enable the Social Care Workforce Development Partnership (SCWDP) to provide training as directed.  She advised that there was no indication that this arrangement would change.  Social workers were also able to undertake training as part of their ongoing development with the Care Council for Wales, Continuing Professional Education and Learning (CPEL) consolidation programme.

Members queried the differences between the social worker vacancies numbers in the report.  It was explained that the service has ensured that all vacancies are covered either by temporary or agency staff.  A wide portfolio of further foundation training was available to staff in the western bay region and the authority was proactively identifying staff with the necessary experience and  an interest in coaching being trained to undertake senior roles.

Members asked how many Looked After Children were currently being supported by the authority.  The committee was informed that the service was currently supporting 390 children.

The Committee queried the progress of the implementation of the Social Services and Wellbeing Act.  They were informed that the preparation made before its implementation had increase awareness of the act and its implications.  The increased level of assessments were reducing and the authority was responding to the new codes of practice.

The committee queried the effectiveness of the Multi agency safeguarding hub being based in the civic offices. The Cabinet Member indicated that discussions regarding the most suitable location for the hub were ongoing.     

Conclusion

1.    Members strongly supported the continued promotion of the ‘grow your own’ approach for social workers.

2.    The Committee recommend that the Bridgend MASH and the Just Ask Service be relocated from the Civic Centre to a more suitable location within the community in order to aid them in being more user friendly.

3.    The Committee proposed that a Pre-Council Briefing take place on the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hubs.

Additional Information

1.    The Committee asked for further information on the current staffing structure within Children’s Social Services including anonymised details of number of FTEs, current Agency figures, as well as detail on roles, team structures etc.

2.    Members asked for information on whether the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hubs were now all fully operational and whether there had been any difficulties experienced with the agencies working together.

3.    Members asked for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 226.

The Scrutiny Officer outlined the role of the Committee’s Corporate Parenting Champion and explained that Councillor DBF White was the current appointee.  After some debate it was:-

RESOLVED:   That Councillor DBF White be re-appointed as the Committees Corporate Parenting Champion

The Corporate Director-Operational and Partnership Services provided a report which requested that the Committee consider and approve its Forward Work Programme for the year.

1.    In Relation to the item on Children with Disabilities public consultation, the Committee requested that the Youth Council be invited to attend and engage on the subject.

2.    The Committee asked that the report on Early Help, Permanency and Placement scheduled for October 2016 incorporate an update on the current LAC numbers, as well as some detail or examples of the costings of foster placements, both in house and Out of Authority.  Members also asked that an external view be sought for this meeting with advocate(s) invited to speak to provide perspectives on the services for LAC.

3.    Members put forward the subject of ‘Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service’ (CAHMS) as an item to pilot for Collaborative Scrutiny and asked that should this go forward, a representative from Cwm Taf and ABMU be invited to attend.

Following the discussion during the previous item the Committee requested that the proposals be confirmed at its next meeting.

To consider any item(s) of business in respect of which notice has been given in

accordance with Part 4 (paragraph 4) of the Council Procedure Rules and which the person presiding at the meeting is of the opinion should by reason of special circumstances be transacted at the meeting as a matter of urgency.

None