The Corporate Director Social Services and Wellbeing submitted a report, that provided the Cabinet Committee with a report that was in line with the statutory duties under the Independent Reviewing Officers Guidance (Wales) 2004. The report would also provide an overview of the role and function of the Independent Reviewing Service.

The report gave some background information, that included information which outlined that Independent Reviewing Officers (IRO) are required to independently review the Care Plans of all Looked After Children, and in Bridgend they also independently oversee those children with a Child Protection Plan, subject to the Child Protection Register (CPR) through child protection conferences.

The Looked After Children Statutory review process requires the IROs to undertake bi-annual and annual reviews of children and young people’s circumstances and they must consult with and ensure the attendance of relevant agencies including health, education and Police in some instances.

The Corporate Director Social Services and Wellbeing confirmed that, within Bridgend County Borough Council, the IRO Service was responsible for the review and oversee the effectiveness and the appropriateness of Care Plans for those Children and Young People the Council had responsibility for. This included the Chairing of all Child Protection Conferences with Bridgend County Borough Council area on behalf of Western Bay Safeguarding Children Board, Looked After Children Reviews, which included children who are Looked After and placed in foster care, residential care, secure units, placed with parents, placed for Adoption and young people subject to Pathway Plans (for young people moving towards independent living and for those living Independently up to age of 21 years old or 25 if in full time education).

In terms of the composition of the IRO Service, there had been some change in the composition of the Team since the last Annual Report dated April 2014.  There were currently 6 full-time posts and one ½ time post.

She explained that the current IRO cohort have a wealth of experience and all have been qualified Social Workers for a substantial period of time. The IRO Manager has been in her current post since June 2013 she added.

The Corporate Director Social Services and Wellbeing then covered the following areas, information upon each of which was expanded upon within the report:-

·         IRO caseloads

·         Reviewing activity

·         Qualitative information

·         Case Dispute Resolution and Complaints, and

·         Service Challenges for 2014-15

Paragraph 4.8 of the report, then covered some Service Priorities and the Officer expanded upon some of these for Members’ benefit.

The Corporate Director Social Services and Wellbeing confirmed that there was one issue that was very important from a Quality Assurance perspective, and that was that all children who are looked after have in place a suitable Care Plan for them.

She added that since April of this year, improvements had been made to the Independent Reviewing Service and an Action Plan had been introduced for this purpose.

A Member stated that the report not only made for good reading in that it highlighted improvements to the service, it was also honest through highlighting weaknesses that needed to be worked upon, as well as emphasising the future challenges that lie ahead.

The Head of Adult Social Care recognised these issues the Member had raised, and she added that training and mentoring was also being addressed in the Social Services team, particularly in respect of Social Workers so as to achieve improved work practices.

The Group Manager Disability Transition and Case Management

The Head of Safeguarding and Assessment added that the IRO’s were supportive including in the role of critical friends in terms of achieving guidance and support that would lead to and result in improvements to the service in question. She added that last year had been a difficult one, as there had been a considerable amount of sickness absence affecting Managers in this area of work, as well as Social Workers. This had improved this year however, and coupled with increased collaborative working, future challenges would be met more effectively than previously.

The Group Manager Disability Transition and Case Management added that a considerable amount of supportive work was being carried out through the various Hubs that had been established in parts of the County Borough, particularly in respect of Performance Indicator statistics.

A Member noted that the IRO caseloads in BCBC were higher than in neighbouring authorities, and she asked Officers why this was the case.

The Head of Safeguarding and Assessment advised that this was because there were more Independent Reviewing Officers in certain neighbouring authorities, that included Neath Port Talbot CBC.

She added that in terms of caseloads, 80 was an acceptable number for 6.5 IRO’s which was the current number in BCBC, however, they had a total of 100 cases to manage, which meant that they were carrying a heavy workload.

With regard to Case Dispute Resolution Complaints, the Chairperson asked if all these complaints were resolved in 5 working days as was the directive.

The Head of Safeguarding and Assessment confirmed that they were.

RESOLVED:                              That the Corporate Parenting Cabinet Committee noted the contents of the report and the accompanying Annual Report of the Manager of the Independent Reviewing Service.