Agenda item

To allow effective scrutiny of the work undertaken by Children’s Services on a day to day basis and to update on the progress and implementation of developments within the area.

Mrs Del Curtis, Director of People presented the Children’s Services Improvement Report to the Committee and advised that no Ofsted inspections of schools had taken place since the previous meeting. She added that the current number of children in care was 438 and that there had been an increase in the number of complex cases. The Committee also noted the Corporate Parent Conference scheduled to take place on 9 December 2015.

The Committee queried when the Improvement Plan, to which Blackpool Challenge Board was working, would be completed. Mr Baker, Deputy Director of People advised that a draft was available on the Council’s website and a finalised plan would be approved by the Board on 1 December 2015. Members further queried whether all schools would be signed up to the Blackpool Challenge ‘pledge’ within a reasonable timescale.  Mr Baker highlighted the complexities surrounding all schools agreeing to the same targets and advised that each school would also work to a set of bespoke targets included within the ‘pledge’.

Members discussed the difficulty for some children of the transition between primary and secondary schools for some children and noted the ongoing work around this issue.

The Committee sought assurance that measures had been put in place following the safeguarding concerns that had triggered the Ofsted inspection of Highfield Humanities College. Mrs Curtis advised that work had been undertaken with the school to ensure the safeguarding issues were addressed. Further assurance was sought regarding the sponsor chosen by Highfield, Tauheedul Education Trust (TET), following recent negative media reports. The Committee was informed that TET had an excellent track record working with schools in deprived areas, with schools sponsored by TET amongst the highest performing  in the country. Additionally, the Department for Education had formally communicated that Highfield would remain a community school.

Members discussed child protection audit activity and the high number of children currently in care. It was reported that audits had demonstrated that children had been appropriately taken into care and that many had very complex needs.

The CP-IS Project was discussed and it was reported that the project would allow data to be shared between the NHS and Children’s Services, which included the Awaken Team, in relation to children who attended emergency settings who were either in care or subject to child protection plans. The Committee considered that this project should also include the walk-in centre, but was informed that there were no current plans to do so.

The Committee was advised that all children displaced by the closure of the two Council owned nurseries had found a new setting and that two requests for financial support for transport had been approved. Members queried when the projects to be provided by Better Start in the nurseries would commence and it was noted that some services had already started.

Members discussed the work of the Youth Offending Team and noted that a key priority was to wrap services around the young person and provide a single point of access. In response to questioning, Ms Hatton, Deputy Director Early Help and Social Care advised that the re-offending rate had reduced and that the level of contact with a young person was dependent on the level of need. She added that provision included targeting young people on the edge of risky behaviour and completion of Personal Education Plans. The Committee considered that children and young people who were not in education, training or work could be more prone to reoffending.

The Committee expressed concern that the number of calls to the Emergency Duty Team had risen by 100% and was advised that further work was required to identify the reason for the increase and any trends that there may be.

The Committee agreed:

1.             To receive additional information at the next meeting of the Committee on the Transition Pilot Scheme based at South Shore Academy.

2.             That an update on the progress of the Blackpool Challenge Board Sub Groups be included in the report to the next Committee meeting.

3.             To receive additional information regarding results of the audit of children placed on a Child Protection Plan for a second time at the next meeting.

4.             That the percentage of transience of children in care be circulated outside of the meeting.

5.             To receive a case study at the next meeting highlighting the complexity of issues surrounding children in care.

6.             To receive an overview of the work of Better Start, including priorities and targets, within the next Children’s Services Improvement report.

7.             That updates regarding the Emergency Duty Team continue to be included within the improvement report to allow the Committee to actively monitor concerns surrounding the 100% increase in calls.