Agenda item

To highlight to the Audit Committee the items on the Adult Services and Children’s Services departmental risk registers that are scored as high net risk, in response to a request at the last meeting of the Committee.

Following a request made at its last meeting, the Committee considered a report which highlighted items on the Adult Services and Children’s Services departmental risk registers that were scored as a high net risk. The report was presented by Mrs Wood, Head of Business Support and Resources (Children and Adult Services). She explained the context of the report, in that the Departmental Risk Register sat directly underneath the Strategic Risk Register, detailing the high risk items and identifying whether they were adequately represented on the Strategic Risk Register. She added that three out of the four risks on the departmental register were represented on the Strategic Register.

A brief explanation was given as to the reasons for the items being on the departmental register. Mr Jack then explained in more detail some of the background, context and measures being taken to mitigate the risks. Crucially, it was acknowledged that the high numbers of looked after children needed to be reduced, whilst understanding the higher levels of unpredictability and unforseeability that existed in terms of risks against children, compared with adults. He explained however that the Council was getting better at wider family engagement, and spoke of the arrangements for improved local support. These included the Crash Pad model, providing short term respite care and the Pause model, providing medical and psychological support and looking directly at the problems in a persons life. The evidence base existed to suggest that improved local support achieved improved outcomes, as well as being significantly cheaper to deliver. The aim was to reduce the number of looked after children from the current figure of over 500, to around 450 within three years.

Mrs Wood explained other additional initiatives currently underway with a view to reducing the number of looked after children. These included a forensic review currently underway of the 20 most costly placements and the three-five year Commissioning Strategy being developed, which would outline future plans for children’s placements.

Mrs Wood and Mr Jack responded to questions from the Committee. It was confirmed that no financial incentives would be provided by way of encouragement to take part in the Pause programme, and that only medical and psychological interventions were provided.

The Committee asked about the tight and robust management oversight that was detailed as one of the controls and mitigations provided against the risk of failure to keep people safe within the Children’s Services department. Members queried whether this should not be happening in all areas. Mrs Wood agreed that should be the case and pointed out this was a specific action around supporting good practice, reviewing cases and explaining why decisions were being made.

The Committee discussed the likely impact of the financial plan that was currently being worked towards and asked about the possibility of the high net risk scores being reduced at the end of three years. Mrs Wood expressed an aim to bring the current scores of 20 down to 16 if successful and to achieve more manageable risk levels.

The Committee asked about items on the risk register where actions being taken might overlap with other departments, quoting housing as an example. Mrs Wood agreed to reference those areas where joint working was being undertaken, going forward.

In conclusion, the Committee asked about likely progress on the report in 12 months time. Mrs Wood explained that she was hopeful that some of the actions would have been achieved and would then become part of controls and mitigations in place.

The Committee thanked Mrs Wood for her attendance and agreed to note the report.

Background papers: None.