Agenda and minutes

Members are asked to declare any interests in the items under consideration and in doing so state:

(1) the type of interest concerned either a

(a)   personal interest

(b)   prejudicial interest

(c)    disclosable pecuniary interest (DPI)

and

(2) the nature of the interest concerned

If any member requires advice on declarations of interests, they are advised to contact the Head of Democratic Governance in advance of the meeting.

There were no declarations of interest made on this occasion.

To agree the minutes of the last meeting held on 24 March 2022 as a true and correct record.

The Committee agreed that the minutes of the last meeting held on 24 March 2022 be signed by the Chairman as a true and correct record.

To consider any applications from members of the public to speak at the meeting.

The Committee noted that there were no applications to speak by members of the public on this occasion.

To consider the appointment of Ms Gemma Clayton and Mr Mike Coole as parent governor co-opted members to the Committee for the Municipal Year 2022/2023.

The Committee considered the appointment of Co-opted Members for the 2022/2023 municipal year.

The Committee agreed:

1.      That Ms Gemma Clayton and Mr Mike Coole be appointed parent governor co-opted members to the Committee for the 2022/23 municipal year; and

2.      That Ms Jo Snape be appointed diocesan co-opted member to the Committee for the 2022/2023 municipal year.

The Committee to consider the content of the Council’s Forward Plan July 2022 to October 2022, relating to the portfolios of the Leader of the Council, Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Members.

The Committee consider the Forward Plan July 2022 to October 2022 of upcoming decisions.

Members noted that the decision reference for the Children’s Services Medium Term Financial Strategy showed 2002 as the year for the decision to be made. Ms Victoria Gent, Director of Children’s Services, clarified that this should show 2022 and would be amend going forward.

To receive a verbal update on the number of children and young people who are re-referred back into the social care system following discharge.

Ms Victoria Gent, Director of Children’s Services, provided a verbal update on the number of children and young people who had been re-referred back into the social care system following discharge. She reported that an analysis of these cases had shown that between January 2020 and June 2022 fewer than one in ten had been re-referred back into Children’s Social Care (CSC). This represented four hundred and twenty-two children of which two hundred and thirty-three had subsequently been closed. Overall one hundred and ten of those re-referred were care leavers and a further forty-two remained open at the end of the care period. Ms Gent explained that those cases left open were in cases where children were the subject of a care order but in a care home or with a parent. Leaving the case open allowed a more gradual exit for the child from care and allowed services to monitor their progress.

Mr Chris Coyle, Assistant Director of Children’s Services (Children’s Social Care and Tis), informed the Committee that Blackpool had a re-referral rate of 27.3% within six months, which was comparable with other similar authorities but above the North West average of 21.6%. He added however that the most recent four week average was 20% which demonstrated an improvement. It was also noted that Blackpool’s average was affected by the significant number of children assessed and larger than average families, as children were admitted individually to CSC.

The Committee queried what services were accessed by those re-referred into CSC and what the likely reasons for a re-referral were. Ms Gent explained in response that most of those re-referred were under Children In Need and the re-referral was usually as a support package was needed for the child rather than them being at risk of harm. It was noted that in many cases parents had complex needs. This meant that it was difficult to determine how long ongoing support was needed and would be assessed on a basis of individual need in each case.

The pathways available to care leavers to access ongoing support was raised by the Committee, asking if social workers shared this information. Ms Gent replied that the information provided to care leavers was based on an individual assessment of their needs and ongoing review to identify the key events in their lives so that support could be tailored to their circumstances. She also recognised that there were varying levels of experience among social workers but that the Children’s Services Management Team had been stabilised and was able to provide an overview of the work taking place and ensure consistency.

In response to a query, Ms Gent agreed to provide details of the number of excluded children who had been re-referred into CSC in writing following the meeting.

The rate of re-referral being above the North West average was raised as an area of concern by the Committee. Mr Coyle explained that it was recognised that over six months this had been the case but that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

To receive a presentation on Young Inspectors.

The Committee agreed that the Young Inspectors Update be deferred to the meeting to be held in November 2022.

To consider an update on the Oracle building works and the timeline for Park Community Academy students to occupy the building.

Mr Paul Turner, Assistant Director of Children's Services (Education, SEND and Early Years), presented an update on the Oracle building works and the timeline for Park Community Academy students to occupy the building. He reported that the works had been completed and it was planned that students from Park Community Academy would occupy the building at the start of the new school year in September 2022. It was also reported that tours of the Oracle building had been arranged for the Committee on Monday, 4 July 2022 and Monday, 18 July 2022, to view the facility.

Members discussed the scope for use of the facility by outside groups, with Mr Turner informing Members that Park School would have priority use and that this would have to be balanced against any other potential user.

Media reports that a new youth building would be built in Blackpool were raised by the Committee, with Members noting that the Oracle had been planned to fulfil this role. Mr Turner responded that he was unaware of such a development but that the Oracle would deliver a significant improvement for Park Community Academy and its Special Education Needs and Development offer.

To consider an update on progress in relation to the town-wide Literacy Strategy.

Mr Paul Turner, Assistant Director of Children's Services (Education, SEND and Early Years) presented an update the progress of the Literacy Strategy. He reported that significant work had taken place, including involving businesses from across Blackpool, such as Merlin and the Rugby Club. The Council was confident that this progress would allow the improvements made to continue. Mr Turner added that a further report on progress on implementing the strategy would be brought to a future meeting to allow ongoing scrutiny.

The Committee noted that the strategy lacked details of the Alternative Provision (AP) work being undertaken and highlighted its importance adding that the number of English Literature courses available in Blackpool was limited whilst recognising such courses were useful in promoting reading. Mr Turner explained that AP offer required work and should include literacy and numeracy elements. In order to improve the offer work had begun with libraries and School Trusts, promoting access to books and opportunities to read. He added that although a large amount had been achieved progress had been slower that hoped for due to the impact of the recovery from Covid.

To receive a report informing the Committee of the recent Ofsted and CQC SEND inspection outcome, implications and next steps, and to consider the draft SEND Strategy 2022-2025.

Mr Paul Turner, Assistant Director of Children's Services (Education, SEND and Early

Years) presented a report on the outcome of the recent Ofsted and Care Quality Commission SEND inspection, its implications and next steps. He informed the Committee that the inspection had identified the following areas of weakness;

·    The lack of specificity, ownership and accountability in the areas’ improvement strategy for SEND.

·    The duties around preparing children and young people for adulthood not being fulfilled.

·    The poor communication with parents and carers across the area – model of coproduction.

·    The long waiting time for some therapies.

As a result of these finding the Council and the Clinical Commissioning Group had seventy days to produce a Written Statement of Action (WSOA) setting out how it would address these areas of concern. Mr Turner informed the Committee that a briefing on the WSOA would be provided to Members to highlight the actions being considered.

Despite these findings, overall, Ofsted had stated that the Council’s SEND provision was much improved from previous inspections.

The Committee discussed the provision of services to young people transitioning to adulthood and the drop off of available pathways for them. Mr Turner responded that the Council recognised that this was an area where improvement was needed and that discussions had taken place with Adult Services regarding the co-location of more services and the identification of funding to support additional service provision.

Communications had been noted as an area of weakness by the inspection. The Committee discussed why this was the case as it had previously been demonstrated that Children’s Services had good communications with parents and providers. Mr Turner explained that the inspection had highlighted HeadStart as having good communications and that more work was required to expand their model across SEND. He also stated that it had been recognised that some communications used language that was too specialised, but that the Council’s Head of SEND would be picking up the work needed to address this issue.

The Committee recognised that poor communications had created a perception among some parents that the Council was creating obstacles while undertaking SEND assessments. Mr Turner added that more needed to be done to explain why certain decisions were taken during assessments and that contact with parent should be high quality.

Delays in changing placements for children with SEND when their current one had proved incorrect was raised as an issue. It was noted that a lack of availability of places and specialist settings in Blackpool made changing a placement difficult in some cases.

Mr Turner also presented the Draft Blackpool SEND Strategy 2022-2025 to the Committee. He asked that Members provide any comments to Children’s Services following the meeting.

The Committee agreed:

1. That the outcome of the SEND Inspection be noted;

2. That a briefing on the Written Statement of Action be organised; and

3. That any comments on the Draft Blackpool SEND Strategy 2022-2025 be provided to Children’s Services.

Councillor Amy Cross left the meeting during this item.

To consider the contents of the Children and Young People’s Scrutiny Committee’s Workplan for 2022/2023 and agree the scoping documents for upcoming scrutiny review panels.

The Committee considered its work programme for 2022/2023 and noted the additional items added at the 10 July 2022 Committee Work planning Workshop.

Members also considered and agreed the draft scoping documents for the Mental Health Support for Young Men Scrutiny Review and the Young People classed as Not In Employment, Education or Training (NEET) Review.

The Committee agreed:

1.      That the Committee work programme for 2022/2023;

2.      The Mental Health Support for Young Men Scrutiny Review scoping document; and

3.      The Young People classed as Not In Employment, Education or Training (NEET) Review scoping document.

That the date and time of the next meeting of the Committee be noted as Wednesday 28 September 2022, at 6.00pm.

The date of the next meeting of the Committee was noted as Thursday 22 September 2022 commencing at 6pm.