Agenda item

Report by the Executive Director of Children, Adults, Families, Health and Education.

The purpose of the redesign is to improve the pathway children and families take into and out of services and develop a more targeted early help offer that is flexible to local need.

The Committee is invited to consider the review so far, the outputs from engagement activities and provide comments for the Cabinet Member to consider about the next stage of the review and redesign.

5.1     The Committee considered a report by the Executive Director of People. The report was introduced by Hayley Connor, Head of Integrated Prevention and Earliest Help (IPEH). The Chairman welcomed Daniel Sartin, Branch Secretary for UNISON, who had been invited to speak on this item. The Committee heard the following key points from the Head of IPEH:

·       A Cabinet Member decision in January signalled a review of the IPEH service. Both qualitative and quantitative data was gathered, and the Committee requested to review the direction of travel.

·       Engagement activities took place all over the county, and involved a number of staff, partners and stakeholders.

·       Online surveys were completed, the feedback would be embedded in the overarching review and design.

·       Key themes to emerge from the engagement included the positive culture of IPEH, co-location with partners and linkages with MASH were identified as working well.

·       Areas signposted as requiring improvement included a lack of data sharing, duplication of work, and ineffective technology.

·       Four characteristics will be used to define the future operating model for IPEH:

Ø  A retained focus on core priorities in community settings, for example supervised contact visits in IPEH hubs of Children and Family Centres. This has added value in that it helps introduce families to other services

Ø  IPEH will be closely integrated with Children’s Social Care, the Healthy Child Programme, and Education.

Ø  IPEH to be closed aligned with public health priorities, recognising West Sussex as diverse having both urban and rural localities.

Ø  There will be clear, simple pathways for children, ensuring the interventions delivered are having the right impact.

5.2     The Cabinet Member for Children and Young People explained that IPEH worked with a number of partners, including the NHS, the voluntary sector and Education to deliver a range of services and both a universal level and at higher stages of intervention. He also told the Committee:

·       IPEH required a refocus of some support to areas demonstrating as having the greatest need, such as the coastal strip and Crawley. There were also pockets of demand in Horsham, Chichester and Mid-Sussex.

·       Some services could be more targeted at the preventative level. 

·       Efficiency saving required was indicated as £4.9m, however the priority is to ensure the voice of the child lives within the centre of the service. 

·       The arrival of Ofsted and subsequent outcome has allowed WSCC to reframe their services and review the offer.

5.3     Daniel Sartin from UNISON made the following points:

·       In January 2019, the Performance and Finance Select Committee identified a cut to the IPEH service. This sparked concern for UNISON, and for IPEH as an effective and highly regarded service.

·       The evidence base for this review and redesign was not available to UNISON. The previous IPEH review had been fractious, and the union wanted time to consider.

·       The risk of destabilisation carried consequences, such as staff anticipating redundancy, the impact on morale, and people leaving.

·       Improved listening and reflection would bring about the required change in culture.

·       The union welcomed the refocussing of the IPEH review, and requested it proceed at an orderly pace.

5.4     The Cabinet Member for Children and Young People apologised to staff to who felt unstable as a result of the IPEH redesign, and indicated the motive was always to look at efficiencies and effectiveness; it was not a cost-cutting exercise. The Executive Director of People, and Interim Director of Children’s Services advised there was no sense in running separate reviews when a wider service transformation was necessary following the Ofsted recommendations.

5.5     Resolved that the Committee:

1.   Emphasises the importance of communication, especially with members of the IPEH service to ensure maintenance of staff morale.

2.   Recognise the opportunities of developing and redesigning IPEH in view of the wider improvement required across the service.

3.   Wishes to be closely involved in any developments regarding IPEH, and that the Committee have the opportunity to consider any Cabinet Member Key Decisions within a suitable timeframe.