The Committee is asked to reflect upon the findings of the Ofsted Inspection that “oversight, scrutiny and challenge from corporate leaders, including the children’s select committee and the corporate parenting panel, have not been sufficiently rigorous” and to identify any specific changes required to ensure a more robust approach to the scrutiny of Children’s Social Care going forward.
Minutes:
13.1 The Chairman invited the Committee to reflect upon the Ofsted findings that scrutiny had not been sufficiently rigorous, and to identify any specific changes required to address this going forward. The following points were raised by members in discussion:
· The Committee had been quite focussed on decision points and data, and had not been so open-minded about occurrences in the service more broadly. Members proposed it would be useful to undertake visits to operational sites, such as IPEH hubs, to enable a more ‘on the ground’ source of information.
· Members noted that Education had a number of co-opted representatives on the Committee, and considered the absence of a perspective from Children’s Social Care. Members considered a practitioner representative would bring a valuable voice to the Committee, and assist in understanding the issues identified by Ofsted more clearly.
· Members suggested the BPG should plan the scrutiny timetable for the next couple of years to provide a clear programme of topics.
· The Committee heard that the Children in Care Council (CiCC) issue a periodical newsletter and suggested they could be added to the distribution list.
· The Chairman advised he felt there would be value in talking to social workers and practitioners in order to understand their experiences and identify successes and failures in the service.
· The Chairman of the Corporate Parenting Panel (CPP) advised she was aiming to involve children, carers and various agencies and partners in the panel meetings. The Committee noted there were 2 members who sat on both the CYPSSC and CPP.
· The Leader reflected on a visit to the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) with the Cabinet Member for Children and Young People. The MASH was operating well, and it gave the Leader and Cabinet Member the opportunity to see what good looked like. The Leader added that members should visit other service areas, that staff welcome the recognition and a forum to listen and be heard.
· Members agreed and considered they all had an individual responsibility to engage with the service. It was suggested visits to local Children and Family Centres were useful to understand the interaction between different agencies. Observing foster or adoption panels was also considered as a value forum to gain further insight into the service.
· The Chairman of the CPP urged members to consider how they approach schools about CLA, including asking them if they had CLA, and how were they getting on. The Director of Children’s Services agreed, and suggested members take opportunities to exercise their role as corporate parents when meeting chairs of governors and heads. The Chairman of the CPP encouraged members to feedback from these discussions in order to close the loop.
· The Chairman advised the member day would be a prime opportunity to stress the corporate parenting responsibility to members, encouraging them to ask questions and strive for good outcomes as advocates for children.
· Members of the Committee advised they needed to know when things were going wrong, and felt that loops could be closed by both reaching out and being available.
· The Committee considered the way in which they receive and understand data and key measures required refreshment. The Committee also agreed members should be flexible in terms of meeting dates, in order that they are getting the opportunities to provide the most effective input, in view of the quarterly monitoring visits from Ofsted.
13.2 Resolved that the Committee:
1. Works with the service to identify possible visits and witnesses for future meetings, and that individual members look at what engagement they can undertake, such as observing a fostering or adoption panel.
2. Considers the wider involvement of co-optees from Children’s Social Care, potentially including social workers, care leavers and the Youth Cabinet.
3. Receives relevant information from the service, such as the CiCC newsletter.
4. Has close communication with the CPP to ensure members are working together and cross-cutting issues and being considered in the most appropriate space.
5. Considers information from other councils on what ‘good scrutiny’ and good Children’s Social Care looks like.
6. Asks the Leader and Cabinet Member to investigate the involvement of young people, including the Youth Cabinet, as part of the Select Committee.
7. Encourages members to find a mechanism to ensure that families and young people feel confident to approach County Councillors, and that the council ensures messaging to the public regarding corporate parenting is clear.
8. Considers what data and key measures are required for more effective and robust scrutiny.
9. Looks at future meeting dates at the next BPG to ensure effective scrutiny of the Children First Practice Improvement Plan.