Agenda item

Children First Improvement Update

Report by Executive Director of Children, Young People and Learning.

 

The report updates the Committee on developments in the Children First programme since its last update in January.

 

 

Minutes:

67.2   The Committee considered a report by the Executive Director of Children, Young People and Learning. The report was introduced by Jacquie Russell, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People who provided an update on the happenings in the service and the upcoming work of the Corporate Parenting Panel. Lindsey Hannant, Head of Resourcing Organisational Development and Talent, gave the following update on the workforce:

 

·       There had been a spike in leavers in February 2020 including agency staff leading to an increase in the uncovered vacancy gap (which doesn’t take into account absences from those on career break, long-term sickness or maternity leave).

·       The service were receiving fewer applications, those that were received were significantly lower from the UK and more from overseas based social workers.

·       Human Resources (HR) were taking action to ensure the uncovered vacancy gap didn’t continue to increase, hoping it would stabilise at around 4 or 5%.

·       Exit interviews were offered to all social workers, between July 2019 and February 2020, of those offered, 16 accepted the interview.

·       The exit interviews identified three main reasons for leaving:

Ø  Dissatisfaction with the job, including workloads, environment, processes and challenge and support.

Ø  Personal reasons

Ø  Location/geography.

·       The service and HR have been working collaboratively to address the dissatisfaction element of leavers through looking at embedding better practice with personal supervision. January 2020 data identified that 94% of the workforce had personal supervision.

 

67.3   Lisa Reid, Senior Improvement Lead, gave an update on the Quality Assurance (QA) Framework. The Committee heard the following:

 

·       The QA Framework was currently being finalised to ensure robust social work practice.

·       A range of methods to gather qualitative and quantitative data had been used. Review audits would be undertaken to identify learning and areas which need further consideration through thematic auditing.

·       The service were seeking to update the Framework through a ‘back to practice’ model, which would give senior members and officers the opportunity to experience and reflect upon casework practice, feeding back into the learning and reviews.

·       Child Protection Advisors (CPAs) and Independent Reviewing Officers (IROs) support and oversee plans to ensure that operational arrangements were robust, arrangements for CLA were suitable, and escalated where necessary.

·       Sophie Carter, Principal Manager for Safeguarding, advised that a practice week was scheduled for the end of March. Practice week focussed on the experience and journey of children in West Sussex. It was an opportunity to undertake collaborative audits, observe case meetings, Personal Education Plans (PEPs) and look at a cross-section of social work tasks.

·       Jenny Brennan, Child Protection Advisor, advised that Child Protection conferences were an opportunity to scrutinise the quality of social work practice, and advisors were responsible for maintaining the quality of outcomes.

 

67.4   The Chairman welcomed questions from the Committee on the workforce and QA Framework. A summary of the main points from discussion were as follows:

 

·       Members considered the stress and pressure on staff and the knock-on implications. The Head of Resourcing advised there were ongoing discussions about ways to improve the culture and working environment, that staff needed visibility and access to leadership teams, and that a wellbeing pilot was underway via the NHS in which staff could come together in forums to discuss the emotional and social aspects of this type of work. Resilience and mindfulness training were available as was the employee assistance programme.

·       The Committee considered what preventative measures were in place before children reached the care system to ease resource pressures on social workers, and whether WSCC were working with district and borough councils. The Cabinet Member advised as Chairman of the Corporate Parenting Panel (CPP) that she was building on the multi-agency approach engaging district and borough colleagues and was having early discussions with a view to involving police on the CPP. The Cabinet Member also advised the Pause project (supportive interventions with very vulnerable young women at risk of multiple pregnancies) was a good example of outcome delivery through prevention. The Committee agreed this was a good initiative and should continue.

·       Members asked how the service were sure the new QA Framework would be effective and how it was different to previous arrangements. The Senior Improvement Lead advised that with previous frameworks there had been less rigour and continuity owing to changes in senior personnel. The service had linked in with a regional safeguarding and QA group to enable external oversight for best practice.

·       Members considered the vacancy rate and whether officers were concerned about staff asking to end and repay their retention package. The Head of Resourcing advised 22 enquiries had been received about repaying their package, 9 of which had converted to resignations. She added that HR had gone out to the marketplace to anticipate these departures and would be working with Lucy Butler, the new Executive Director for Children, Young People and Learning to progress proposals to mitigate the risk.

·       The Committee asked if WSCC’s reputation was a barrier to recruitment success, and if case numbers were again increasing. The Committee heard that there was a lag effect in terms of reputation with the Commissioner report being published in December and the Ofsted rating for Children’s Services did have a continued impact on WSCC’s attractiveness as an employer. The current average caseload was 15.7 children per social worker, the highest was 29. Caseloads remained under review but were generally seen to be average and reasonable against national comparators.

·       The Committee asked if all councils used the Mosaic system. The Senior Improvement Lead advised it was an integrated system used by other local authorities. The Leader advised work was ongoing to enable the use of Mosaic remotely.

 

67.5   Resolved – that the Committee recommends:

 

1.   The Senior Improvement Lead considers how to facilitate member involvement in practice week.

2.   The Cabinet Member for Children and Young People invite CYPSSC members to a future meeting of the Corporate Parenting Panel.

3.   It receives an update on the experience and outcomes of practice week, and,

4.   It would like to see more child-focussed measures in future reports.

 

Supporting documents: