Agenda item

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 June.

21.1     The Committee considered a report and presentation by the Executive Director of Children, Young People and Learning (copies appended to the signed minutes). The item was introduced by Jacquie Russell, Cabinet Member for Children & Young People who told the Committee that: -

·         The development of Children’s Services was accelerating with three new permanent assistant directors joining the service over the next few weeks. This would be supported by some interim staff staying in post to lead on the transformation work, creating a structure that will clearly define people's roles and responsibilities and make them more effective

·         A new service model recognised as best practice nationally was being put in place

·         A new social worker model was embedding best practice for the new family safeguarding model

21.2     Lucy Butler, Executive Director of Children, Young People and Learning and Vince Clark, Children First Transformation Director talked through a presentation on the Children’s Services Transformation programme.

21.3     Summary of responses to committee members’ questions and comments: -

·         It was anticipated that the new service model would be in place in the next twelve months

·         Government decided that a Trust would take responsibility for the delivery of Children’s Services in West Sussex – the scope of the Trust was yet to be agreed and would be the subject of a Scrutiny Task & Finish Group and decision by Cabinet on 20 October 2020 

·         It was possible that at some point the Commissioner might decide that a Trust was not necessary, but until then work towards one had to continue

·         The Risk Register could be reviewed to see if educational matters should be included

·         The Health & Wellbeing Board was establishing a sub-group to look at Children’s Services which would help strengthen partnerships with the Police, NHS and Adults’ Services.  The Local Safeguarding Children Board work would sit alongside this. 

·         The Committee could hear the voice of young people by inviting members of the Youth Cabinet to future meetings

·         The Service was confident that its leadership team had the capacity to deliver the new practice model

·         The current social worker offer has been extended to June 2021, with a revised, more comprehensive offer being developed, which would be progressed through the budget setting process

·         The new offer would also provide more opportunities for career progression

·         All managers would have access to assistance and development programmes

·         Staff engagement sessions had provided positive feedback with a commitment to the new service model, and further formal staff consultation would take place as the model progressed 

·         The Family Safeguarding Model will include support for parents recognising this as a key area to address to improve outcomes for children 

21.4    Resolved that – the Committee: -

                     i.        Welcomes the service redesign proposals and the very positive direction of travel on the improvement journey and congratulates officers for driving this forward

                    ii.        Welcomes the extension of the social worker offer and supports the need to explore a broader offer

                   iii.        Requests continued work to ensure the voice and experiences of children and families at all stages of their engagement with the service are included as the new service model is developed and that the Scrutiny Committee is kept informed

                  iv.        Recognises that the ‘parent capacity for change’ is a key part of the Proposed Service Model and that having sufficient resources and capacity in this area will be key to its success.  The Committee requests to be kept updated on this work through its Business Planning Group

                    v.        Supports the continued availability of the Transformation Fund to resource the Improvement Programme