Issue - meetings

To receive the response of the Cabinet to recommendations from the Improving Lives Select Commission’s review of Alternative Management Arrangements for Children’s Services.

Further to Minute 109 of the meeting of the Cabinet and Commissioners held on 19^th February, 2018 The Improving Lives Commission established a Task and Finish Group to consider the lessons learnt from other trust models and also looked objectively at other alternative management arrangements which might secure the long-term success of Rotherham’s Children and Young People’s Services. The group completed its review in the autumn of 2017 and submitted a final report to Council on 18th October, 2017.

Under the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules, the Cabinet was required to respond to any recommendations made by Scrutiny. Cabinet considered and agreed the response enclosed at Appendix A. This report was, therefore, submitted to ensure that all Members were aware of the implementation of recommendations from the review.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the response to the scrutiny review of Alternative Management Arrangements for Children and Young People’s Services in Rotherham set out at Appendix A to this report be noted.

(2)  That the response be referred to the next meeting of the Improving Lives Select Commission on 13th March, 2018.

Mover:-  Councillor Watson                    Seconder:-  Councillor Read

Report of the Strategic Director of Children and Young People’s Services

Cabinet Member:     Councillor Watson

Commissioner:         Bradwell (in advisory role)

Recommendations:-

1.    That Cabinet agree the response to the scrutiny review of Alternative Management Arrangements for Children and Young People’s Services in Rotherham set out at Appendix A to this report.  

2.    That the response be referred to the next meeting of the Council on 28 February 2018 and to the next meeting of the Improving Lives Select Commission on 13 March 2018.

Further to Minute No. 83 of Council held on 18^th October, 2017 consideration was given to the report which shared the findings and latest analysis and current thinking of the Improving Lives Select Commission’s cross-party review group on the range of Alternative Management Arrangements (AMAs) for Children’s Services. It evaluated the relative strengths and challenges of the primary options available to the Council and suggested initial recommendations for future management arrangements.

Appendix A of the report submitted set out the five broad recommendations arising from the Scrutiny Review of Alternative Management Arrangements for Children and Young People’s Services together with detail in respect of whether the recommendations were agreed, not agreed or deferred and, where agreed, what action would be taken, by when and who would be responsible.

The main recommendation was for Children’s Services to continue with its adoption of the Practice Partner model as this would secure the most rapid and sustainable improvements in the short term (two years) and present the lowest risk to the Improvement journey.  It was agreed that this form of model had made a significant contribution to the first stage of the improvement journey, however, a self-improving culture would be required to get from Good to Outstanding.

On this basis it was suggested that the response from Cabinet to the recommendations from the Improving Lives Select Commission be forwarded onto the Lead Commissioner and the Commissioner responsible for Children’s Social Care outlining the support.

The Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board also wished to place on record his thanks and appreciation to the Chair and other members of the Improving Lives Select Commission for their hard work in this review.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the Cabinet’s response to the Scrutiny Review of Alternative Management Arrangements for Children and Young People’s Services in Rotherham be approved.

(2)  That the response be referred to the next meeting of the Council on 28^th February, 2018 and the next meeting of the Improving Lives Select Commission on 13^th March, 2018.

(3)  That the report of the Improving Lives Select Commission and the Cabinet response to the recommendations be submitted to the Lead Commissioner and the Commissioner responsible for Children’s Social Care.