Agenda and minutes

Resolved:- That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 9th June, 2010 be approved as a correct record subject to an amendment to Minute 17 (Education Catering Services Trading Statement Report 2009-2010) that the report be referred to Cabinet for consideration.

Consideration was given to a report presented by Peter Rennie, Children and Families Special Needs Service, which provided details on Aiming High for Disabled Children (AHDC), the Government’s transformation programme for disabled children’s services in England.

Further information was provided on the Strategic Vision for the Aiming High for Disabled Children programme, along with a Needs Assessment, Commissioning Strategy and spending plan for Year 2 of the Short Breaks programme, which was received by the Children and Young People’s Scrutiny Panel on 24^th July, 2009.

This report, therefore, gave an update on Rotherham’s delivery of the Aiming High for Disabled Children National Core Offer (NCO), summarised the outcomes of the first year of the Aiming High for Disabled Children Short Breaks programme in Rotherham and progress towards achieving the Short Breaks Full Service Offer (FSO) four programme objectives.

In considering the contents of the report particular reference was made to the five elements of the NCO grouped under three headings monitored through NI54 informed by the parent survey, the evaluation of the delivery of Year 1 of the FSO, the updated needs assessment, revenue and capital funding, development of the existing provision and newly commissioned services with the voluntary and community sector.

Discussion ensued on the risks to finance and information provided to indicate that this funding provision was ring-fenced and would continue to be closely monitored on a monthly basis.  NHS Rotherham were committed to the programme, contributing financially and working closely with the Council on planning and delivery.

It was noted that the Aiming High for Disabled Children Grant would continue to be allocated and it was currently indicated that from April, 2011 as part of the Area Based Grant with the expectation that the level of short break provision in place as of 31^st March, 2011 would be sustained.

Consideration was to be given during 2010 – 2011 to the degree to which new short break provision commissioned through the Aiming High for Disabled Children programme may become self-financing from April, 2011. No activity had been commissioned beyond 31^st March, 2011 in order to allow for this planning to take place.

The capital element of the grant had been utilised for the refurbishment of the Orchard Centre, towards a Changing Place within the Eastwood Adventure Playground, financial support to the Kimberworth Project to refurbish the former Kimberworth Comprehensive School so as to include a comprehensive short term facility and contributions towards specific adaptations and equipment.

Whilst it was noted that there was no fee payable for the short break provision for those on benefits, it was felt that post March, 2011 and beyond any non-specialist service should have the potential to be self-sustainable. 

Resolved:-  (1)  That the investment provided for the Aiming High for Disabled Children Programme be welcomed.

(2)  That the achievements and work to date be supported, noted and taken forward.

(3)  That an update report on the progress of the programme be submitted to the Cabinet Member in early 2011.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20.

Consideration was given to a report presented by Stephen Booth, Performance Manager, which outlined performance at the end of 2009/10 against targets, with direction of travel against previous year’s performance and comparisons with statistical neighbours and national data.

Details were provided on the Performance Assessment by Every Child Matters Outcome’ by each Every Child Matters theme including;-

·              Performance against targets (Comparing outturn performance against set targets).

·              Direction of travel analysis (Comparing 2009/10 outturn performance to 2008/09 outturn performance).

·              Year to Date Performance (Judged by corporate monitoring system Performance Plus).

·              Performance against Statistical Neighbours average.

·              Performance against National average.

·              Areas of Success.

·              Areas of Under-performance.

·              An update on previous performance clinics.

·              Recommendations for future performance clinics.

Full details of performance and commentary at indicator levels were provided and explanations given to the areas of under performance.

Discussion ensued on the action plans to maintain performance on each National Indicator and the recovery plans in place for those areas of under performance.

With regards to the performance clinics it was suggested that future clinics take place on:-

·              Percentage of referrals to children’s social care going on to initial assessment and the percentage of initial assessments for children’s social care carried out within seven workings days of referral.

·              Looked after children reaching Level 4 in English and Maths alongside young offenders’ entry into education, employment or training.

The Cabinet Member requested that along with the notice to improve the assessment of performance by Every Child Matters outcomes be submitted for monitoring on a monthly basis by exception and where this was possible and where updates on information were not reliant on annual data.

Resolved:- (1)  That the Performance Report and be received and performance noted.

(2)  That the recommendations regarding performance clinics (within Appendix A) be approved.

(3)  That the assessment by performance on Every Child Matters outcomes be submitted to the Cabinet Member on a monthly basis by exception and identified under performance.

(4)  That this report be submitted to the Children’s Board.

Consideration was given to a report presented by Gani Martins, Director of Safeguarding and Corporate Parenting Services, which outlined the review that had taken place of Corporate Parenting Structures by the Looked After Children’s Scrutiny Sub Panel between November, 2009 and March, 2010 utilising a Corporate Parenting Toolkit developed by the National Children’s Bureau.

The report recommended modernising the arrangements in line with the Government Agenda and with Ofsted Inspection expectations. A proposed Action Plan was developed and was subject to scrutiny from the Strategic Leadership Team.

The Strategic Leadership Team agreed with the sixteen recommendations and findings of the Scrutiny Review and requested consideration of the action plan with a view to completion of the new structure by September, 2010.

Reference was also made to the establishment of the Corporate Parenting Board as a sub-group of the Children’s Board, which would disband the Looked After Children Scrutiny Sub-Group.

Discussion also ensued on specific training for Elected Members and how best this could be taken forward.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the report be received and the sixteen recommendations in the action plan be supported.

(2)  That the report be submitted to Cabinet on the 7^th July, 2010.

(3)  That the report be submitted to the Children’s Board on the 27^th July, 2010.

Consideration was given to a report presented by Sue Shelley, Acting Head of Service – Community Learning, which provided information on Rotherham’s progress so far to the proposal by the Skills Funding Agency and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills to channel all funding which supported informal adult learning through the Local Authority as the lead accountable body.

Further information was still awaited and a further update would be provided in due course.

Resolved:-  That support for the service continue for it to become the Lead Accountable Body and that a further report be presented to the Cabinet Member following the receipt of additional information from the Skills Funding Agency on the responsibilities of the lead accountable body.