Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations of interest made at this meeting.

There were no questions from members of the public or the press.

It was noted that the Youth Cabinet had suggested items for inclusion in the Children and Young People’s Scrutiny Panel work programme 2009/10.

FOR DECISION

The Scrutiny Panel noted the following matters:-

(a) there will be a special meeting of the Children and Young People’s Scrutiny Panel, to be held on Friday, 24^th July, 2009, to review the performance of the Children and Young People’s Services Directorate;

(b) Scrutiny Panel members are invited to attend visits of inspection to the Summer Carnegie Weight Management Camp, on either 4^th, 11^th or 14^th August, 2009;

(c) Scrutiny Panel members are invited to attend a visit of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services at Chatham House on Wednesday, 15^th July, 2009.

Resolved:-  That the following nominations be made to the bodies set out below for the 2009/10 Municipal Year:-

(i)                   Looked After Children Scrutiny Sub-Panel

Chairman and Councillor Burton

(ii)                 Sustainable Development Advisory Group

To be appointed

(iii)                Health, Welfare and Safety Panel

                  One Member, Councillor G. A. Russell

                  One Substitute (to be appointed)

(iv)                Visits of Inspection to Adult Services Establishments

                  All Members of the Scrutiny Panel are invited to attend

(v)                 Visits to Children’s Establishments (evenings)

                  Chairman or Vice-Chairman

(vi)                Members’ Training and Development Panel

                  Chairman

The Chairman introduced the submitted report detailing this Scrutiny Panel’s proposed work programme for the 2009/2010 Municipal Year.

Scrutiny Panel Members suggested the following issues for inclusion in the 2009/10 work programme (nb: some of which are already subjects under scrutiny):-

-           the opportunities to develop sport in schools during the years preceding the 2012 London Olympics (nb: this matter will be included within the current scrutiny review of physical education and sport in schools, established by the Regeneration Scrutiny Panel);

-           attendance of pupils at school;

-           provision of dentistry services (alongside the scrutiny review being undertaken by the Adult Services and Health Scrutiny Panel);

-           the Inspire Rotherham agenda (including the Imagination Library and the ‘bags for families’ reading initiative);

-           the vision, effectiveness and popularity of youth clubs and groups (nb: a report about Youth Services is to be reported to the Children and Young People’s Scrutiny Panel during September, 2009).

Resolved:- (1) That the report be received and its contents noted.

(2) That the Scrutiny Panel’s 2009/2010 work programme, contained in the report now submitted, be approved.

(3) That Scrutiny Panel members are invited to make further suggestions for inclusion in the 2009/2010 work programme.

FOR DISCUSSION

Further to Minute No. 65(2) of the Children and Young People’s Scrutiny Panel held on 28^th November, 2008, consideration was given to a report presented by the Review Group Chairman, Councillor Barry Kaye, setting out the findings and recommendations of the scrutiny review into concerns about road traffic safety outside schools in the Rotherham Borough area. A copy of the full report of this scrutiny review was attached as an appendix.

This scrutiny review had specifically examined:-

(i) how to gain an understanding of the key areas relating to road traffic safety outside of schools and the extent of the problem;

(ii) the need to review the Authority’s current procedures and actions in promoting road safety outside of schools;

(iii) the need to establish the traffic calming/road safety measures which are already in place outside Rotherham schools and to consider their effectiveness;

(iv) consideration of good practice from other local authorities in relation to promoting road safety outside schools;

(v) consideration of the further measures which could be taken to improve road traffic safety outside schools in Rotherham.

Members of the Scrutiny Panel raised these issues about the review:-

-           ways of minimising the number of road traffic accidents outside schools;

-           the effectiveness of 20 mph vehicle speed limits outside schools;

-           recruitment of school crossing patrol wardens;

-           parking of buses outside schools.

The report stated that the recommendations of this scrutiny review include:-

-                      carry out a risk assessment of road safety issues at all schools and ensure that all schools have at least a minimum standard of road safety requirements;

-                      support a vehicle speed limit of 20 mph outside schools wherever possible and that no school has a limit of more than 30 mph;

-                      work with South Yorkshire Police to ensure that revised speed restrictions outside schools are enforceable;

-                      identify a specific budget for schools road safety measures from the Highways Capital Programme;

-                      work with schools to ensure that the impact of School Travel Plans is monitored;

-                      ensure that the impact of the School Keep Clear Traffic Regulation Order, to be implemented outside Rotherham schools, is monitored and reported appropriately;

-                      support the distribution of the Wentworth South Area Assembly produced Road Safety film (DVD) to each school pupil in the Borough, seeking Area Assembly support for its funding.

The Scrutiny Panel thanked the Members, co-opted members and officers involved in this scrutiny review.

Resolved:- (1) That this Scrutiny Panel endorses the findings and recommendations of the scrutiny review report into road safety outside schools.

(2) That the report be forwarded to the Performance and Scrutiny Overview Committee for approval and future submission to Cabinet.

(3) That the response of Cabinet to the recommendations of this scrutiny review be reported to a future meeting of the Children and Young People’s Scrutiny Panel.

Consideration was given to a report presented by the Director of Learning Services and the Head of School Effectiveness Service containing information about the Rotherham schools’ GCSE examination results for 2008 and how they compare to previous years, to the national average and to the results of this Council’s statistical neighbours.

The following issues were raised during discussion of the report:-

-           the comparative academic attainment levels of boys and girls, both at secondary school and later in higher education;

-           the index of social deprivation and its correlation with academic performance;

-           the impact on the overall examination results of the academic performance of children newly arrived into the Rotherham Borough area;

-           measuring progress by RAISEonline (Reporting and Analysis for Improvement through School Self-Evaluation), an Internet web-based interactive tool;

-           the recruitment of school head teachers;

-           the role of the School Effectiveness Service and investment in schools;

-           the governance of schools and academies and the training and development of school governors;

-           pupils’ attendance at school and the effects upon academic performance of persistent absenteeism.

Resolved:- (1) That the report be received and its contents noted.

(2) That, to facilitate the effective monitoring of the improvement plan for Rotherham school pupils’ academic attainment, the report of the 2009 Key Stage 4 (GCSE) examination results be submitted to an early meeting of the Children and Young People’s Scrutiny Panel.

Consideration was given to a report presented by the Director of Locality Services stating that, during March 2008, the Children and Young People’s Services Joint Leadership Team developed an Action Plan which focused on separating the strategic functions of Safeguarding services and the Operational functions of the Safeguarding Services. The move towards a multi-agency integrated Safeguarding Unit was outlined, with key steps to achieve this model. In September 2008, Education Safeguarding Services were located within the Safeguarding Unit and line management responsibility was transferred there. This transfer included Children Missing from Education. During April 2009, the Health Child Protection Unit moved from the Doncaster Gate Hospital to the Operational Safeguarding Unit in Crinoline House, with aligned management structures. In addition, the Safeguarding Unit is now working closely with schools to deliver child protection conferences in a school environment. This arrangement has been very well received, with early indications of a positive experience for families and children, in addition to efficiencies of professional times. The submitted report outlined how the services have been separated to improve understanding of the differences between strategic responsibilities and operational responsibilities.

The Scrutiny Panel’s debate about this subject included the following salient points:-

-           the difficulties of recruiting and retaining social workers (use of agency staff);

-           serious case reviews about the death of children and the role of the Child Death Panel;

-           the implementation of the recommendations of the review of child protection and safeguarding children services by Lord Laming;

-           the use of ICT systems and the recording of data and information by the safeguarding children services;

-           the role of the health services in child protection and safeguarding children;

-           the arrangements for foster care for children;

-           monitoring of key performance indicators;

-           the budget and resources for safeguarding children services.

Resolved:- (1) That the report be received and its contents noted.

(2) That this Scrutiny Panel notes the changes made to the Safeguarding organisational arrangements, as detailed in the report nowsubmitted.

(3) That future reports to this Scrutiny Panel, about safeguarding children services, shall include the updated staying safe action plan (prepared in accordance with DCSF guidelines).

(4) That this Scrutiny Panel recognises that early action is required to:-

-           fill the vacant posts of social worker and to secure the retention of social workers;

-           review the base budget for safeguarding children services.

(5) That Members of this Scrutiny Panel be provided with a copy of the Local Government Information Unit (LGIU) briefing paper entitled ”Protection of children in England: Progress report by Lord Laming”.

FOR INFORMATION

Further to Minute No. 55 of the Children and Young People’s Scrutiny Panel held on 31^st October, 2008, consideration was given to a report presented by the Operations Manager, Provider Services, concerning the progress made against the Rotherham Safeguarding Children Board ‘Action Plan for Services to Runaways’ during the past six months.

Reference was made to the introduction of the new National Indicator (71) concerning local provision and responses to children who run away. The report also provided up-to-date information about Central Government activity on this subject and Rotherham’s response to information required under the National Indicator 71.

The Scrutiny Panel also welcomed Mr. Mark Smith who answered questions about the role of the Safe@Last organisation. Members noted with pleasure that Safe@Last had recently received H.M. the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.

The report included details of the Young Runaways Action Plan, published by the Government in June 2008 (with further guidance issued in May 2009). This plan committed to updating guidance for local authorities on supporting children and young people who go missing from home or care. Key points raised in this plan include:-

• Local authorities to provide extra support for families who are in difficulty dealing with their child’s behaviour;

• To deliver more effective CAMHS services;

• To address problems at school, especially bullying;

• To educate young people about the dangers of running and encourage them to seek support, rather than run away;

• To identify patterns of running in local areas;

• To improve data collection to inform service provision, driven by a new indicator in the National Indicator Set;

• To provide children with someone to turn to and somewhere safe to stay, if needed.

During consideration of this item, the Scrutiny Panel discussed the following salient issues:-

-           National Indicator 71 and the local authority self-assessment process;

-           Rotherham’s high self-assessment score and being proactive in dealing with the problems of children who run away from home;

-           updating of the South Yorkshire Runaways Joint Protocol;

-           the importance of the work of the Safe@Last organisation;

-           risk assessments;

-           data kept by statutory organisations about young run aways;

-           the limited resources available, especially beds provided for young run aways;

-           the problems of children and young people who are repeated run aways.

Resolved:- (1) That the report be received and its contents noted.

(2) That the Safe@Last organisation be congratulated upon receiving H.M. the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.

(3) That a further progress report be provided to a future meeting of the Children and Young People’s Scrutiny Panel.

MINUTES

Consideration was given to a report presented by the Senior Scrutiny Adviser concerning the Health Check Submission (2008/2009) made on behalf of the South Yorkshire Joint Health Scrutiny Committee. The Joint Committee comprised locally Elected Members from the Health and Children’s/Adult Scrutiny Commissions of the four South Yorkshire districts, with a remit to scrutinise issues and service delivery for health which have cross-boundary implications for the South Yorkshire districts.

As part of the Annual Health Check for 2008/2009, the Joint Committee carried out scrutiny of the various trusts representing the Sheffield Children’s Hospital and Sheffield Teaching Hospitals. Evidence gathering was centred on the Healthcare Standards established by the new Care Quality Commission.

The Joint Scrutiny Committee met on 27^th March 2009 to consider the performance of the Children’s Hospital against selected Core Standards, each one chosen to reflect key issues of Strategic Direction, Patient/Carer interface and Service Delivery. These core standards were:-

C2 – Child Protection

C4 – Infection Control

C6 – Co-operation to Meet Patients’ Individual Needs

C7 – Governance

C13 - Dignity

C14 – Information and Complaints

C16 – Information on Services

C17 – Obtaining Patient Views

C18 – Equal Access to Services

C22 – Reducing Health Inequalities.

Specific reference was made to the details reported about infection control, about the initiatives to reduce health inequalities and about multi-agency involvement in child protection.

Resolved:- That the report be received and the details of the Annual Health Check for 2008/2009 be noted.

Resolved:- That the minutes of the meetings of the Children and Young People’s Scrutiny Panel held on 3rd April, 2009 and on 15th April, 2009 be approved as correct records for signature by the Chairman.

Resolved:- (1) That the contents of the minutes of the meeting of the Children’s Board held on 22nd April, 2009 be noted.

(2) That a report be submitted to a future meeting of the Children and Young People’s Scrutiny Panel in respect of Minute No. 197 (Healthy Lives, Brighter Future Strategy).

Meetings held on 27^th March, 17^th April and 28^th April 2009

Resolved:- That the contents of the minutes of the meetings of the Performance and Scrutiny Overview Committee held on 27th March, 2009, 17th April, 2009 and on 28th April, 2009, be noted.