Agenda and minutes

Resolved:- That the minutes of the meeting held on 19th December, 2005 be approved as a correct record.

Sonia Sharp presented the submitted paper ‘Every Child Matters : Change for Children – Integrated Inspection of Children’s Services’.

 

The presentation covered:-

 

-           What are Children’s Services?

 

-           How will these be inspected ?

 

-           So what’s new ?

 

-           How will judgements be made ?

 

-           Is this inspection being done to an area or done with an area ?

 

-           How will children and young people get their say ?

 

-           What is meant by “integrated inspection” ?

 

-           Does it mean Council Services will no longer be inspected ?

 

-           Sounds like more inspection !

 

-           The four judgement levels

 

-           Overall purpose of the inspection

 

-           The five outcomes      :           Being healthy

                                                            Staying safe

                                                            Enjoying and achieving

                                                            Making a positive contribution

                                                            Achieving economic well being

 

-           Activities contributing to outcomes

 

Sonia also highlighted :-

 

-           timescales:                 -           Inspection June, 2006

                                               

                                                -           Need for fully integrated service by 2008

                                                            4 key elements :   Integrated Governance

                                                                                          Integrated Strategy

                                                                                          Integrated Processes

                                                                                          Integrated front line services

 

-           discussions at Corporate Management Team

 

-           need to show evidence of activities regarding the five outcomes for JAR

 

-           aim to achieve as much as can with early intervention for the disadvantaged

 

-           need to demonstrate outcomes focused and how work with partners

 

-           there was also to be an inspection of the Youth Offending Service and Youth Service

 

-           inspection team likely visits

 

Sonia also presented the submitted agreed priorities from last year’s assessment and particularly referred to :-

 

-           cultural change process

 

-           challenge to the criteria led approach and shift in delivering the agenda

 

-           continuing focus for Rotherham :-

 

            -           boys underperforming at all key stages in English

            -           early years acceleration of pupil progress

            -           family learning

            -           performance improvement

            -           maintaining progress on attendance

            -           continuing work around SEN

            -           improvements around the Looked After Children agenda

            -           teenage pregnancies

            -           timeliness of core assessments

 

Discussion and a question and answer session ensued and the following issues were covered :-

 

-           drug abuse implications

-           budget provision

-           the next stage

 

Resolved:- (1) That the information be noted.

 

(2) That regular updates on agreed priorities be provided,

 

(3) That a progress report be prepared for Cabinet.

 

 

                                               

Tracy Holmes, Head of Corporate Communications and Marketing, gave a powerpoint presentation entitled “Communicating Our Corporate Assessment – It’s Everybody’s Business” which had been delivered to Heads of Service.

 

The presentation covered :-

 

-           Corporate Assessment/JAR in Context

-           Corporate Assessment/JAR in Focus

-           Target Audiences

-           The Assessors Themselves and What We Will Do

-           Elected Members and What We Will Do

-           RMBC Staff and What We Will Do

-           The People of Rotherham and What We Will Do

-           Partner Organisations and What We Will Do

-           Local/Regional Media and What We Will Do

 

Tracy referred to the headline information and that it was everybody’s business to discuss with staff.

 

Discussion ensued and the following issues were covered :-

 

-           partners being signed up to the vision

-           schools as a good area for communications

-           need for regular updates

 

Resolved:- (1) That the presentation be noted.

 

(2) That regular updates be provided for Members.

 

 

Lee Adams reported that good progress was being made and practical preparations were underway for the corporate assessment.

 

A corporate group had been formed. One session had been held with the Corporate Management Team on core KLOE areas and another session was scheduled for this Friday, 24th February, 2006.

 

Matthew Gladstone updated Members on the latest information/preparations indicating :-

 

-           a briefing conference

-           he had met the JAR team leader

-           the CPA lead was Brian Stevenson

-           a meeting had been arranged for the 3rd April, 2006 with the Inspectorate leading the teams and huge focus on JAR

-           on site dates were mid/end May to mid June, 2006

-           trying to treat as one single assessment and a programme area working team had been set up

-           baselines and KLOEs had been produced in last few weeks and shared priority was going to Corporate Management Team this Friday

-           detail would be useful in flagging up gaps and making self assessment as balanced as possible

-           self assessment first draft to be ready by Easter, final deadline being 3rd May, 2006

-           Moorgate Crofts being considered as accommodation for inspectors

 

Resolved:- That the information be noted.

Matthew Gladstone submitted an updated paper regarding the above indicating the need for revisions every couple of days and the need to manage the process. The documents identified in the list were the initial key documents that the inspection teams would need. Many of the documents would provide the supporting evidence for self assessment but other evidence referred to in self assessment could also be provided to the inspection teams. Timescales for the submission of documents were highlighted.

 

It was noted that the proposal was to utilise existing decision making forums due to time constraints.

 

Resolved:- (1) That the information be noted.

 

(2) That a completed list regarding areas of risk be submitted to the next meeting.

The Members noted the submitted suggested list of people to interview and indicative list of on site activities during the inspection period.

 

It was felt that the Leader’s meeting could be a possible meeting for the inspectors to attend.

Matthew Gladstone presented the submitted report indicating performance clinics held for the following measures in 2005 :

 

BV 12             -           Sickness Absence

BV 99             -           Number of Road Accident Casualties

BV 106           -           New homes built on previously developed land

BV 156           -           Building accessibility

BV 163           -           Number of Adoptions

 

The report provided an overall update on the actions/outcomes resulting from the performance clinics and proposed future performance clinics to be held in early 2006.

 

Resolved:- That the report be noted and the proposed performance clinics be arranged accordingly.

Resolved:- (1) That the next meeting be held on Monday, 13th March, 2006 at 9.30 a.m.

 

(2) That a JAR representative be invited to future meetings of the Board leading up to inspection.