Agenda and draft minutes

Resolved:- That the minutes of the meeting held on 23rd November, 2009 be approved as a correct record.

Julie Slatter, Head of Policy and Performance, presented the submitted report summarising the findings from the first round of CAA reports released on 9th December, 2009. Also submitted were the full reports.

CAA was an independent assessment by six inspectorates which set out how well local public services were tackling the major issues in Rotherham.

The report covered:-

• Area Assessment : setting out the areas of strength and areas of challenge for the borough by priority theme

• Organisational Assessment : setting out the areas of strength and areas of challenge for the Council by assessment in respect of (a) Use of Resources (incorporating managing finances, governs the business and managing resources) and (b) Managing Performance

• Way Forward

With regard to the Area Assessment, overall the Audit Commission had recognised that the Partnership had a good understanding of local communities which had led to responsiveness and focus on the right issues. The Audit Commission had indicated that they had confidence in potential to improve in that there was an effective local strategic partnership in place providing good leadership and there was a clear alignment of strategy and good performance management.

With regard to the Organisational Assessment, the Council had been rated 2 out of 4 performing adequately. The annual scores for Adult Social Care (4 out of 4) and Children’s Services (1 out of 4) had impacted heavily on the rating.

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

• teenage pregnancies

• making the ‘safe’ message easier to understand

• Children’s Services areas of strength and areas for development

• Use of Resources and workforce issues

• need for ‘round the table’ discussions on the key issues

Resolved:- That the information be noted.

Dave Roddis, Service Quality Manager, presented the submitted report summarising the results and findings of the 2008 Social Care Annual Performance Assessment (APA) process for Rotherham conducted by CQC which was published on 2nd December, 2009. Also submitted was the amended ‘sustaining excellence plan’.

CQC had assessed the quality of services as a Grade 4 ‘Performing Excellently’ where ‘people who use services find that services deliver well above minimum requirements’ and that it was ‘a service that overall delivers well above minimum requirements for people, is highly cost-effective and fully contributes to the achievement of wider outcomes for the community.

The result recognised the outstanding step change improvement made within adult social care over the last three years.

The report highlighted:-

• outcomes that had contributed to the ‘performing excellently’ rating

• outcome areas under which judgements were made

• performance rating for the seven areas for judgement covering 2007, 2008 and 2009

• key areas of strength affecting people using the services and noted within the CQC

• key areas for development identified within the report and contained within the ‘sustaining excellence plan’

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

• methods of achieving perception of safety

• areas for development

• amended ‘sustaining excellence plan’

• aim for plan to drive up performance from ‘well’ to ‘excellent’ as well as tackling areas for development

• need for a seminar to inform Council Members

Resolved:- (1) That the outcome of the assessment be noted and welcomed.

(2) That the ‘Sustaining Excellence Plan’, put in place to improve the areas for development identified in the report, be endorsed.

(3) That it be noted that the report would be shared with the Council’s external auditors (KPMG) which was also a requirement of CQC.

(4) That, following consideration by Cabinet, this issue be the subject of an all member seminar, hopefully in February.

Joyce Thacker, Strategic Director of Children and Young People’s Services, presented the submitted report indicating that Rotherham’s Children and Young People’s Service had been assessed as part of the Comprehensive Area Assessment 2009 and rated as ‘Performs Poorly’. A significant contributory factor was the Ofsted Inspection of Contact Referral and Assessment which took place in August, 2009.

As a consequence of the above, the DCSF had issued a Notice to Improve which was submitted. This was the lowest form of DCSF intervention. Issues raised were already being addressed as part of the Improvement Programme which was monitored regularly by the Children and Young People’s Services Improvement Panel, chaired by the Chief Executive.

Progress reports were reported routinely to the Cabinet Member for Children and Young People’s Services and the November highlight report, summarising areas of work completed and planned, risks and issues was also submitted.

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

• Notice to Improve Action Plan:

                                                                  -     Performance Measures

                                                                        -     Operational Targets

• overdue actions
• performance clinics
• vacancies and recruitment and retention issues
• use of agency staff
• links with schools
• status red issues

Resolved:- That the report and progress made against the Improvement Plan be noted.

Resolved:- That the next meeting be held on Monday, 8th March, 2010 at 10.00 a.m.