Agenda and minutes

To consider and approve the minutes of the previous meeting held on the 25^th July 2023 as a true and correct record of the proceedings.

Resolved: - That the Minutes of the meeting of the Improving Lives Select Commission, held on 25 July 2023 be approved as a correct record of proceedings.

To receive declarations of interest from Members in respect of items listed on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest.

To consider whether the press and public should be excluded from the meeting during consideration of any part of the agenda.

There were no items of business on the agenda that required the exclusion of the press and public from the meeting.

To receive questions relating to items of business on the agenda from members of the public or press who are present at the meeting.

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

To receive communications from the Chair in respect of matters within the Commission’s remit and work programme.

The Chair advised that all the items regarding communication were covered on the agenda.

To consider any updates from the Corporate Parenting Panel.

The Chair advised that the next meeting of the Corporate Parenting Panel was scheduled for the afternoon of the 12^th September 2023 and consideration would be given to the following items during the meeting:

         •         An update on Fostering Recruitment and Retention.

         •         An update on the Fostering Panel Review.

         •         An update on the Statement of Intent for Corporate Parenting.

         •         An update on the Independent Reviewing Officer Report.

         •         An update on the Local Authority Designated Officer Report.

         •         An update on Performance Monitoring for the period of quatre one, 2023/2024.

The Chair advised that a further update on this meeting would be provided to Members at the next Improving Lives Select Commission meeting.

The consider an update on the progress against the Written Statement of Action following on from the support and challenge meeting 5, with the Department for Education and the National Health Service England.

This item provided an update to members on the progress against the Written Statement of Action, following on from support and challenge meeting five, with the Department for Education and the National Health Service England.

The Chair welcomed the Cabinet Member for Children and Young People to the meeting. The Cabinet Member advised there had been many capital investments and improvements which were shared with the Commission at previous meetings. The Written Statement of Action judgement received in July 2021, had provided an opportunity for the service to be held to account and make improvements on the four areas of identified weaknesses. Re-assurance was provided that the service was in a much better place because of the improvements.

The Chair welcomed Nathan Heath, Assistant Director of Education and Inclusion, Tracey Jubb, Interim Head of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), Mark Cummins, SEND Project Lead and Jayne Fitzgerald, Strategic Manager for Rotherham Parent Carers Forum.

The Chair invited Nathan Heath and Mark Cummins to introduce the report and give the presentation.

The Assistant Director of Education and Inclusion advised that the accountability, challenge, and support provided to the service by the Improving Lives Select Commission, had directly impacted the Written Statement of Action. There had been a clear commitment by the service to ensure regular updates were provided to the Commission after every Department for Education meeting. The presentation would cover an update from the most recent meeting, meeting five. Meeting five was important as it included the sign off for the Written Statement of Action and the transition from improvement to business as usual. The importance of lived experience was highlighted, with a commitment provided that the service would continue to check and measure with lived experience at all appropriate points in the future.

The presentation gave an overview of the following content:

·       After the July 2021 inspection, it was identified that there were four main areas of weakness and as a result it was decided that Rotherham should have a Written Statement of Action.

·       The four main areas of weakness identified were as follows:

o   The variability in the quality of Education and Health Care Plans, including the contribution of health and social care partners.

o   The effectiveness of the graduated response to identify and meet children and young people’s needs, especially in key stages one and two.

o   The quality of provision for children and young people’s preparation for, and transition to, adulthood.

o   Communication with all parents and carers of children and young people with SEND about the local offer, and the accessibility of the very valuable information included within the local offer.

·       A comprehensive governance structure was in place and each area of identified weakness was led by a sub-group with its own membership, action plan and key performance measures. Monthly highlight reports were produced and presented to the SEND Executive Group, who ensured sufficient progress against the Written Statement of Action. Regular updates were provided to the CYPS Performance Board and SEND Partnership  ...  view the full minutes text for item 113.

To consider an update from the Rotherham Safeguarding Childrens Partnership regarding the 2022-2023 Annual Report.

The annual report reflects the partnerships commitment and achievements, as well as identifying areas that require continuous improvements, to ensure the Rotherham Safeguarding Childrens Partnership meet the overarching priorities of being Safe at Home, Safe in the Community and having Safe Safeguarding Systems.

This item provided an update on the Rotherham Safeguarding Childrens Partnership (RSCP) 2022-2023 Annual Report.

The Chair welcomed Laura Gough, Head of Service for Safeguarding Children and Families, Darren Downs, Independent Chair and Scrutineer of the Rotherham Safeguarding Children’s Partnership and Laura Koscikiewicz District Commander at South Yorkshire Police. The Chair invited Darren Downs to give the presentation.

The presentation gave an overview of the following content:

·       The report was very comphrensive and celebrated the achievements made, alongside the required improvements and future areas of focus. There was a real strength in the quality of the RSCP and the engagement levels within it.

·       Performance and scrutiny were area’s of improvement for the RSCP, this included a specific focus on measuring impacts.

·       There was a focus on the wider partnership in relation to challenge and accountability, specifically within the voluntary and community sector.

·       Capturing the voice of children was a key focus, this would include inviting young people along to the RSCP day, to be held in November.

·       In relation to the previous year, there had been excellent inspection grades across the RSCP, which were good indicators of the direction of travel. The Evolve Team had also received good grading throughout the Childrens Services Grading Inspection. South Yorkshire Police were graded as excellent in relation to protecting vulnerable people.

·       The RSCP had consulted on future priorities and the report detailed the four future priorities for the RSCP, which were, exploitation, neglect, performance and safeguarding. Each priority had a sub-group that reported to the partnership, these groups would continue to evolve over time.

·       The RSCP had a focus on continuing to develop the inspection work for audits, such as quarterly dip-sampling activities.

·       Rotherham would be hosting Safeguarding Awareness Week in November; this would promote the work completed in Rotherham across South Yorkshire. The RSCP was also in the process of developing an annual learning event, which would take place early next year.

The Chair thanked the officers for the presentation and invited questions, this led to the following points being raised during discussions:

·       The reduction in child protection plans was due to an increase in early intervention by the RSCP. There had been high investments into the Early Help Programme, in terms of resources and training for staff and wider community groups. The family group conference process and family group meetings had also been heavily invested in.

·       Training was an area of focus, specifically around digital safety which continued to evolve. Regular training was on-going for the RSCP.

·       There was internal training completed by all individual agencies and organisations within the RSCP. For example, South Yorkshire Police had held specific training around digital awareness and spotting the signs of exploitation.

·       The RSCP had focused on keeping children safe at home, safe in communities and ensuring safe systems. There had been situations where keeping a child safe within their home had been a better outcome in the long term for the child. Keeping a child within their home had  ...  view the full minutes text for item 114.

To consider and approve the Commission’s Work Programme.

The Committee considered its Work Programme, and the Chair provided the following update:

·       Elective Home Education had been removed from the Work Programme for the next meeting on the 31^st October 2023, as it was proposed that this be looked at as a sub-group.

·       The item on Domestic Abuse had been added to the Commissions agenda for the meeting on the 5th December 2023.

·       The Work Programme would be added to the agenda for each meeting for comment and refinement.

Resolved: - That the Work Programme for 2023-2024 be approved.

For the Chair/project group leads to provide an update on the activity regarding sub and project groups of the he Improving Lives Select Commission.

The Chair provided a progress report on sub and project group activity which included the following:

·       The sub-group for Elective Home Education was under construction and an expression of interest would be circulated to all members in due course.

Resolved: - That the update be noted.

To consider any item(s) the Chair is of the opinion should be considered as a matter of urgency.

There was no urgent business.

The next meeting of the Improving Lives Select Commission take place on the 31^st October 2023 commencing at 10:00am in Rotherham Town Hall.

The Chair advised that the next meeting of the Improving Lives Select Commission would take place on 31 October 2023 commencing at 10am in Rotherham Town Hall.

Resolved:- That the next meeting of the Improving Lives Select Commission take place on 31 October 2023 commencing at 10am in Rotherham Town Hall.