Agenda and minutes

To consider and approve the minutes of the previous meeting held on 30 July 2024, as a true and correct record of the proceedings and to be signed by the Chair.

Resolved: - That the Minutes of the meeting of the Improving Lives Select Commission, held on 30 July, 2024 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 a verbal update from the Vice-Chair on the recent Corporate Parenting Partnership Board meeting.

This item provided an update on the recent meeting of Corporate Parenting Partnership Board and the following was noted:

·       The Chair of the Board welcomed and introduced three newly elected Councillors who were now members of the Board. It was agreed that each Councillor would champion and lead on a specific corporate priority.

·       The Assistant Director for Childrens and Young Peoples Services (CYPS) presented a proposed draft Terms of Reference to the Corporate Parenting Partnership Board. The Board agreed on the terms, purpose, and responsibilities listed within the Terms of Reference.

·       The Performance and Business Intelligence Manager presented a high-level overview of the Performance Scorecard Report to the Board, which included a summary of performance for key indicators across the Looked After Children Services for Quarter One 2024/2025.

·       The Assistant Director for CYPS delivered a PowerPoint presentation on the Local Government Association Care Leavers Peer Review recommendations, which included the plan and progress made to date for Rotherham’s Care Leavers. It was noted that following Peer Review in March 2024, there had been a new Leaving Care Strategy, an updated Rotherham Sufficiency Strategy and the implementation of a Strategic 16 Plus Sufficiency Working Group.

·       The Children in Care Council (CICC) and the Leaving Care Forum were welcomed to the Board, the two groups represented the voices of children in care and those transitioning out of care. Both groups delivered a presentation to the Board which included their lived experience, their development as a group, and how they were participating in discussions on various aspects of corporate working.

·       The Head of Provider Services delivered a presentation on the recent changes to sixteen plus supported accommodation, this was an available placement option for children who were sixteen plus and had support needs and was based on a comprehensive assessment of needs. The Head of Service shared details of the new regulations that applied to this type of provision and how sufficiency was a key priority for the service, further details were shared about internal governance and how this was being monitored.

·       The next meeting of the Corporate Parenting Partnership Board would take place on 10 December 2024 and a further update would be provided to members at the subsequent Improving Lives Select Commission meeting.

The agenda item will provide an overview of the outcomes from the Ofsted Focused Visit to Rotherham Children’s and Young People’s Services on the 14-15 May 2024.

This item provided an overview on the outcomes from the Ofsted Focused Visit to Rotherham Children’s and Young People’s Services (CYPS) on the 14-15 May 2024.

The Chair invited Councillor Cusworth, Cabinet Member for Children’s and Young Peoples Services to introduce the report and the following was noted:

·       Since 2015 the Councils Childrens and Young People Services had progressed significantly, from an Ofsted judgment of adequate to obtaining and maintaining a good judgment.

·       There were still areas of challenge, however this visit had recognised all the progress and hard work the local authority had done.

·       The Ofsted Focused Visit Outcome letter stated that “the response to children who are subject to child in need and child protection planning is very effective. A stable senior leadership team is unstinting in its determination to make children in Rotherham safer and improve their outcomes”.

·       There had been a delay in publishing the letter, this was due to the local and national elections and the periods of purdah before each election.

·       The Cabinet Member thanked the elected members present for their leadership and cross-party political will, which had helped drive forward the improvements, ensuring a whole Council approach to children’s safety and well-being.

The Chair invited the Assistant Director for CYPS to lead on the presentation and the following was noted:

Background-

·       Following an inspection in July 2022 Ofsted judged Rotherham Children’s Services to be Good.

·       The report provided to the Commission outlined the findings from the Ofsted Focused Visit to Rotherham Children’s and Young Peoples Services on 14 and 15 May 2024.

·       The process took two weeks in total, and Inspectors evaluated the effectiveness of the following:

?   Performance management

?   Management oversight

?   Supervision for frontline practitioners

?   Quality assurance

?   Continuous professional development of the workforce.

Key Messages-

·       The headline findings recorded that the response to children who were subject to child-in-need and child protection planning was very effective. Strong corporate support ensured a whole-council approach to understanding children’s vulnerability and responding to risk and need.

·       It was recognised that senior leaders and council members were ambitious and aspirational for children subjected to children in need and child protection planning. There was a ‘whole council’ response to making vulnerable children a priority.

·       It was recognised that the local authority had a strong Children in Need and Child Protection Service, that appropriately and effectively assessed children and applied the right thresholds to ensure that children were protected, and needs were met.

·       There was clear extensive targeted support and early help that underpinned services. Partnership services were good and multi-agency staff were an important part at all stages of intervention. When immediate action was required to safeguard children, this took place swiftly.

·       Action planning following Ofsted inspections was overseen by senior leaders during the Change Management Board, with a clear focus on impact monitored via performance management and quality assurance.

Action Planning-

·       To support further improvement Ofsted identified that children’s unique needs and individual characteristics could better inform their plans. Senior leaders were already aware that this  ...  view the full minutes text for item 28.

To consider and approve the Commission’s Work Programme.

The Committee considered its Work Programme, and the following was noted:

·       The Work Programme had been updated and included additional items following the Chair and Vice-Chair Work Programme meeting in August.

·       Children’s and Young People’s Services would be holding a consultation session relating to the development of the SEND Strategy with members of the Commission. This would take place on 21 October between 11.00- 12.30pm and invites had been issued to members.

Resolved: - That the Work Programme for 2024/2025 be approved.

For the Chair/Project Group Leads to provide an update on the activity regarding sub and project groups of the Improving Lives Select Commission.

The Chair provided a progress report on sub and project group activity and the following was noted:

·       The Preparation for Adulthood Spotlight Review Recommendations Report was presented to the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board and the recommendations to be presented to Cabinet were approved.

·       Following discussions, the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board recommended that the Improving Lives Select Commission consider completing further work the high number of SEND figures within Rotherham’s and the impact this would have on budgets relating to transition to adulthood.

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.