Agenda and minutes

To consider and approve the minutes of the previous meetings held on 9 and 22 March as a true and correct record of the proceedings.

Resolved: - That the Minutes of the meetings of the Improving Lives Select Commission, held on 9 and 22 March 2021, 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.

Resolved: -

That under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the public be excluded from the meeting for during the presentation on the Pause Project on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

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.

There were no communications.

The Cabinet Member for Children and Young People’s Services, the Strategic Director - Children and Young People’s Services, the Assistant Director  – Children’s Social Care and the Pause Practice Lead attended the meeting to provide a progress report on the Pause programme and on the second cohort of women who had accessed the programme.

In introducing the report, the Cabinet Member for Children and Young People’s Services noted that in October 2017 a proposal to introduce the Pause Project in Rotherham had been presented to the Improving Lives Select Commission where members had been supportive of the recommendation to set up a Pause Practice in Rotherham. The Cabinet Member advised that the report provided information on the work of the Project since the last progress report to the Improving Lives Select Commission in March 2020 as well as detailing the impact of the pandemic on its operation.

The Cabinet Member noted the independent evaluation, that had included Pause Rotherham, that had been commissioned by the Department for Education and carried out by the University of Sussex, in partnership with Research in Practice and Ipsos Mori had been published in November 2020. This evaluation had found that the Pause Programme was effective in making a positive difference in women’s lives, improving their relationships with children, reducing rates of infant care entry in local areas and delivering cost savings for local areas. Pause Rotherham was one of the sites who were included in the evaluation.

The Assistant Director – Children’s Social Care noted that Pause worked with women who had experienced, or were at risk of, repeat removals of children from their care, supporting them to make positive choices, helping them to improve their relationships with their children and in helping to prevent further children being taken into care. The Assistant Director noted that a wide range of methods had been used to engage with the women on the Project during the pandemic but noted the challenges of providing a relationship-based programme of support in such difficult circumstances.

The Assistant Director advised since the last report had been presented to the Improving Lives Select Commission that the first cohort of had women successfully transitioned on with many of these women achieving a number of positive changes within their lives. It was also noted that a small number of the women who had accessed the programme towards the end of 2019 had also successfully transitioned on. The Assistant Director advised that the joint funding arrangement that was in place in place between the Council and the CCG would be reviewed during the coming 12 months.

The Assistant Director advised that here were currently eight women who were currently engaged on the programme, who between them had had 20 children removed from their care, and that in addition there were a further eight women who were in the ‘Engaging’ phase. It was noted that 50% of the women on the programme had previously been in the care system and that in total since 1  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

To consider and approve the Commission’s Work Programme.

The Committee considered its Work Programme for 2021/22.

Resolved: -

1)    That the Work Programme be updated as discussed.

2)    That the Work Programme for 2020/21 be approved.

3)    That members email suggestions for topics for consideration for addition to the Work Programme to the Chair and the Governance Advisor.

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.

Resolved: -

1)    That the update be noted.

2)    That members contact the Governance Advisor with expressions of interest in taking part in the sub-group review surrounding the Council’s Early Help Offer.

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

There were no urgent items of business.

The next meeting of the Improving Lives Select Commission take place on Tuesday 27 July commencing at 10am in Rotherham Town Hall.

Resolved: - That the next meeting of the Improving Lives Select Commission take place on Tuesday 27 July 2021 at 10am at Rotherham Town Hall.