Agenda item

Sue Wilson, Performance and Quality Manager, to report. 

Attached: -

Consideration was given to the report presented by the Performance and Quality Manager, Commissioning, Policy and Performance, Resources Directorate, and the Interim Service Manager, Safeguarding Children and Families, Children and Young People’s Services. 

The report informed Members of the Improving Lives Select Commission on the outcome and resulting action plan from the Ofsted inspection of Rotherham’s arrangements for the protection of children, which took place between 2nd and 11th July, 2012. 

The inspection report produced by Ofsted, and the Children and Young People’s Services Improvement Panel’s Action Delivery Plan that was produced in October, 2012, to address the 13 inspection recommendations, was considered by the Commission.  There was a timeline for addressing the recommendations: three were classed as requiring immediate attention, seven were required to be addressed within three months and three were required to be addressed within six months.   

Rotherham was the second local authority in the country to be inspected under the new Ofsted framework.  Overall, Rotherham had been judged to be Adequate, and had received four separate judgements: -

·         Overall effectiveness – Adequate

·         The effectiveness of the help and protection provided to children, young people and families and carers - Adequate

·         The quality of practice - Adequate

·         Leadership and governance – Adequate.

Inspectors agreed that there had been a series of improvements since 2009; some areas of good practice were identified, whilst in other areas Inspectors felt that it was too early to judge the changes that had been made.  This contributed to the overall grading.  Comments received on the work that the Local Authority demonstrated in relation to the Slovakian and Roma communities were that it was exceptional.   

Seven inspection reports had been published where inspections had been carried out under the new framework; four of these reports gave the local authority a grading of ‘Inadequate’. 

The inspection report confirmed that in Rotherham there was a commitment of all staff to keep children and young people safe and ensuring their wellbeing. 

In preparation for Ofsted’s future revised inspection framework that assessed all multi-agency partners, the action plan had been developed alongside partner organisations.  A learning event was held on 28th September for all partners to challenge each other, develop case studies and confirm priorities for improvement.

A multi-agency referral form had been redesigned and issued to partners to use when making referrals to children’s social care.  This would ensure that referrals followed a standardised format and met the criteria for referral to social care. 

Discussion ensued, and Members of the Improving Lives Select Commission made reference to the following issues: -

·         Was the action plan on target to meet its deadlines? – The action plan was on target and monthly publications of revised policies was taking place;

·         Would meeting all of the recommendations on the action plan give Rotherham a Good grading? – The action plan responded to the recommendations highlighted in the inspection and meeting these would not automatically bring Rotherham into a Good grading.  However, as part of the action plan, all of the Children and Young People’s Services partners were now fit for the new Ofsted Inspection framework.  Efforts would be ongoing to ensure Rotherham became at least a Good rated service;

·         What was the external message provided following this outcome? – The inspection outcome demonstrated that there was a secure Service for children, young people and families which was boosted by its focus on providing early help;

·         What was the Council doing to reinforce this message and provide reassurance to members of the public that children in Rotherham were being kept safe? – It was confirmed that there was shortly to be a position statement posted on the website in relation to sexual exploitation.  This was intended to provide useful reassurance and guidance to communities concerned about the issue;

·         What other ways had the Service prepared for inspections? – Children and Young People’s Services had been members of the Local Government Association’s Peer Support programme and had worked with other local authorities as a critical friend;

·         Did any long-term social work vacancies now exist within the Service and why had the agency and out-of-authority placement budgets slightly overspent? – There were no long-term social work vacancies in the Service, which had reduced from fifty, and was a result of the Authority’s efforts in recruitment and retention and ‘grow your own’ social work initiatives.  There was around 8.9 vacancies being filled through agency staff but efforts were underway to permanently recruit to these posts.  There were currently 426 looked after children, which had risen from just under 400 children;

·         Could the Service continue its upwards trajectory in a time of cuts? – The Service was currently stable and children were being protected from harm.  Further planned changed to Welfare Benefits would be a critical time for the Service. 

Resolved: -  (1)  That the report be received and its content noted.

(2)  That a further report in relation to progress against the action plan be presented to the Improving Lives Select Commission in six-months’ time.