Agenda item

·         Performance and Quality Manager, Neighbourhood and Adult Services Directorate, to report. 

Consideration was given to the report presented by the Performance and Quality Manager (Neighbourhood and Adult Services Directorate) that outlined the progress against the partnership action plan called the Children and Young People’s Plan, which was created and monitored by the Children, Young People and Families’ Partnership. 

The Plan, which covered the period 2013-2016, was no longer statutory, but it was considered good practice to have one.  The Plan had six priorities: -

·         We will ensure children have the best start in life;

·         We will engage with parents and families;

·         We will reduce the harm to children and young people who are exposed to domestic abuse, alcohol/substance misuse and neglect;

·         We will focus on all children and young people making good progress in their learning and development;

·         We will target support to families in greatest need to help access learning/employment opportunities.

In addition, the priority “We will work with partners to eradicate child sexual exploitation” was also one of the six priorities and was monitored as part of the Rotherham Safeguarding Children Board.

Monitoring took place twice a year to highlight progress made on delivering the actions.  Progress against the actions had been assigned a RAG rating. 

The data submission included a performance monitoring report and case studies of successful interventions. 

Overall, of the 159 actions, 25% were rated as Green, 65% were rated as Amber, and 10% were rated as Red. 

The performance at each priority was considered and the Improving Lives Select Commission asked questions about the outcomes and performance.

Priority One: - We will ensure children have the best start in life: -

12 of the actions in this priority were rated as Green, 28.5 were rated as Amber and 11.5 were rated as Red.  

·         What work was being undertaken relating to ensuring that the prevalence of breastfeeding at 6 – 8 continued to increase?

·         Were pre-birth CAFs continuing to be initiated, as these really did influence healthy starts for children;

·         Best Start in Life audits conducted by Public Health;

·         Two-year old early entitlement – were the most vulnerable and hard to reach families accessing their entitlement?:

·         Obesity rates following the start of the universal infant entitlement to Free School Meals;

·         The take up of dental health was disappointing – what was stopping a better take-up?

Priority Two: - We will engage with parents and families: -

35 of the actions under Priority Two were rated as Green, 10 were rated as Amber and 1.5 were rated as Red. 

·         What was the impact of the Early Help Support Panel in working with families to ensure that they were receiving the appropriate level of interventions?

o   Further work was needed to promote the Panel and encourage practitioners to attend, which will improve intelligence gathering;

o   Promotion towards Health Visitors and Schools Nurses would be a focus;

o   The production of case studies that showed how the Panel could operate effectively would be really beneficial.  

Priority Three: -  We will reduce the harm to children and young people who are exposed to domestic abuse, alcohol/substance misuse and neglect: -

14 of the actions had been rated as Green, 8 had been rated as Amber and none had been rated as Red. 

·         What impact had the Integrated Youth Support Service training had on alcohol use?;

·         What impact would the peer review into neglect have?;

o   The peer review had been postponed in order to allow Officers to concentrate on the Ofsted inspection;

·         Social Care timelines and the length of time it took to get a management decision – were these being met and what impact did they have on outcomes for children.

Priority Four: - We will work with partners to eradicate child sexual exploitation: -

This priority was managed by the Rotherham Local Safeguarding Children’s Board and had its own dedicated sub-group focussing on child sexual exploitation consisting of the Chief Constable, senior service representatives and National Working Group representatives. 

·         There was a quarterly progress report on issues relating to CSE that was considered by the Cabinet;

·         The National Working Group had awarded the team in Rotherham an award based on current practice, which was recognised as some of the best in the country;

·         The Jay Report would be scrutinised fully at a later date;

·         The Multi-Agency Support Hub team was starting to gel together to ensure intelligence was shared and appropriate responses were made. 

Priority Five: - We will focus on all children and young people making good progress in their learning and development: -

4.3 of the actions had been rated as Green, 23.3 had been rated as Amber and 2.3 had been rated as Red on this Priority. 

The Improving Lives Select Commission would have a meeting focussed on this Priority in the future. 

Priority Six: - We will target support to families in greatest need to help access learning/employment opportunities: -

Six of the actions for Priority 6 had been rated as Green, 33 had been rated as Amber and one had been rated as Red. 

·         A critical post had not been back-filled during the long-term sickness of the postholder.  This was concerning.

o   This work had been picked-up by other staff members in the Education Welfare Team as part of an enhanced approach.  Funding for this post had ceased in July, 2014. 

o   The use of apprentices to support critical areas of work and also act as role models.

·         Only 28% of teenage mothers were accessing learning. 

o   Alternative arrangements were in place for teenage mothers and the Integrated Youth Support Service had a contract with GROW to provide one-to-one support with teenage mothers in education. 

Resolved: -  (1) That the report be received and the progress made in monitoring the Children and Young People’s Plan be noted. 

(2)  That the Improving Lives Select Commission receive a further update in early 2015.

(3)  That consideration be given to conducting a spotlight review on the Council’s use of apprentices.