Agenda item

-        Sue Wilson, Commissioning, Performance and Quality, to present

Further to Minute No. 17 of 23^rd September, 2015, Michelle Hill, Performance Assurance Officer, presented a report detailing recent and current external audits and inspections including the details of arrangements that were in place regarding the accountability and governance for implementing any recommendations that arose.

The following update was given:-

Adult Social Care

-          Netherfield Court (intermediate care provider) – unannounced visit took place on 7^th October, 2015.  The written report was awaited but verbal feedback was very positive

-          Treefields Close (Learning Disability Respite Service) – overall rating of Good awarded following an unannounced inspection on 14^th and 15^th July, 2015.  There was one recommendation outstanding regarded a registered manger.  However, the registration process of the new manager had commenced and sign off by the CQC expected by December, 2015

-          Quarry Hill Road (Learning Disability Respite Service) – inspected on 11^th and 20^th August, 2015 and awarded an overall rating of Good with one area “is the service caring” rated as outstanding

-          Overall Adult Services had a satisfactory compliance record with standards subject to inspection.  Work had commenced to review current inspection governance arrangements including the stronger practices now implemented in CYPS to further strengthen its arrangements for preparing for inspections and responding to their outcomes

Children and Young People’s Improvement Plan

-          The Plan had undergone a substantial review

·           focussing on delivering the actions and outcomes in response to the twenty-six recommendations made by Ofsted (these would remain in place and “open” until the Secretary of State for the Department for Education made a decision for Rotherham to come out of intervention and was satisfied that all the requirements had been met)

·           aligned to the journey of the child, more closely to Ofsted key judgements for a “good” service and improvement priorities identified by Commissioner Newsam in the letter to the Minister in July, 2015

-          Included documented evidence, progress against outcomes and stronger accountability through Assistant Directors as ‘owners’

-          Performance monitored by the Children’s Improvement Board

Rotherham’s Residential Children’s Homes

-          Silverwood and Liberty House (short breaks) had current Ofsted ratings of Good

-          Cherry Tree (disability) – current Ofsted rating of Requires Improvement

-          Woodview – current Ofsted rating of Inadequate – closed until further notice

-          St. Edmunds – current Ofsted rating of Inadequate.  A further inspection to take place shortly which, given robust management action taken, an improvement was anticipated

Economic Development Services and Housing and Neighbourhoods Services

-          External peer health checks programme, led by the LGA, commenced

-          The EDS Directorate had committed to review current inspection governance arrangements to further strengthen its arrangements for preparing for inspections and responding to their outcomes

Finance and Corporate Services

-          The External Auditor issued a range of reports each year which were presented to the Audit Committee e.g. External Audit Plan, Annual Audit Letter

-          Audit of the Council’s 2014/15 claim was underway

Resolved:-  (1)  That the governance arrangements that were currently in place for the monitoring and managing of recommendations from external audits and inspections be noted.

(2)  That regular reports in relation to external audit and inspections and progress in implementing recommendations be submitted to the Audit Committee.