Agenda item

Report of the Interim Strategic Director of Children and Young People’s Services

Recommendations:-

1.    That Cabinet note the progress made.

2.    That approval be given to progress to phase two of the implementation plan, which incorporates the acquisition of three properties within the capped budget of £750, 000 and the recruitment of the associated staff to register and operationalise the homes.

3.    That a further report be presented to Cabinet on the submission of the Ofsted registration for the homes in phase two, and any requests for permission to move to phase three of the plan which will include an update on the financial implications.

Consideration was given to a report which provided a progress update on the in-house children’s residential development, which had previously been agreed by the Cabinet at its meeting on 17 February 2020, and detailed the financial implications for progressing to the next stage of development.

It was reported that the overall development responded directly the Council’s strategic intention to reduce external residential placements and ensure more looked after children and young people were placed within borough, closer to their family and community networks. The new provision, along with foster care, third party in-borough block contracts, semi-independent provision and other family-based placements, would provide a mixed economy of arrangements which will effectively meet the Council’s statutory duties, outlined in the Sufficiency Strategy 2019 - 2022. The development would enable the Council to invest in residential provision which would:

·         ensure more children and young people are placed in Rotherham close to their communities, families, friends and schools.

·         deliver improved outcomes for looked after children.

·         develop a service model that encourages step-down to family-based placements

·         provide a local response to the increasing demand for a range of residential placements.

·         provide greater flexibility and control of provision.

·         reduce placement costs and support the delivery of directorate savings.

The report detailed the progress made from 17 February 2020, which had been achieved within context of the COVID pandemic that had significantly impacted the internal and external working environment from the beginning of March 2020. Summary of progress is highlighted as:

·         A Registered Manager and Deputy Manager had been appointed and additional internal Registered Manager capacity had been re-configured to support implementation. Recruitment campaign had been successful and was on track to recruit the required staffing for phase one.

·         Two buildings were operationally ready for registration with Ofsted, including the required planning approval.

·         Registration of one provision had been submitted in mid-May and the second was ready and would be submitted when newly appointed Registered Manager was in place in July 2020.

It was noted that the report and proposals had been subject to pre-decision scrutiny by the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board on 10 June 2020, where Members had recommended:

1.    That Cabinet be advised that the recommendations be supported.

2.    That, subject to Cabinet approving the recommendations set out in the report, the benchmarking exercise by Members of Improving Lives Select Commission be continued, with interviews with Members from other authorities being prioritised to better inform the approach for the procurement process.

3.    That, in view of the individual personal circumstances of victims and survivors, the specification for the contract ensure that the re-referral process be expedited swiftly to ensure that service users receive timely support.

4.    That Improving Lives Select Commission monitor the effectiveness of the service and contract arrangements on an annual basis.

Resolved:

1.    That Cabinet note the progress made.

2.    That approval be given to progress to phase two of the implementation plan, which incorporates the acquisition of three properties within the capped budget of £750, 000 and the recruitment of the associated staff to register and operationalise the homes.

3.    That a further report be presented to Cabinet on the submission of the Ofsted registration for the homes in phase two, and any requests for permission to move to phase three of the plan which will include an update on the financial implications.

4.    That the recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board be accepted.