Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence from Councillors.

Apologies were received from Councillors Geary and Lewis. Councillor Dr Rice was absent.

To receive information on any changes in the membership of the Committee.

Note – When a member of a Committee is unable to attend a meeting of a Committee or Sub-Committee, the relevant Political Group Leader (or their nominated representative) may, by notice to the Monitoring Officer (or their nominated representative) prior to the meeting, appoint a substitute member from within the same Political Group. The contact details on the front of this agenda should be used for notifications.

Councillors Farquhar and Hilliard substituted Councillors Lewis and Geary.

Councillors are requested to declare any interests on items included in this agenda. Please refer to the workflow on the preceding page for guidance.

Declarations received will be reported at the meeting.

Councillor Hilliard declared an interest as Chair of Governors at Highcliffe School.

To confirm and sign as a correct record the minutes of the Meeting held on 8 June 2021.

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Children’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 8 June 2021, having been previously circulated, be confirmed as read, accurate and signed by the Chair subject to the amendment of the spelling of Councillor Rocca’s surname.

The Chair advised that any outstanding actions were being progressed and an information only report would be circulated after the Committee in relation to an update on Child Exploitation and County Lines.

To receive any public questions, statements or petitions submitted in accordance with the Constitution, which is available to view at the following link:

https://democracy.bcpcouncil.gov.uk/ieListMeetings.aspx?CommitteeID=151&Info=1&bcr=1

The deadline for the submission of a public question is 4 clear working days before the meeting.

The deadline for the submission of a public statement is midday the working day before the meeting.

The deadline for the submission of a petition is 10 working days before the meeting.

There were no public issues received on this occasion.

To receive a verbal update on the recent SEND Ofsted Inspection.

The Interim Corporate Director, Children’s Services was due to provide a verbal update on the SEND Ofsted Inspection, however advised that the Service had not received the written outcome so there was no information that could be shared at this time. It was noted that the SEND Improvement Board and Plan were in place and that the inspection had focused on those areas.

The Committee discussed the timescales for when Member briefings could take place and the process that would be followed upon receiving the initial letter and was advised that Member briefings would hopefully be arranged for early September.

This report outlines the Offer for vulnerable young people in BCP during the Summer holiday.  The Summer Offer will look to address mental health, gaps in learning, the lack of preparation for secondary school, exploitation and knife crime as well as ensuring that families have food during this period.

The Director of Education presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'B' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

The report outlined the Offer for vulnerable young people in BCP during the summer holiday.  The Summer Offer looked to address mental health, gaps in learning, the lack of preparation for secondary school, exploitation and knife crime as well as ensuring that families have food during this period.

The Committee discussed the Report and comments were made, including:

• There was a large amount of discussion surrounding the seasonal response and targeting anti-social behaviour through outreach work in specific areas. In response to a request, the Committee was advised that feedback from the Seasonal Response Officer would be sought and feedback at a future date. ACTION
• The PFH confirmed that 3000 hours of detached outreach work had been commissioned to provide support to the seasonal response.
• Clarification was provided about the difference between children being in receipt of Free School Meals (FSM) and the Health, Activity and Food (HAF) Scheme.  The Committee was advised of the number of children who would be able to access the HAF Scheme and what it involved and although this figure was less than those who were in receipt of FSM, food vouchers were available to all those who received FSM during the summer holidays
• The range of providers and activities offered were highlighted to the Committee
• In response to a query regarding whether the [       ] theatre group had signed up to the HAF fund, it was advised that most of the providers who had signed up had been aimed at primary school children however work to extend the ages provided for would be considered for the future.
• A Member highlighted the gap of activities for the 14-17 year old age group and wanted to advertise the activities being arranged by Festival Coast Live.  The Committee was advised that there was some funding left over which was going to be shared between youth groups and charities to help with the seasonal response.
• The Portfolio Holder with responsibility for Children and Young People advised the Committee that a piece of work was being commissioned to see what offer could be provided for young people and the results of that piece of work could be shared with the Committee when completed. Action
• In response to a query from a Member of Youth Parliament (MYP), the Director for Education confirmed that she would request feedback in September regarding how many students had engaged in the summer schools including whether students were consulted about the offer in place. ACTION.

The Chair summarised the discussion as follows:

• Discussed problem behaviours in hotspots and the seasonal response team
• Details of the providers who had signed up to provide the HAF offer
• The number of children who could take up the HAF offer
• Children in receipt of FSM being offered food vouchers for the summer holidays
• Festival coast live  ...  view the full minutes text for item 26.

To provide an update on progress of improvement work regarding the development of the Children’s Services Partnership Academy.

The Head of Quality Assurance, Governance and Improvement presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'A' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

To provide an update on progress of improvement work regarding the development of the Children’s Services Partnership Academy.

The Committee discussed the Report and comments were made, including:

• The Committee welcomed and praised the Academy’s objective to upskill current staff and train new ones and felt that it needed to be shared with the public
• In response to a query regarding capacity, quality of training and how long would it take for the impact/improvements be seen, the Committee was advised that this scheme was linked to the improvement journey and action plan and that a new Practice educator was working alongside the Social Workers to assess the quality of the work.  The Committee was advised that some improvements were already being seen but that further progress was expected.
• The Committee was advised that Social Workers of all levels were needed and that BCP had two agencies supporting it with recruitment.
• In response to a query regarding the Equality impact assessment and protected characteristics, the Committee was advised that this was an ongoing piece of work which would take time to complete
• In response to a query regarding how the Academy Partnership was going to be developed into a Centre of Excellence, the Committee was advised that it would be developed through the improvement journey, with good solid training and support and workforce development.  This would be measured through feedback regarding the lived experiences of staff and service users.
• In response to a query, an Officer advised of her experience and feedback of the toolbox which delivered some of the lived experiences, the Committee was advised that it gives people an understanding and depths of all different areas of Children’s services 
• MYPs interested to hear some of the experiences and messages.  Not seen any of training delivered.

The Chair summarised the discussions as follows:

• Capacity and whether large enough
• QA and different ways to do – what excellence looks like
• Good new story and should be comms
• Number of SW and how recruit and retain
• Shortage of SW and how would improve it.

RESOLVED that the content of this report was accepted as an update on progress to date.

To receive a verbal update from the Portfolio Holders.

The Portfolio Holder with responsibility for Covid Resilience, Schools and Skills highlighted that it had been an extraordinary year for children and young people across BCP and wanted to recognise the work of the professionals who worked with them and acknowledge that support for the children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing would be a main priority moving forward.

Any information only items will be circulated after the Committee.

The Chair advised that there would be an information only item circulated following the Committee regarding Child Exploitation.

To consider the Committee’s Forward Plan.

The Chair requested a briefing for the Committee to be informed regarding the Social Work website.

In response to a request that future items being considered at Committee could demonstrate how any work being undertaken was giving consideration to the recently considered Children’s and Young People Plan, the Chair advised he would discuss this further with Officers. ACTION.

To note the dates of future Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committees as follows:

·       21 September 2021

·       23 November 2021

·       25 January 2022

·       22 March 2022

All meetings will commence at 6pm and venues to be confirmed.

The Committee noted the dates of future meetings.