Agenda item

To provide an update on Children’s Services Improvement Journey following the Ofsted ‘focused visit’ in October 2020.

The Chair of the Children and Young People’s Partnership Board  and the Interim Corporate Director, Children’s Services 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 purpose of the Report was, at the Request of the Chair of the Committee, for an update to be provided on the progress of the Action Plan, following the Ofsted ‘focused visit’ in October 2020.

Sufficient improvements in Children’s Services had been made in the last few months to be able to confirm an upwards trajectory. This had been confirmed in audits (now called practice reviews), which demonstrate a clear month-on-month improvement both in performance and in the quality of practice. These practice reviews had been carried out independently of line management to ensure ‘we are not marking our own homework’. Having said that, the pace of improvement needed to quicken in some delivery areas, as set out in the report’s ‘Challenges Ahead’ section.

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

·        The Committee was advised that the improvement grading reflected the four Ofsted ratings.

·        The Committee discussed the validated audits of practice reviews which commenced in December in a systematic programme by two experienced auditors from other local authorities.

·        A Member welcomed the presentation and work to date and requested the Committee receive more detailed information on targets and whether they were being met.

·        In response to a concern that the Impact assessments had not been completed, the Committee was advised that the Report was populated in order to satisfy the Committee’s preference and that the next report could provide Key Performance Obsessions (KPOs), with much more technical detail and full details on the Impact assessments. Action - technical report to come to future Committee to include impact assessments.

·        The Committee was advised that the baseline had been set in December and that the Service was now showing month on month improvements to reduce inadequate and poor work practices.  The Committee noted that improvements had been shared with the cross party improvement group and some service improvements had been reported to Corporate Parenting Board. 

·        The Committee wanted to thank all the Officers and staff for their commitment and work to date in improving the Service.

·        In response to a query regarding the learning hub model, the Committee was provided with information on how this was being achieved and that greater emphasis was being placed on systematic learning, accessibility and ensuring change was well implemented

·        Staffing and the differences between agency and permanent staff was discussed together with the positive result of the pandemic which had resulted in three senior managers being recruited who did not live in BCP and could work agilely.  The Committee was highlighted what was required to recruit permanent staff including a good reputation, supportive team managers, low caseload and good supervision.

·        The Committee was advised of the challenges ahead which included how long until improvements would translate into measurable improvements seen by children and young people being worked with. 

·        The Interim Corporate Director, Children’s Services confirmed the fifteen-point Action Plan would be circulated to the Committee as a refresher. Action.

The Chair summarised the discussions as follows:

·        Ofsted ratings and numbers of audits and improvement being made and measured

·        A technical Report would come to the Committee, which would include the KPOs and detailed impact assessments

·        The Learning Hub Model

·        Costing of staff and what was being done to improve retention

·        Measuring the improvements for children’s outcomes.

RECOMMENDED that Members note and scrutinise this update and suggest further improvements as this was a crucial improvement programme to get right.