Issue - meetings

The Panel considered the report of the Executive Director – Children and Learning which recommended that the Panel noted the progress and commented on the revised service vision and the developing Children and Young People’s City Strategy.

Councillor Barnes-Andrews, Cabinet Member in attendance;  and Robert Henderson, Executive Director Wellbeing (Children and Learning), Southampton City Council; were present and, with the consent of the Chair, addressed the Panel. 

In discussions with the officers, the Panel noted the following:

• The strategy had strong vision and clear values.
• That there would be meaningful consultation on the strategy with staff and stakeholders.
• That a new partnership board, with representation from a range of partners would be established to give stakeholders the opportunity to engage in decisions about service delivery.
• That plans for locality-based working required further development.
• The Practice Framework clearly identified five essential details that would be in every child’s file.
• That the implementation of five protected Continuing Professional Development days for all staff would be monitored.
• That Foster Carers are a key section of our workforce and should be included in the Workforce Academy.

RESOLVED

  (i)  That at a future meeting of the Panel, analysis would be presented that identified how many children’s files, from a sample of cases, include the ‘Southampton 5’- things we should see on every child’s file as identified in the Practice Framework.

  (ii)  That the Executive Director would consider how training for foster carers would be included in the development of the Workforce Academy.

  (iii)  That members of the Scrutiny Panel were invited to the 9 March 2021 workshop / seminar on becoming a Child Friendly City.