Issue - meetings

The Panel considered the report of the Service Director, Legal and Governance providing an overview of performance across Children and Families Services since August 2017.

Hilary Brooks, Service Director, Children and Families Services; Phil Bullingham, Service Lead - Safeguarding, Improvement, Governance and Quality Assurance and Jane White, Service Lead – Children’s Social Care were in attendance and, with the consent of the Chair addressed the meeting.  It was noted that changes relating to Phase 3 of the transformation process had created some instability but that performance was still holding up relatively well despite the upheaval. 

It was further noted that the number of Children In Need had risen steadily over the past few months and that the complexity of this cohort was increasing.  Phase 3 arrangements had created opportunities to target resources more effectively at this cohort, including a targeted diversion service.  Officers anticipated a reduction in the number of children recorded as Children In Need from January/February 2018. 

The Panel were informed that the timeliness of referrals dealt with by the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) had decreased from 91% in November 2016 to 57% in October 2017.  Officers identified staffing challenges as a contributory factor to the performance dip and confirmed that vacancies would be filled shortly.  Re-assurance was provided that throughout the period the MASH was prioritising responses in accordance with safeguarding concerns.

To help to recruit and retain social workers, and create a stronger identity of social work in Southampton, the Panel were informed of a working group that had been established by the Council to make Southampton an employer of choice. The Panel referenced the importance of appraisals in supporting the retention of social workers.

RESOLVED:

  (i)  That, statistics relating to completed appraisal rates across social work teams be provided to the Panel.