Issue - meetings

The Panel received the report of the Executive Director of Children and Learning, which provided the Panel with and update on progress against the revised Children and Learning Improvement Plan.

Southampton City Council Officers, Robert Henderson, Executive Director for Children and Learning; Steph Murray, Deputy Director for Children and Learning: and Jo Feeney, Performance Manager for Children and Learning

were present and, with the consent of the Chair, addressed the Panel.

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

·  The improvement plan was clearly gaining momentum, with some good partnership working and governance from the Improvement Board.  The key priorities of the improvement plan were included in meetings with Service Leads and Team Managers.

·  A new set of Key Performance Indicators (KPI) had been developed that were bench marked with the national statutory indicators and will track the journey of the child from referral through to fostering or adoption or leaving care.

·  Some of the new KPI’s would have to wait for Care Director to go live as PARIS doesn’t have the capacity to capture that data.  A new performance infographic tool was also being developed, which may include digital access to the data.

·  The new set of KPI’s would be utilised in assurance audits and stretch and challenge sessions with Service Leads, both of which were being carried out on a weekly basis.

·  Care director would be launched in Jan- April, allowing any structural changes from the Destination 22 consultation to be incorporated. 

·  The new audit and performance reports would be developed taking into consideration feedback and comments from the Panel.

·  Feedback from the Support and Challenge advisor to the service had indicated the service was moving in the right direction.

·  This year the service had focused on getting the staffing structure in order and had embarked on the Destination 22 consultation.

·  Next year the service would be focused on getting the leadership and management team in place to provide the strategic drive to improve delivery.

RESOLVED: That, to provide greater context to the Children’s Social Care reduction model and targets, the Panel would be provided with information that presented the data and performance trends over a longer period.