9 Children and Learning - Performance PDF 280 KB
Report of the Scrutiny Manager recommending
that the Panel consider and challenge the performance of
Children’s Services and Learning in Southampton.
Additional documents:
Minutes:
The Panel considered the report
of the Scrutiny Manager recommending that the Panel consider and
challenge the performance of Children’s Services and Learning
in Southampton.
Councillor Winning –
Cabinet Member for Children and Learning and Robert Henderson -
Executive Director Wellbeing (Children & Learning) were in
attendance and, with the consent of the Chair, addressed the
meeting.
The Panel discussed a number of
points including:
- The increase in referrals over a
period of time. Conversations are being held with partners to
ensure referrals are appropriate and data is being
interrogated.
- The number of assessments is high
compared to Southampton’s statistical neighbours. An audit is being undertaken to understand this
and why 50% of referrals currently result in no further
action.
- Levels of re-referrals are too high
questioning whether cases are being closed too early, plans are not
working effectively, or social work professional have been too
optimistic in their decision making. A
deep dive audit of re-referrals is being undertaken.
- The potential effect of the recent
Ofsted inspection on the latest performance figures.
- How longer term data would enable
the Panel to identify trends more effectively in performance,
especially when the results may be affected by a seasonal
issues.
- The Service’s use of a forward
plan schedule for internal audit to identify areas in need of
improved performance.
RESOLVED
- That, to enable
trends to be identified, performance data outlining the rate of
re-referrals over a longer time period is circulated to the
Panel.
- That, to enable key
issues to be identified, a highlight report is attached to the
monthly performance dataset presented to the Panel.
- That the
Children’s Services forward plan of audit activity is
circulated to the Panel to help plan future agendas of the
Panel.