Issue - meetings

The Panel considered and noted 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, Steph Murray- Deputy Director Children’s Social Care and Laura Trevett- Strategic Performance Manager were in attendance and, with the consent of the Chair, addressed the meeting.

The Panel discussed a number of positive points set out in the paper including:

·  The decreasing number of children in unregulated settings;

·  The Increasing continuity of social workers for children looked after and on course to meet targets;

·  The embedding of good social work practice

In addition the Panel explored concerns over:

·  The rise in re-referrals;

·  The levels of supervision performance noting that this appeared to be lower than expected;

·  The rising number of children with safeguarding services recorded as Children in Need and with a Child Protection Plan.  It was noted that this reflected national trends but that the City appeared to be preforming better than its comparators.

The Panel also discussed progress with regards to the opening of the new SCC run children’s homes.