Agenda and minutes

To elect the Vice Chair for the Municipal Year 2022/23.

RESOLVED: that this item be postponed until the following meeting.

To approve and sign as a correct record the Minutes of the meetings held on 30 September 2021, 4 November 2021 and 31 March 2022, and to deal with any matters arising, attached.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 30 September 2021, 4 November 2021 and 31 March 2022 be approved and signed as a correct record.

It was noted that apologies had been received from Councillors J Bailey, A Bunday and Vaughan. Councillor D Galton joined the meeting as substitute for Cllr J Bailey.

Report of the Executive Director - Children and Learning, inviting the Panel to consider the latest version of the self-evaluation which was finalised in January 2022.

The Panel received the report of the Director, Legal and Business Services, which recommended that the Panel considered and challenged the latest version of the  self-evaluation.

The Cabinet Member for Children & Learning – Councillor Paffey; Robert Henderson, Executive Director - Children and Learning; and, Steph Murray, Deputy Director – Children and Learning with the consent of the Chair, addressed the Panel.

In discussions with the Cabinet Member and officers, the Panel noted the following:

•  The challenging financial climate whilst demand for services was rising. 

•  The comments contained within the LGA Peer Review relating to the confidence that the financial savings could be delivered in the timescales identified. It was recognised, following a review of statistical neighbours, that considerable savings could be achieved but Children’s Services would meet with Executive Directors and the Cabinet to assess the viability of budget adjustments moving forward.

•  The progress noted by Ofsted following their Annual Engagement meeting.

•  The expected improvement in outcomes from November 2022, following the  recruitment and induction of additional Social Workers.

•  The reduction in the use of agency Social Workers.

•  The request by Children’s Services and Learning to Ofsted for a focused visit or joint targeted area inspection (JTAI) this year to enable improvements to bed in.

RESOLVED that the Panel be provided with a copy of the final Ofsted Engagement Letter.

To consider the report of the Director of Legal and Business Services recommending that the Panel consider and challenge the performance of Children and Learning Services in Southampton.

The Panel received the report of the Service Director, Legal and Business Services, which recommended that the Panel considered and challenged the performance of Children and Learning Services in Southampton. 

The Cabinet Member for Children & Learning – Councillor Paffey; Robert Henderson, Executive Director - Children and Learning; Steph Murray, Jo Feeney, Performance Manager; with the consent of the Chair, addressed the Panel.

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

·  That  while a number of improvements were required to enable accurate performance indicator data monitoring, this would not affect monitoring of any child.

·  The number of contacts had increased by 25% in 21/22 compared with 20/21 activity.

·  A high number of cases progress to statutory case work rather than targeted early help.

·  A high volume of contacts come from the police, who have a statutory obligation to report all contact they have with a child, resulting in 2-300 reports per week. Those contacts need to be screened and where applicable, referred to the voluntary sector or to Early Help referrals.

RESOLVED:

1)  That the Performance Manager circulates the May 2022 performance data to the Panel when it has been verified.

2)  That, reflecting the importance of early intervention and diverting children away from statutory safeguarding services, the Panel consider the developing Early Help Service at a future meeting of the Panel.