Agenda and minutes

The apologies of Councillor J Baillie and also of Appointed Members Rob Sanders and Catherine Hobbs were noted.

To approve and sign as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 27 September 2018 and to deal with any matters arising.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 27 September 2018 be approved and signed as a correct record.

The Panel considered and noted the report of the Independent Chair of the Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB)introducing the LSCB Annual Report 2017-18.

Phil Bullingham, Service Lead – Safeguarding, Improvement, Governance and Quality Assurance and Hillary Brooks, Service Director of Children and Families were present and with the consent of the chair addressed the meeting.

The Panel were informed that the Independent Chair of the LSCB had been called to attend a meeting with Government Ministers and therefore could not present the LSCB Annual Report 2017-18.  However, the officers present were able to outline the proposed changes to the partnership arrangements for safeguarding children and young people following the publication of statutory guidance.  The Panel noted that the LSCB had, in partnership with the 4 LSCB’s across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, developed a proposal for a Pan Hampshire oversight board with the opportunity for local sub groups.  The Panel were informed that any new structures would need to be in place by April 2019.

RESOLVED that the LSCB Annual Report 2017-18 would be considered at the Children and Families Scrutiny Panel in January 2019.

The Panel considered the report of the Director, Legal and Governance which provided an overview of performance across Children and Families Services since August 2018.

The Panel also noted the performance summary from the Chair and the response provided by the officers.

Hilary Brooks, Service Director of 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.  In discussion with officers it was noted that a review of front door decision making had been carried out and that the following has been undertaken:

·  an amendment to the data reporting,

·  liaison with the Police and Schools to improve the quality of requests for support received from these organisations and reduce the quantity of inappropriate contacts,

·  the development of a helpline within the front door service which provided a consultation line for professionals to obtain advice and support,

·  the delivery of support to partners through the early help service to improve use of early help assessments and

·  the implementation of improved checks that professionals had obtained appropriate consent to share information prior to contacting the front door service.

The Panel were informed that the Southampton Care Leaver Awards had been a successful event and that an app had been developed which was used by Care Leavers and their Personal Advisors to activate Pathway Plans and keep in touch.

RESOLVED that for the next meeting of the Panel:

  (i)  That consideration be given to providing the Panel with a demonstration of the new app developed to support care leavers;

  (ii)  That members of the Children and Family Scrutiny Panel be invited to the 2019 Southampton Care Leaver Awards;

  (iii)  That case studies highlighting positive examples where looked after children have returned to their parents are provided to the Panel; and

  (iv)  That consideration be given to how elected members could be utilised to support, mentor and advise care leavers. 

The Panel received and noted the report of the Director, Legal and Governance that enabled the Panel to monitor and track progress on recommendations made at previous meetings.

The Panel noted that the requested information about Education Attainment in Southampton and the SEND action plan had been circulated.

RESOLVED that consideration of FE colleges and SEND practice be included within the planned Post 16 education and skills agenda item at the meeting in March 2019.