Agenda item

To receive a report on Corporate Risk Management.

The Committee considered a report on Corporate Risk Management.

During the discussion of this item, the following points were made:

·         There had not been any significant changes to the Corporate Risk Register since the last iteration.  Some additional governance measures had been added to a number of risks.

·         The Director Children’s Services provided an update about Children’s Services.  The fact that the full impact of Covid was not known was a concern.  Children would potentially be one of the last to be impacted in terms of their development and pressures on family life.  Consideration had to be given to how the Children’s Services offered in the future, was shaped.

·         Staff in the service had done a great job during the pandemic.  As many face to face visits as could be carried out safely, including 100% of child protection visits, had been carried out during the first lockdown.  Services had continued to be delivered, some of this remotely.  Some parents had found the process of undertaking child protection conferences remotely, less stressful.  Attendance at multi agency meetings had improved as people did not have not to travel to attend.

·         Progress was been made about SEN and an SEN improvement plan was being developed.  A Quality Assurance system and auditing programme had also been developed.

·         Members were informed that Ofsted had made changes to the regulatory framework.  It was likely that the Council would receive a safeguarding during Covid, visit, during early spring. 

·         Councillor Soane commented that home schooled children often undertook activities outside school in order to socialise, many of which had been unable to be carried out during the pandemic.  He questioned the impact on the children’s mental heath and how any issues were being addressed.  The Director Children’s Services indicated that the Council was working with the voluntary sector where it could to support activities when appropriate.  The Council did assess elective home education offered to determine that a well-rounded education was being provided.  However, this was a voluntary process and parents had to agree to a local authority assessment.

·         Councillor Burgess asked how the safeguarding risk was being mitigated against, and noted that there had been an increase in reports of domestic abuse.  The Director Children’s Services commented that there had been an increase in the visibility in the community about being responsible and looking out for domestic abuse. Thames Valley Police had carried out a door knock of families known to be at risk, in a sensitive manner.  The position of Domestic Abuse worker for Children had been advertised and would sit in Children’s Services.  In addition, Children’s Services were funding a worker within the Berkshire Women’s Aid.

·         Mental health support teams in schools would going fully live in the new year.  A therapies in schools service was being also being developed.

·         With regards to children with autism or who used sign language, or required additional educational support, Councillor Shepard-DuBey asked how this had been managed during the pandemic.  She was informed that teaching assistants had been provided with the relevant PPE to support working in close proximity with children with SEN.

·         Respite centres had been kept open during the pandemic.

·         Councillor Shepard-DuBey commented that a number of children had had to socially isolate due to classmates having symptoms of Covid.  Those who did not have computers at home had been potentially disadvantaged.  The Director Children’s Services emphasised that schools were now set up for this situation and had contingency plans in place.  If a child had to self-isolate and did not have access to a computer at home, it was for the school to provide one temporarily.  Members were asked to inform her if they were aware of cases where this had not been the case.

·         Councillor Shepard-DuBey questioned whether SEND transport was still being paid and was informed that it was.  The appropriate guidance was being followed. 

·         With regards to the SEN team, Councillor Gee asked about staff morale and if there was sufficient permanence within the team to deliver the service.  The Director Children’s Services stated that this was a very difficult area to recruit to and to access high quality staff.  She felt that there was a difference between stability and permanence.  The team was stable and included some SEN locums.  Councillor Gee asked whether any of the locums would be put on to permanent contracts.  The Director Children’s Services advised that this would be offered where appropriate.

·         Councillor Burgess referred to the Climate Emergency risk and stated that the Climate Emergency Task and Finish Group had indicated that the Climate Emergency Action Plan needed further work.  A 6 monthly update had been agreed but had not been taken forwards.  The Assistant Director Governance agreed to feed back the comments made.  An Internal Audit of the Climate Emergency project would be undertaken.

·         Councillor Burgess asked what would be the main actions to reduce the financial risk.  The Head of Finance indicated that it could not be mitigated entirely as some factors such as the amount of government funding received, was outside of the Council’s control.

·         Councillor Burgess asked that the Brexit risk register be circulated to the Committee.

·         The Assistant Director Governance commented that he had no further update to give in relation to the housing risk.

·         Councillor Burgess commented that it had been agreed that the wording of the equalities risk would be amended to highlight the Covid related risks to this area.

RESOLVED:  That the risks and mitigating actions of the Council’s corporate risks as detailed in the Corporate Risk Register be considered and noted.