Issue - meetings

To receive and consider a report containing the Children’s Services Key Performance Indicators.

The Committee considered the Children’s Services Performance Indicators report which was set out in Agenda pages 15-26.  Viki Elliott-King, Service Manager Intelligence and Impact People Services presented the report highlighting the red indicators.

The following comments were made during her presentation:

1.  EA1i: Percentage of Wokingham Borough State-Funded Primary Schools with a current Ofsted rating of ‘Good’ or better

Viki Elliott-King stated that this indicator had deteriorated as a result of two schools (Radstock Primary and Emmbrook Junior) having been judged ‘Requires Improvement’, and one school (Beechwood Primary) having been judged as ‘Inadequate’.  All three of these schools were previously rated as ‘Good’.  They had been identified as being at risk by the Local Authority and work was being undertaken to support the schools.

2.  EA2: Percentage of children who attend a Wokingham state-funded school (Primary, Secondary or Special) which is ‘Good’ or better

Viki Elliott-King stated that the reason for this indicator was the same as for EA1i.

3.  EA11: 12-Month rolling voluntary turnover of qualified Social Workers within Children’s Social Care and Early Intervention Service (new indicator)

Carol Cammiss, Director of Children’s Services stated that a Task and Finish Group had been set to identify actions to improve the recruitment and retention of Social Workers. 

In response to a question Carol Cammiss stated that it could take approximately 12 months to see improvements.

In response to a question Carol Cammiss stated that Wokingham compared favourably with Reading and less favourably with the other neighbouring authorities.  However, the difference was not too significant and Wokingham had small numbers of staff.

4.  VP4: Percentage of referrals in 2018/19 which are repeat referrals within 12 months of the previous referral to Children’s Social Care

Viki Elliott-King stated that it was not unusual for referrals and repeat referrals to increase at this time of the year, before the schools are closed for the summer holidays.

In response to a question Viki Elliott-King stated that 399 referrals were received in total, and of those 94 were repeat referrals in the last quarter.

5.  VP7: Percentage of children leaving care who achieved permanence (adopted, returned home or special guardianship order is granted)

Viki Elliott-King stated that in Quarter 2, four of the ten children leaving care achieved permanence.  The other six children left care at the age of 18; three moving into independent living, one staying put with their foster carer, and two remaining in residential placement due to health needs.  Those who leave care at the age of 18 have a transition plan in place.

Estelle Kellaway, Acting Assistant Director for Early Help and Safeguarding stated that there was a mixture of arrangements for children leaving care, with a number of children participating in the ‘Staying Put’ programme.

6.  VP8: Percentage of child protection visits due in the period which were completed on time (within 10 days of the previous visit)

Viki Elliott-King stated that the reason for this red indicator was mainly due to issues with the recording of visits, due to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 23