Issue - meetings

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

Stephen Goss, Performance Leader Intelligence and Impact presented the Children’s Services Performance Indicators.

The Committee reviewed each dashboard indicator and some of the comments made during the discussions are listed below.

Dashboard 1 – Education Health and Care Plans (EHCP)

·           Stephen Goss stated that the number of EHCPs had been completed within the 20 week of the referral target had increased;

·           Members were pleased with the progresses in the timeliness of completion of EHCPs.

Dashboard 2 – Early Help

·           Stephen Goss stated that the numbers in relation to referrals for Early Help fluctuated during the year.  However, the numbers had increased as a result of lockdown;

·           Stephen Goss stated that the average length of time taken to complete Early Help assessments had risen in Quarter 4;

·           Adam Davis stated that a Task and Finish had been set up to look at ways to improve the service and work with partners.  The Early Help Strategy was being developed, however, this had been delayed because of Covid-19;

·           Councillor Mickleburgh asked for information in regards to the complexity of referrals and how the new way of working from home was affecting the service;

·           Adam Davis stated that complex cases and where the level of concern was high, would be dealt with by Social Care; he also stated that a lot of the work undertaken by Early Help had moved online and some capacity had been created as a result of working from home.  He stated that the Covid-19 related questions would be dealt with in more detail at the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee.

Dashboard 3 – Children’s Social Care Front Door

·           Stephen Goss stated that the number of contacts had increased;

·           Adam Davis stated that with the increased number of staff now working from home, there had been a lot more virtual work; some staff who had been shielding still managed to maintain a certain level of activity by working from home;

·           Stephen Goss stated that the level of staff permanency had improved and this was reflected in various areas of the service.

Dashboard 4 – Child Protection

·           Stephen Goss stated that despite the current difficulties, the number of visits undertaken within the timescales had improved;

·           Councillor Cheng asked what planes were put in place to prepare for the lockdown.  Adam Davis stated that when it became apparent that the lockdown would be implemented, the service had reviewed all cases and sustained the level of statutory child protection visits.  An assessment was made to determine where PPE would be needed, WhatsApp was downloaded into the staff phones and visits moved online where possible. A visit was only suspended if a family was presenting symptoms, in such instances the service would weigh up the risk of the visit to staff and the risk to the child;

·           In response to a question Adam Davis stated that most visits were planned and not random, depending on the case;

·           Councillor Mickleburgh expressed concern around children’s safeguarding, and potential increase in vulnerability during the lockdown, and asked  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11