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 pressure with workloads.  Managers were aware of this issue and were working with their teams to make is simpler and easier for Social Worker to record visits.  Social Workers had now been given tablets to allow them to record visits more quickly.

In response to a question Carol Cammiss stated that there was no set national target in relation to child protection visits.  She informed that visits should be carried out in accordance with the child’s individual plan, and it was important monitor plans regularly.

Councillor Helliar-Symons, Executive Member for Children’s Services stated that some progress had already been made in relation to the recruitment and retention of Social Workers.  For example, the website had been updated and Social Workers were going to be given tablets to help with administrarion.

Councillor Helliar-Symons informed that there had been three meetings of the Social Worker Recruitment and Retention Task and Finish Group.  It was recognised that most local authorities gave Social Workers free parking, so the Group was looking at ways in which to facilitate parking for Wokingham Social Workers.  The Task and Finish Group was also looking at options around linking housing to recruitment, similar to the housing programme which was implemented a few years ago to house teachers near St Crispin’s school.

Councillor Helliar-Symons also informed that Oxford Brooks University was going to coming to Wokingham to carry out focus groups with the department, and to look at possible ways to attract and retain more Social Workers.  Also, there were ongoing negotiations with Hampers Resourcing Recruiting Centre, who wished to break in the South East, and would be able to help with recruitment.  She pointed out that it was very costly to recruit a Social Worker.

In response to a question, Carol Cammiss stated that due to the complexity for the work it was not possible to use non-qualified Social Workers to carry out visits. However, the service was looking at a range of options, for example how to facilitate recording and using other skilled workers to carry out non-statutory functions.

Carol Cammiss stated the service worked with universities and had a good programme to support newly qualified Social Workers.  She also stated that the national apprenticeship programme which was due to start next year was offering a qualification for Social Workers and this was being considered by the service.  Additionally, leaders were looking to build a succession plan and key workers housing.

In response to a question, Carol Cammiss stated that the service was looking at best practice in other local authorities.

In response to a question, Carol Cammiss stated that the level of risk and the level of experience would determine whether a Social Workers went on visits on their own or accompanied by someone else.

Members were interested to know how it took to train a Social Worker, Carol Cammiss stated that this varied.  Estelle Kellaway stated that Social Workers had their caseloads protected in their first year of work. 

In response to a question Carol Cammiss stated that the service’s aspiration was the Social Workers would stay in Wokingham for three to five years.

RESOLVED That:

1)     The report be noted; and

2)     The Committee would receive an update report on the work of the Social Worker Recruitment and Retention Task and Finish Group when available.