To confirm the record of the meeting of the People (Children) Scrutiny Panel held on Thursday, 25 February 2016 (previously circulated).

The minutes of the meeting of the People (Children) Scrutiny Panel held on 25 February 2016, copies of which had been previously circulated, were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

In accordance with the Regulations, Members are invited to declare any personal or prejudicial interests they may have and the nature of those interests in respect of items on this Agenda and/or indicate if Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 applies to them.

(i)            Mr Walters declared a (personal?) interest in respect of Agenda Items 8a and 8b by virtue of the fact his wife worked at Oakham Church of England Primary School and The Parks School and, in relation to Agenda Item 12 by virtue of the fact he was currently caring for a child in care.

(ii)          Mr Conde declared a(personal?) interest in respect of Agenda Item 11 by virtue of the fact his son was a soldier based at Kendrew Barracks.

To receive any petitions, deputations and questions received from Members of the Public in accordance with the provisions of Procedure Rule 217.

The total time allowed for this item shall be 30 minutes.  Petitions, declarations and questions shall be dealt with in the order in which they are received.  Questions may also be submitted at short notice by giving a written copy to the Committee Administrator 15 minutes before the start of the meeting.

The total time allowed for questions at short notice is 15 minutes out of the total time of 30 minutes.  Any petitions, deputations and questions that have been submitted with prior formal notice will take precedence over questions submitted at short notice.  Any questions that are not considered within the time limit shall receive a written response after the meeting and be the subject of a report to the next meeting.

No petitions, deputations or questions had been received from members of the public.

To consider any questions with notice from Members received in accordance with the provisions of Procedure Rules No 219 and No. 219A.

Two questions had been received from Mrs Burkitt.  A hard copy of the questions and the responses were distributed to members.

QUESTION 1

The first concerns looked after children and the 'misuse and abuse' of Section 20 as outlined in the article in Children and Young People Now. Has the Council had any problem in regard to this?

ANSWER 1

The judge’s comments and the subsequent guidance from the ADCS arose in the main from local authorities persuading parents to allow their child to be received into care voluntarily when there were child protection concerns rather than being tested through the courts. Children were often subsequently being made subject to care proceedings after long periods of drift in care. In Rutland we have reviewed all children in voluntary care to ensure that there are no children who fit these circumstances. A review of all children in care under 10 shows we currently have no children in voluntary care; those under 10 are all subject to care proceedings. We work closely with our legal advisors to ensure the appropriate legal route is used in all cases.

In short, therefore, the answer is no.

QUESTION 2

Children’s services leaders issue warning on voluntary care orders. 

All local authorities must ensure that looked-after children are not suffering harm as a result of being placed in care on a voluntary basis by their parents, children’s services leaders have said.

The call follows concern within the family courts regarding what has been called ‘the misuse and abuse’ of Section 20 (s20) agreements by local authorities under the Children Act 1989.

http://www.cypnow.co.uk/cyp/news/1156714/children-s-services-leaders-issue-warning-on-voluntary-care-orders

DfE announces £200m funding for social care innovation programme. 

A total of £200m will be made available for local authorities and charities to test innovative ideas for children’s social care over the next four years, it has been announced.

http://www.cypnow.co.uk/cyp/news/1156719/dfe-announces-gbp200m-funding-for-social-care-innovation-programme

Has the Council any plans to take advantage of the £200m announced for children's social care?

ANSWER 2

The Department for Education has announced funding for a social care innovation programme (April 2016).  A total of £200m will be made available for local authorities and charities to test innovative ideas for children’s social care over the next four years. Details are still sketchy, but areas of transformation where Rutland County Council may benefit from additional innovation capacity include our children's social care duty 'front door' system, our Signs of Safety programme and children's mental and emotional health service provision. As details of the scheme become clearer, the People Directorate will work with the Portfolio Holder on options for a bid (either a single LA bid or in tandem with other authorities and/or voluntary and community sector bodies) into the fund, and the Director will feed back to scrutiny on options and progress at a forthcoming Scrutiny Committee.

AGREED that Dr O’Neill send Mrs Burkitt information regarding Rutland children who were over the age of 10 and in care.

To consider any Notices of Motion from Members submitted in accordance with the provisions of Procedure Rule No 220.

No Notices of Motion had been received from Members.

To consider any matter referred to the Panel for a decision in relation to call in of a decision in accordance with Procedure Rule 206.

In accordance with Procedure Rule 206, no matter was referred to the Panel for a decision in relation to the call-in of a decision.

To receive Report No. 99/2016 from the Director for People

The report will be presented by Mr Carl Smith, Principal at Casterton College Rutland

Report No. 99/2016 was received from the Director for People.  As Chair of the Rutland SACRE board, Miss Waller introduced the report.  She gave apologies for Mr C Smith who was unable to attend the meeting and introduced Mrs Davis, Headteacher at Exton & Greetham CE Primary School and Miss Eve Pavitt, Head Girl at Harington School who briefed attendees on the SACRE Annual Report 2014/15. 

During discussion the following points were noted:

a)    SACRE was a statutory body and had a requirement to report annually to the People (Children) Scrutiny Panel.

b)    At ‘A’ level, the study of ‘Religious Education’ was called ‘Philosophy and Ethics’.

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Mr G Sayers joined the meeting at 7.12 p.m.

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c)    Rutland schools were working hard to enable pupils to experience different communities and faiths.

d)    There was no legal requirement for pre-schools to include Religious Education in their programme but Rutland SACRE would consider this request.

e)    There were still vacancies on the Rutland SACRE board but they now had an excellent new clerk and a new Local Authority Officer, though her support to SACRE was time limited.

f)     Contacts representing other faiths to be sent to Miss Waller in order that invitations could be sent to join the membership of the Rutland SACRE board.

1.    AGREED that the Panel NOTE the content of the Report.

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Mrs M Davis, Miss E Pavitt and Mr G Sayers left the meeting at 8.13 p.m.

Mr A Walters left the meeting at 8.14 p.m. and did not return.

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Report No. 94/2016 from the Director for People was received.  The Report was introduced by Mr M Fowler, the Council’s Head of Learning and Skills, and a briefing was given by Mr S Cox, Executive Head Teacher of Oakham Church of England Primary School and The Parks School, and Mr N Cooper, Chair of Governors at Oakham Church of England Primary School and The Parks School.

During discussion, the following points were noted:

a)          The Parks School

(i)        The leadership team was the same for both schools.

(ii)       An on-line Cloud system had been installed and was proving to be a real strength.

(iii)      Each child’s ‘learning journey’ book had been amended.

(iv)      A learning cabin and extra playhouses had been installed outside for children to use.

(v)       Panel members thanked Mr Cox and Mr Cooper for all their hard work and passed on their thanks and congratulations to all the school’s staff.

b)         Oakham Church of England Primary School

(i)        Mr Cox had joined as the new Executive Head Teacher only a few weeks before the Ofsted inspection.

(ii)       The school had been on a three-year downward trend but a lot of hard work had been done in the run-up to the inspection.

(iii)      The school had a lack of focus on learning but Mr Cox had implemented many changes.

(iv)      The timetable had been changed – school worship moved to the end of the day and the lunch break shortened, which had resulted in an extra two hours learning every day for students.

(v)       Staff training days had been held, which had improved teaching skills and identified barriers to learning.

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Mrs B Caffrey joined the meeting at 7.35 p.m.

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(vi)      Consistent lesson plans had been put into place and teaching and learning reviews were ongoing.

(vii)    Termly strategy meetings were held between the school, the Local Authority and the Diocese.

(viii)   The Governing Body was fully engaged with everything the school did.

(ix)      Money for training initiatives had been received from the Schools’ Forum via the Local Authority.

(x)       Year 6 pupils had received extra resources and targeted support to aid their transition from primary to secondary school.

RESOLVED that the report be APPROVED.

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Mr S Cox and Mr N Cooper left the meeting at 8.01 p.m.

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To receive Report No. 93/2016 from Steve Tanner, Head of Service (Safeguarding and Improvement)

Report No. 93/2016 from the Director for People was received.  Mr S Tanner briefed attendees on the findings of the review and the resulting action plan

During discussion, the following points were noted:

a)    The peer review had been undertaken at the end of January 2016 by Debbie Barnes, Director of Children’s Services in Lincolnshire.

b)    This had been an honest appraisal of Children’s Services and had produced a strong report and action plan.

c)    The option of employing graduates as part of the development of the workforce was an option currently being considered.

d)    Looked After Children (LAC) were given priority to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).

e)    The Corporate Parenting Board membership was decided by Annual Council but usually consisted of the Portfolio Holders for Safeguarding Children and Young People and for Lifelong Learning.  It was suggested that, when a discussion was  to be held regarding a LAC, the respective Ward Member be invited to attend the Corporate Parenting Board meeting.

f)     It was also suggested that Ward Members contact the foster carers located within their ward.

g)    Action 4 in the action plan needed further detail as to how the Local Authority was planning to ‘cherish foster carers’ as stated in the Peer Review.

h)   Many items in the action plan were still listed as ‘amber’ due to the complex nature of the tasks but the work was still ongoing.

AGREED that:

1.    The peer review letter and action plan be NOTED.

2.    Dr O’Neill  ensure that the report on Mental Health, including CAMHS (to be presented at the next Scrutiny Panel meeting)  include the improvements detailed in the peer review.

3.    The completed action plan be presented at a future Scrutiny Panel meeting.

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Ms S Gullan-Whur left the meeting at 8.24 p.m.

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To receive Report No. 78/2016 from the Director for Places (Development and Economy)

Report No. 78/2016 from the Director for Places (Development and Economy) was received.  Mr P Phillipson briefed attendees on the proposed scheme.

During discussion, the following points were noted:

a)    A plan was being formulated to accommodate 12 Syrian refugees over the next four years.

b)    These 12 refugees would not include unaccompanied children or asylum seekers.

c)    Rutland County Council was working in conjunction with other local authorities who already had systems in place to deal with refugees.

d)    This scheme would enable Rutland County Council to receive additional funding to provide support to the refugees.

e)    It was suggested that Rutland County Council needed better communication with the community regarding its support to the Syrian refugees.

AGREED that the proposed approach by the Council to the refugee relocation scheme, be NOTED.

To receive Report No. 88/2016 from the Director for People and Mr Rob Howard, Consultant in Public Health

Report No. 88/2016 from the Director for People and the Director of Public Health was received. Dr T O’Neill introduced Mr M Sandys, Director of Public Health for Leicestershire and Rutland and Mr R Howard, Consultant in Public Health.

During discussion, the following points were noted:

a)    The new service was due to start in April 2017.

b)    It would be a better integrated service with clearer pathways.

c)    The data for children aged 0-5 years was for children who were resident in Rutland.

d)    The data for children aged 5-19 years was for children who attended Rutland schools but were not necessarily resident in Rutland.

e)    The provision for post16 mental health would not be based in just one school.

f)     The provision for children who self-harmed would be included in the emotional health and well-being support identified in the programme.

g)    Health checks for the 0-5 year olds would be carried out either at home or at a nearby clinic (including the health clinics in Stamford) depending on ease of access.

AGREED:

1.    That the Panel APPROVE the proposal for a joint 0-19 Healthy Child Programme Service and to undertake a joint procurement exercise with Leicestershire County Council.

2.    That the Panel ENDORSE the proposed model for the procurement and delivery of a 0 – 19 Healthy Child Programme (HCP) service (Health Visiting and School Nursing) for Rutland from April 2017.

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Mr R Howard left the meeting at 8.56 p.m.

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To receive Report No. 84/2016 from Trish Crowson, Public Health Manager.

Findings of the review to be presented to both Scrutiny Panels at the request of the Adult Scrutiny Panel meeting on the 18^th February 2016

Report No. 84/2016 was received from the Director for Public Health and was presented by Mrs T Crowson, Senior Public Health Manager. 

During discussion, the following points were noted:

a)    46% of five year old children in Rutland had been in the survey sample. 40.3% of which had some decayed, missing or filled teeth. This compared to 27.9% for England.

b)    Insight work had been undertaken to better understand issues in Rutland interviewed families with different levels of affluence.

c)    Further analysis showed that over 50% of five year old children surveyed in Uppingham had some level of tooth decay.

d)    There were many reasons for the high levels such as poor teeth cleaning routines, frequent snacking and a sugar rich diet e.g. processed/ready-made fruit juices and dried fruit.

e)    Children and adults needed educating in good oral health.

AGREED:

1.    That the Panel NOTE the findings and actions of the Report.

2.    That the Panel ENDORSE the approach taken in the development of the action plan and the engagement with community partners and settings in promoting good oral health.

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Mr M Sandys and Ms T Crowson left the meeting at 9.04 p.m.

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To receive a presentation from Mr Mark Fowler, Head of Service: Learning and Skills

A short presentation was received from Mr Mark Fowler, Head of Service: Learning and Skills.

During discussion, the following points were noted:

a)    10% of children in Rutland came from a service background and this number was rising.

b)    200 service children would leave Rutland in summer 2016 but a greater number would move into the area.

c)    This would create a challenge for the children and for the schools.

d)    There could be children with unidentified special educational needs (SEN) due to the lengthy SEN process.  However, the SEN resource funding was now managed directly by schools and not the Local Authority so the service was becoming faster and more efficient.

e)    The area would also be effected by the socio economic differences of the service bases as high ranking RAF staff and been replaced by lower ranking Army staff.

AGREED:

1.    That the Panel NOTE the content of the presentation.

To receive Report No. 87/2016 from the Director for Places (Environment, Planning and Transport)

Report number 87/2016 was received from the Director for Places (Development and Economy).  The Report was introduced by Mr T Mathias, Portfolio Holder for Places (Highways, Environment, Transport and Community Safety) and a briefing was given by Ms E Odabas, Transport Operations Manager. 

During discussion, the following points were noted:

a)    The current home to school travel and transport policy had not significantly changed since publication in 2007.

b)    The aim was to make this policy document more user-friendly.

c)    A large number of Rutland SEN children were currently transported to school in a taxi on their own.  This was an expensive method of transportation.

d)    The individual child’s needs would drive the decision-making but parents, teachers and SEN Officers would be involved.

e)    The SEN assessment and transport provision would be reviewed annually.

f)     There were many different new options for home to school transport for SEN children.  The details of which, would be included in the SEN policy and not the home to school transport policy.

g)    It was suggested that the links to relevant government documents should be included in the home to school transport policy document for ease of access.

AGREED:

1.    That the Panel APPROVE the revised home to school transport policies.

To receive any other items of urgent business which have been previously notified to the person presiding

None

Date to be confirmed….

Agenda Items:

1.    BUDGET: Quarter 4 Performance and Monitoring Reports

Mrs H Briggs, Chief Executive and Mr S Della Rocca, Assistant Director – Finance

2.    RALS Performance Report

Mark Fowler, Head of Service Learning and Skills & Bob Shore, Adult Learning Manager

3.    Mental Health including CAMHS

Leon Charikar, CAMHS Commissioning Manager

Date of the next meeting: to be confirmed.

AGREED:

Agenda Items

1.    BUDGET: Quarter 4 Performance and Monitoring Reports

Mrs H Briggs, Chief Executive and Mr S Della Rocca, Assistant Director – Finance

2.    RALS Performance Report

Mark Fowler, Head of Service Learning and Skills & Bob Shore, Adult Learning Manager

3.    Mental Health including CAMHS

Leon Charikar, CAMHS Commissioning Manager