Agenda and minutes

Councillor G Hayes – Deputy Cabinet Member.

Lucy Heath - Consultant in Public Health

Nigel Moorhouse - Director of Children’s Social Care

Stephen Kelly - Senior Communications Officer

Peter Lambert - Head of Service –Cared for Children

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 30 November 2015.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 30 November 2015 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To provide an opportunity for Members and Officers to declare any disclosable pecuniary and non-pecuniary interests in any item on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest.

To provide an opportunity for Members to declare the existence of a party whip in relation to any item on the agenda

There were no declarations of the existence of a party whip.

A total period of 15 minutes is allocated for members of the public to make a statement(s) on any matter that falls within the remit of the Committee.

Individual members of the public may speak for up to 5 minutes, but the Chairman will decide how the period of time allocated for public speaking will be apportioned, where there are a number of speakers.

Note: In order for officers to undertake any background research, it would be helpful if members of the public contacted the Scrutiny officer listed at the foot of the agenda, at least one working day before the meeting to provide brief details of the matter to be covered. 

There were no members of the public present who wished to speak.

To consider a report of the Director of Public Health.

The committee considered a report of the Director of Public Health relating to the 0-19 Healthy Child Programme Service.

Prior to October 2015 NHS England was responsible for commissioning Health Visiting and Family Nurse Partnership while local authority Public Health Departments were responsible for commissioning School Nursing services including the mandatory National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP).  Responsibility for commissioning Health Visiting and Family Nurse Partnership services transferred to local authorities on 1^st October 2015.

            In March 2015 the Council commenced a competitive tender process to seek a suitably qualified and experienced provider to deliver 0-19 Healthy Child Services for the Borough.  The tender was split into four lots as follows.

Lot 1 – 0-5 Years Health Visitor and Family Nurse Partnership

Lot 2 – School Health 5-19 Healthy Child Programme including the National Child Measurement Programme

Lot 3 – Targeted Breastfeeding Support Service

Lot 4 – Vaccinations and Immunisations Programme (this element of the tender was commissioned on behalf of NHS England who are the funders for this service.)

            A key element of the tender specifications was the need to work in conjunction with the Council to bring about transformational change in order to maximise service delivery integration with Children’s Services and to make best use of the School Nurses time.

            It was anticipated that integration with Children’s Services would lead to a more streamlined, holistic and efficient service for children and their families/carers.

            On 1 October 2015 a new contract was awarded to Wirral Community NHS Trust which had been able to demonstrate extensive experience of and aptitude for delivering 0-19 services in Wirral and a commitment to collaborate with the Council to transform the services.

            A 0-19 Healthy Child Programme Transformation Board had been established the aims of which, amongst other things, were to identify and implement opportunities to integrate service delivery.

RESOLVED

(a)  That the report be received;

(b)  That a progress report be submitted to this committee in 6 months time with a view to arrangements being put in place to monitor the performance of the new contract for 0-19 year old health services.

To consider a report of the Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Children’s Services.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Children’s Social Care detailing further progress made regarding improvements to the recruitment and retention of social workers in Children’s Services.

Ofsted in its recent inspection report had noted the ambitious and thoughtful range of recruitment and retention initiatives introduced by the Council.

The current Recruitment & Retention Strategy for 2015-17 had four priorities:

·         to recruit sufficient permanent high quality staff with suitable qualifications and experience;

·         to retain existing employees by ensuring they have the right skills, equipment and support to carry out their roles effectively;

·         achieve manageable social worker caseloads;

·         increase engagement and communication with social work staff.

A new social media campaign had begun to support social worker advertisements on the Council’s website which included an updated jobs microsite and a video entitled ‘working in Crewe’ which was shown to members of the committee.

RESOLVED –

(a)          That the report be received and noted;

(b)          That the recruitment and retention activity that has already taken place to improve stability in the workforce be endorsed.

To consider a report of the Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Children’s Services.

The Committee considered a report of the Head of Service Cared for Children which provided an update on the Cabinet response to the Care Leavers Task and Finish Group which reported in 2012. The aim of the 2012 review was to help care leavers make a successful and adjusted transition from care into sustainable independence and adulthood.

Since 2013, services for care leavers in Cheshire East had been driven by the Council’s involvement in the New Belongings project as part of a north west cluster of authorities, aimed at creating better fully integrated, easily accessible services for care leavers.

The Committee was informed that New Belongings had progressed a number of actions during 2015, many of which overlapped the recommendations of the task and finish review.

The report included a schedule which outlined the specific actions approved by Cabinet in respect of each of the recommendations of the 2012 review and highlighted that only one recommending that ‘practical life skills training’ be provided for care leavers was outstanding but that it was expected to have been completed in February 2016.

RESOLVED – That the report be received and the progress noted.

To consider a report of the Head of Corporate Resources and Stewardship.

The Committee reviewed its work programme.

RESOLVED – That subject to the following amendments,the work programme be approved:

·         SEN –the Committee to keep under review the findings of a working group setup by the schools forum

·         Corporate parenting committee  – Annual report be considered

·         Elective Home Education – new item

To note the current forward plan, identify any new items, and to determine whether any further examination of new issues is appropriate.

The Committee reviewed the current forward plan.

RESOLVED – that the forward plan be received and noted.