Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received from Councillor J Saunders

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 28 November 2016.

Consideration was given to the minutes of the last meeting.

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the meeting held on 28 November 2016 be approved 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 whipping declarations.

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 wishing to speak

Jonathan Potter Head of Service - Preventative Services and Keith Simpson – Headteacher - Middlewich High School to give a presentation.

J Potter, Head of Service for Prevention Services and K Simpson, Head Teacher at Middlewich High School gave a presentation on the success of the Emotionally Healthy Schools Project. The presentation detailed:

·         The rationale – in Cheshire East in 2015, approximately 12,500 children and young people aged between 0-24 had a mental health disorder. The DfE recognised that in order to help pupils succeed, schools had a role to play in supporting them to be resilient and mentally healthy.

·         The schools perspective, which included the growing need in schools, the link between emotional health and attainment and the link between emotionally healthy schools and the wider school sector led improvements.

·         The emotionally healthy schools projected had been piloted in 6 schools and was supported by 3 project workers, a project manager and administrative support and a CAHMS Clinical Lead.

·         The projects activity, objectives and THRIVE Model.

·         The plans for 2017 and 2018.

It was noted that there was less help available out of school term time, however efforts were being made to link pupils to local service providers and available web services.

Members welcomed the success of the pilot scheme,  acknowledged how the scheme had connected partners together and were pleased to see that the scheme would be extended.

RESOLVED

That the extension of the pilot scheme be welcomed.

Joanne Sutton, Commissioning Manager Adult Social Care and Health and Neil Perris from Wirral Community NHS Trust, to give a presentation.

Neil Perris, Fiona Campbell and Andrea Johns attended the meeting to update members on the 0-19 Healthy Child Programme. The presentation detailed:

·         Key service developments – leadership and governance; workforce development; information technology; service user engagement and improvement culture.

·         Transformation – Transformation Board (integration of 0-19 and Children’s Services) and progress of the transformation work streams.

·         Summary of the change

·         Opportunities and challenges

·         Service user impact

·         Impact and outcomes

·         Next Steps, including embedding parenting journey, increased visibility in schools and embedded public health promotion, establishing the role of 16-19 nurse, expansion of family nurse partnership, looked after children services and queens nurse institute research.

Members agreed that the programme provided an opportunity for early intervention as children could be tracked and their development monitored.

It was noted that the provision of services was better in some areas than others, services still needed to be mapped and standardised.

Further to the previous presentation, School Nurses could also address some of the emotional health and wellbeing work, they also dealt with immunisation, safeguarding and prevention.

RESOLVED

That the update be received.

To consider the CSE Task and Finish Group Final report.

Consideration was given to the Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) Task and Finish Group Final Report. The Task and Finish Group was established to consider whether or not the Councils arrangements to safeguard children from CSE were adequate.

It was agreed that there needed to be a national change regarding the current licensing arrangements for private hire and hackney carriage drivers as the current arrangements were unsatisfactory

RESOLVED

That the report be submitted to Cabinet for approval.

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

Consideration was given to the areas of the forward plan which fell within the remit of the Committee.

RESOLVED

That the forward plan be received.

To review the Committee’s Work Programme.

Consideration was given to the work programme. Following the recent changes to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee Structure, it was agreed that the informal Committee meetings would be cancelled and that the following additional amendments be made:

·         The Independent Review Officer Annual Report be considered in June 2017

·         The budget proposals be considered at a special meeting on 20 January 2017

·         The performance scorecard be considered at the meeting scheduled to take place on 27 March 2017.

·         The Ofsted Inspection/Recruitment and Retention of Social Workers be removed from the work programme as this would be covered within the performance scorecard.

·         Alternative Walking Routes to Schools be moved from April to 26 June

·         Tier 3 and 4 CAHMs be scrutinised and a series of focussed questions be agreed in January 2017.

RESOLVED

That the work programme be amended to reflected the issues highlighted above.