Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors J Nicholas and J Saunders.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 27 March 2017

Consideration was give to the minutes of the meeting held on 27 March 2017

RESOLVED

That the minutes 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.

Councillor B Dooley declared a personal interest in minute 7 - Educational Travel due to being a director of TSS. In accordance with the code of conduct she remained in the meeting during consideration of this item.

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

To receive a presentation on tiers 3 and 4 of the CAHMS Service. Questions to be answered, attached.

Dr M Howard, Consultant Child Psychiatrist and Clinical Director for Central and East Cheshire CAMHS attended the meeting to answer a series of questions which had previously been agreed by the Committee.

In regard to question 5, it was noted that gender identity disorder, eating disorders and significant self harm had all increased.  Mild cases of self harm needed to be dealt with in the appropriate manner by partners as these cases could take up capacity at the risk of missing those in serious need. It was agreed that data needed to be gathered from A&E to understand why patients were being admitted and schools needed to be provided with the appropriate training and tools to deal with these issues.

It was noted that approximately 35-40% of referrals to CAHMS did not go on to receive a service, Dr Howard suggested that quality of data was not adequate and the figures for the east of the borough were lower that they should be. It was agreed that this data would be circulated to the Committee.

In regard to question 14, it was highlighted that the average time to receive a service once a referral had been made was 10 weeks in Macclesfield due to workers being on maternity leave and there being no available resources or difficulty in appointing to backfill positions. Members were concerned that the figures were far higher than in the south and agreed to monitor this.

The Future in Mind report published in 2015 identified 5 key themes to support the emotional wellbeing and mental health of children and young people, Dr Howard reported that to meet these objectives, 3 times the amount of staff would need to be appointed, a broader out of hours service was required and the 24/7 crisis resolution would be difficult to achieve. The Committee was concerned that that there was currently very little CAHMS services available out of hours to support young people discharged from tier 4 provision.

The waiting time for neurodevelopment assessments had gone down to 18 months from 4 years. However referrals had increased from 144 in 2015/2016 to 409 in 2016/17, there had been additional permanent investment to help tackle this.

RESOLVED

That the Committee receive further information on:

·         The waiting times for CAHMS appointments in the Macclesfield area

·         How the improvements required to the out of hours service  would be met.

·         The waiting times for neurodevelopment assessments

·         Delayed transfer of care

To provide an early insight, prior to the development of any proposals or contribution, on the strategic review of transport arrangements across Children and Families, and to receive an update on the implementation of the Available Walking Routes programme.

Consideration was given to a presentation on the Children’s Services Transport Policy review which had three strategic priorities:

1.    To ensure the Educational Travel Policy meets strategic requirements, provided for the assessed needs of children and offered sustainable solutions.

2.    ensured travel arrangements were delivered efficiently

3.    ensured organisational management review, structure and processes operated efficiently.

It was noted that rather than implementing one large convoluted policy, several separate easy to understand policies would be brought back to the Committee, prior to consultation in September with the final policies being considered in January 2018.

In regard to phase 1 available walking routes to schools, it was noted that phase 1A (Wheelock Primary School and Poynton High School) was now in place and funding would be removed from September 2017. Phase 1B (Brine Leas, Malbank High School and Tytherington High School) had not yet been implemented and the conditions would be reviewed in due course.

In regard to Phase 2, the route between Mobberley and Knutsford Academy/The Studio a new pavement had now been laid. The Committee agreed to walk the route prior to any proposals being submitted to Cabinet. There would be improved communication and engagement prior to any decisions being made.

Strategic objective 2 aimed to equip more young people with EHCP, where appropriate, the necessary skills to travel independently, thereby increasing their choices, working towards being independent adults in society and reducing transport costs over time.

RESOLVED

That the Committee walk the route between Mobberley and Knutsford Academy/the studio to assess whether or not it could be considered an available walking route to school.

To receive a report of the Head of Service for Safeguarding Children and Families.

Consideration was given to an update on progress in respect of the task and finish group on Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) and outlined how Cheshire East Council was addressing the recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee Report presented to Cabinet in January 2017.

RESOLVED

            That those recommendations completed be signed off and an update on the incomplete actions be received in due course.

To give consideration to the performance scorecard for quarter 4, 2016/17.

Consideration was given to an overview of performance across the Children and Families Service for quarter 4 of 2016/17.

Members requested to receive information on the number of adoption breakdowns. It was noted that as most adoption breakdowns occurred in the teenage years, the Council would not know if they had remained with their adopters for many years to come. All but one of the adoption breakdowns in the last three years were children placed by other local authorities but with adopters living in Cheshire East. Equally if the Council had placed a child with adopters in another local authority any breakdown would be managed by the authority where the adopters lived.

In regard to 2.10 and 2.11 relating to initial health assessments, members agreed that mixed progress had been made and the Committee needed to closely monitor this issue to ensure that it continued to improve.  It was agreed that as well as the information being reported in percentage terms, it should also include the actual number of children involved.

RESOLVED

1.    That information relating to the number of adoption breakdowns be circulated to the Committee.

2.    That as well as being shown as a percentage, the performance scorecard indicated the number of children involved.

To give consideration to the work programme

Consideration was given to the work programme. As part of the Committees ongoing work to monitor the de designation of children’s centres, It was agreed that a visit to a children’s centre, de-designated centre and the mobile centre would be arranged.

RESOLVED

That the work programme be agreed and a visit to children’s centres be arranged.