Agenda item

To consider the action plan resulting from the Annual Unannounced Inspection of Contact, Assessment and Referral Arrangements in Cheshire East.

Lorraine Butcher, Director of Children’s Services attended to provide an overview of the Unannounced Inspection process and to explain the resulting action plan which had emerged from it.

It was explained that an Annual Unannounced Inspection was a two day inspection in which no notice was given as to when it would occur. It was reported that the inspection focused on the contact, referral and assessment arrangements in Cheshire East and that the function of the inspection was to examine the robustness of the existing processes.

Lorraine Butcher reported that the inspectors had felt that Cheshire East had improved following from the 2010 inspection and it had been commented that the service had felt ‘well managed’. Consequently, there had been no priority actions identified during the inspection. Having said this, Lorraine Butcher explained that there had been a number of areas identified for improvement, which the service was working to rectify.

Attention was drawn to the action plan. It was explained that this was a document which helped the service to ensure that they were achieving on all of the areas identified for improvement by the inspection. It was noted that the embedded reports within the action plan demonstrated the work that was going on to achieve said improvements.

As a final point, it was reported that the service was currently going through the Annual Announced Inspection and that the action plan from this would supersede the Unannounced Inspection action plan.

After considering the report, Members raised a number of queries.

Firstly, a concern was expressed that it appeared that there had been little progress made on a number of issues highlighted for improvement from the 2010 inspection. In responding to this, Lorraine Butcher explained that the service had inherited some significant challenges since Local Government Reorganisation and as a result a wholesale programme of change and restructure had been required. Therefore, it was asserted that there had been very few ‘quick wins’ and that the substantial changes required would take time to embed and produce results. Furthermore, it was also explained that Cheshire East relied on the work of partners to make the requisite improvements and that it would take time to get all agencies working together and in the same direction. As an aside, Lorraine Butcher noted that Ofsted had recognised this issue and had articulated it in their letter following the inspection.

A general point regarding performance measures was raised. It was stated that it was not demonstrated clearly enough how the improvements would be measured and success illustrated. Lorraine Butcher agreed that when future action plans were brought to the Committee this would be improved upon.

Following from this, it was queried whether the recently implemented ‘structured programme to systematically audit the quality of assessments’ outlined in point 6(a) of the action plan would provide the rigorous performance management needed. It was confirmed that this process of auditing Common Assessment Frameworks (CAFs) was only just embedding but that they were confident that the process would be commended by Ofsted. It was suggested that it would be useful for the Committee to receive a briefing on the CAF process with a number of anonymised cases outlined to help illustrate the child’s journey through the process. It was also suggested that periodic reports on safeguarding performance should be brought to the Committee for review.

Attention was drawn to the point raised regarding the reliance that Cheshire East had on partners to achieve the necessary improvements. It was queried whether it would be appropriate for the Committee to receive a report on how the service were engaging with partners. It was agreed that this would be useful.  

A query was raised with regards to the Children’s Trust Board as it was questioned whether there was any value to it. Lorraine Butcher explained that although the statutory requirements on the Board were to be superseded by the Health and Wellbeing Board, Cheshire East had decided to maintain it was the only place where it was possible to get a concentrated multi-agency meeting on child centred issues. It was suggested that if the Board was to continue, it would be germane if the Committee received the minutes from the meetings.

A final point was made with regards to the language in which the action plan was presented. It was contended that the large number of acronyms along with the use of technical language made the document difficult to read. It was suggested that when future documents were brought to the Committee, consideration was given to these points.

RESOLVED –

a)    That the report be noted.

b)    That when bringing future action plans for consideration by the Committee, they be presented in ‘plain English’ with quantifiable and clear performance measures.

c)    That the Committee receive an update on how the service engaged with partners in terms of contact, assessments and referrals.

d)    That periodic safeguarding performance reports be brought to the Committee for consideration.

e)    That the Committee receive the minutes of the Children’s Trust Board.