Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor L Durham.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 10 May 2018 as a correct record.

Consideration was given to the minutes of the meeting held on 10 May 2018.

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the meeting 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 public present.

To give consideration to the draft written statement, prior to consideration by the Health and Well Being Board.

Consideration to the draft written statement of Action for Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND), prior to it being considered by the Health and Well Being Board.

A comment was made in respect of partners operating in different ways and that it was important to ensure the smooth operation of a ‘seamless service’.  Clarification was also sought in terms of ensuring all relevant legislation to autism had been accepted and was part of the Council’s processes.

Further questions were raised regarding recruitment of Education Psychologists, private education psychology assessments, number of children temporary/permanently excluded from school whilst waiting for an assessment and the numbers of children not in school and how this was assessed.

RESOLVED

That the statement be noted.

To consider a report on the recommendations of the SEND Reforms Task and Finish Group.

Consideration was given to the SEND Reforms Task and Finish Groups report on its findings, conclusions and recommendations.

The Acting Executive Director of People offered his thanks to Officers and those Members on the Group for all their hard work over the past few months. 

One of the recommendations put forward by the Task and Finish Group was for the Committee to include on its work programme a review of SEND for 16-25 year olds.  There were concerns that more work in this area needed to be undertaken.  It was agreed that this would be included as item on the work programme.

It was also suggested that more work should be undertaken by the Committee on personal budgets.

The Chairman also gave her thanks to the Members on the Task and Finish Group in particular to Councillor D Flude who had chaired the Group.

RESOLVED

That the report be noted and that a review of SEND for 16-25 year olds would be included on the work programme.

To receive a summary of the impact and progress of FACT22

Consideration was given to a report summarising the impact and progress of FACT22.

Members were informed that a future report outlining how the changes were working would be brought back to the Committee for consideration.

RESOLVED

(1) That the report be noted.

(2) That a future item regarding its progress be included on the work programme.

To consider a report updating Members on the themes and issues raised through member frontline visits to the Child in Need and Child Protection Teams.

Consideration was given to a report on the themes and issues raised through Member frontline visits to the Child in Need and Child Protection Teams.

Members queried the effectiveness of the Elected Member frontline Safeguarding team visits form whether or not the Members could form an accurate view of the team from only one visit and what happened to the feedback provided by Members.

It was also felt interviews with Managers didn’t always reflect what frontline practitioners were saying.

It was suggested that the form should be amended to include a box for Members to have the ability to make further comments.

RESOLVED

(1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the proposed revised process and documentation for future visits as set out at paragraph 7 of the report be endorsed subject to the inclusion of a box for any final remarks in the Elected Member Frontline Safeguarding Team Visits form.

To give consideration to the performance across the Children and Families Service for quarter 4 of 2017-18.

Consideration was given to the performance scorecard for the Children and Families Service for Quarter 4 of 2017-18.

The measures rated red related to the % of cared for children in long term stability placement, % of children to be looked after due to adoption and % of new education, health and care plans (EHCP) completed within 20 weeks.

Further expansion on 2.4-% of cared for children in long term stability placement of the scorecard was requested.

In response the Portfolio Holder confirmed that a substantial piece of work was being undertaken in respect of providing children with a permanent placement.  Stability meetings had been introduced and additional resources were being provide to undertake the necessary work.

RESOLVED

That the contents of the report and scorecard be noted.

To give consideration to the areas of the forward plan which fall within the remit of the Committee.

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 give consideration to the work programme

Consideration was given to the work programme.

Revisions were made to the work programme as follows:-

(1) Sustainable Modes of Transport Strategy to be considered at the meeting on 28 January 2019;

(2) DCS Assurance to be a briefing note circulated separately and therefore removed from the work programme;

(3) LSCB Annual report to include and update on Reflective and Serious Case Reviews;

(4) ILACS to be a briefing note circulated separately and therefore removed from the work programme;

(5) Supported childcare for 2/3 year olds to be a briefing note circulated separately;

(6) Multi Academy Trusts (MATS)-Update, including role of Cheshire East Council and how work together with partners to be combined with the item on Academisation of Schools and to be a briefing note/training session;

(7) Annual Education report to include an update on SSIF;

(8) Bed waits for those with eating disorders to be included on the item on Emotional Health and Wellbeing-CAHMS;

(9) Task and Finish Group to be established in relation to 16-25 SEND;

(10) The following to be included as possible/future items:-

(i) FACT22;

(ii) Exclusions;

(iii) Regional Adoption Agency;

(iv) 22 Actions for SEND (Possibly for the December meeting);

(v) Reprocurement of food contracts;

(vi) Domestic Abuse contract –Update on new provision

(11) An additional meeting to be arranged in December to consider the budget.

RESOLVED

That the work programme be approved subject to the amendments as outlined above.