Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received from Councillor M Grant

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 16 July 2018

Consideration was given to the minutes of the meeting held on 16 July 2018.

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.

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

To receive an update by Dr Matthew Howard - CAMHS CD South & East Cheshire and Rob Lupton -Team lead for Emotionally Healthy Schools

Further to the meeting held on 26 March 2018, consideration was given to a presentation by Dr M Howard, CAMHS and R Lupton – team lead for Emotionally Healthy Schools. The presentation detailed; referrals to A&E, success of the out of hours service and waiting times for 16/17 year olds with eating disorders waiting to be hospitalised.

R Lupton outlined the on going work of the Emotionally Healthy Schools project including the offer to schools, which equipped teachers with the knowledge and understanding to deal with mental health and support children in the best way.

In regard to referrals to A&E, it was suggested that schools were improving in terms of detecting mental health issues, however, training was still required on how to deal with cases.

In regard to the out of hours service, it was noted that currently the process only related to Leighton Hospital and not Macclesfield, however, Dr Howard was also looking to extend  the service to Macclesfield. Work still needed to be done on the collection and cleansing of data.

The Committee agreed that a report should be brought back to a future meeting providing an update on referrals to A&E and data analysis in relation to the out of hours service.

RESOLVED

That report on A&E referrals and the out of hours service be received by the committee in due course.

To give consideration to the Annual Report

Councillor G Merry, Chairman of the Corporate Parenting Committee introduced the annual report. The purpose of the Committee was to ensure that the Council effectively discharged its role and as corporate parent to all children in care and care leavers from 0-25 years of age and to hold partners to account for the discharge of their responsibilities. It was noted that were currently 493 children in care which was an increase of 55 since March 2017.

RESOLVED

That the report be received.

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

Consideration 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. It was agreed that a Task and Finish Group to look at the SEND local offer for 16-25 year olds be established and that members of the Health Adult Social Care and Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee be invited to sit on that group.

RESOLVED

That a task and finish group on the local offer for 16-25 year olds be established and that members of the Health Adult Social Care and Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee be invited to sit on that group.

The reports relating to the remaining items on the agenda have been withheld from public circulation and deposit pursuant to Section 100(B)(2) of the Local Government Act 1972 on the grounds that the matters may be determined with the press and public excluded.

The Committee may decide that the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items pursuant to Section 100(A)4 of the Local Government Act 1972 on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 2 and 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 and public interest would not be served in publishing the information.

PART 2 – MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED WITHOUT THE PUBLIC AND PRESS PRESENT

RESOLVED

That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item pursuant to Section 100(A)4 of the Local Government Act 1972 on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 2 and 3 of Part 1of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 and the public interest would not be served in publishing the information.

To receive a presentation

Consideration was given to a presentation on the serious case reviews and action plan, which informed the committee of what lessons had been learnt by the authority and how things should be improved in the future.

RESOLVED

That the LSCB action plan be considered by the committee in due course.

To give consideration to the report

Consideration was given to a report on the impact of the regional adoption agency which informed the Committee that Cheshire East Council had statutory duties to secure children’s permanence via adoption. In June 2015 the Department for Education issued a policy paper ‘Regionalising Adoption’ inviting Local Authorities to join up to deliver services with the aim of placing more children for adoption and achieving permanence for children who may wait longer to find an adoptive family. In July 2017  Cheshire East Council joined with Manchester, Trafford, Salford and Stockport councils as the Regional Adoption Agency ‘Adoption Counts’. The report outlined the journey for Cheshire East in the first year.

RESOLVED

That a further report on the impact of the Regional Adoption Agency be received in September 2019.

To give consideration to the report.

Consideration was given to the Adoption Panel Chairs report which provided quality assurance feedback as to whether there was a thorough, rigorous, consistent and fair approach across the service in the assessment of whether a child should be placed for adoption, the suitability of prospective adopters and the proposed placements.  

RESOLVED

That the report be received.

To give consideration to the report

The Committee gave consideration to the Annual Adoption Service Report 2017/18, which was considered alongside the Cheshire East Adoption Panel Chair Report.

RESOLVED

That the report be received.