Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Bradshaw and her Substitute, Councillor Linda Cluskey, Councillor Larkin and Councillors Cliff Mainey, Sylvia Mainey and her Substitute Councillor Byrne.

Members and Officers are requested to give notice of any personal or prejudicial interest and the nature of that interest, relating to any item on the agenda in accordance with the relevant Code of Conduct.

There were no Declarations of Interest received.

Minutes of the meeting held on 26 October 2010.

That the Minutes of the meeting held on 26 October 2010 be agreed as a correct record.

Report of the Acting Director of Public Health, NHS Sefton & Sefton MBC.

To receive a presentation from Margaret Jones, Consultant in Public Health.

A copy of the Annual Report “Fair Society, Healthy Lives” is attached.

Further to Minute No. 38 of the meeting of the Cabinet Member – Health and Social Care held on 10 November 2010, the Committee considered the report of the Acting Director of Public Health on the Public Health Annual Report - Fair Society, Healthy Lives.

The report indicated that each year, the Director of Public Health had responsibility to produce a report highlighting the health of the local population and that Sefton's Health 2010, 'Fair Society Healthy Lives' was the third report in a series recommending actions to address health inequalities in Sefton.  The first of these reports in 2008, 'Investing to Save Lives', focused on reducing health inequalities in the short term; the second report in 2009, 'Investing for the Future', built upon this approach by focusing on actions needed to tackle inequalities in the medium term; whilst the third report built on the national Strategic Review of Health Inequalities produced by Professor Sir Michael Marmot in February 2010, by providing a framework to focus efforts to improve health and well-being in a sustainable way for the longer term by addressing the following six policy objectives:-

• Give every child the best start in life;
• Enable all children, young people and adults to maximise their capabilities and have control over their lives;
• Create fair employment and good work for all;
• Ensure a healthy standard of living for all;
• Create and develop healthy and sustainable places and communities; and
• Strengthen the role and impact of ill-health prevention.

The report also indicated that despite people living longer and healthier lives, the priorities emerging from Sefton's recently updated Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) highlighted the need to:-

• Reduce health inequalities within Sefton, and between Sefton and other areas;
• Focus on prevention and early detection of both physical and mental illness;
• Reduce the levels of behaviours that carry risk for future health; and
• Tackle the main diseases from which people die.

The report concluded that as preparations were made for the establishment of Health and Well-being Boards, proposed in the NHS White Paper 'Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS', there was a need to continue to work in partnership and refocus priorities to ensure that combined resources were reallocated to address the key health needs in Sefton.

A copy of the Public Health Annual Report was appended to the report.  Margaret Jones, Consultant in Public Health, NHS Sefton, made a presentation to the Committee and responded to Members’ questions on the matter.

RESOLVED:   That

(1)       Margaret Jones be thanked for her informative presentation;

(2)       the Acting Director of Public Health’s report, together with the Sefton Public Health Annual Report 2010, be received; and

(3)       this Committee looks forward to receiving progress throughout the year on conclusions drawn within the reports.

Report of the Strategic Director - Children, Schools and Families

The Committee considered the report of the Strategic Director, Children, Schools and Families, which included the outcome letter from Ofsted in relation to the 2010 annual unannounced inspection of the contact, referral and assessment arrangements within Sefton’s Children’s Service.

The Strategic Director reminded Members that Sefton had its first unannounced inspection of contact, referral and assessment arrangements in 2009 and reported that the second had taken place on 19 and 20 October 2010 and in conducting the inspection, inspectors considered a range of evidence including:-

·        Electronic case records

·        Supervision files and notes

·        Observation of social workers and senior practitioners undertaking referral and assessment duties

·        Other information provided by staff and managers

·        Interviews with a wide range of staff including managers, social workers, other practitioners and administrative staff.

The inspection outcome letter set out the features of the service in respect of:-

·        Strengths

·        Areas of practice meeting requirements

·        Areas of development

·        The letter indicated that there were no priority actions (areas of serious safeguarding concerns for Sefton).

 A draft Action Plan had been produced which would address all Areas for Development, the Action Plan would be finalised after consultation and scrutiny by Sefton’s Local Safeguarding Board.

The Strategic Director reassured Members that the inspector had referred to the journey Sefton had made over the past twelve months and stated that there had been some significant improvements.  He pointed out that many of the Areas for Development raised in last year’s inspection had moved into the Areas meeting the requirements of Statutory Guidance.

The Director of Children’s Social Care stated that the Team who had inspected were highly credible and Her Majesty’s Inspector, Mr David Asher, was a practitioner who had a strong reputation in Safeguarding.

The Director of Social Care stated that the inspection had been conducted fairly, that the inspection letter sounded like the contact, referral and assessment service at Sefton and that the experience had been an enabling one.

Members referred to anecdotal evidence that the Police had gathered in relation to family crime figures and the issue that they were rising.

Members agreed that they welcomed the piece of work Mr David Hunter, a retired Police Officer, would be carrying out in examining the reasons why Sefton were so busy in that Area. 

Members stated that there were many Actions that the Cabinet Member Children, Schools and Families had to address.  Members looked forward to tracking those reports, proposals and recommendations.  

RESOLVED:

That update reports be submitted to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Children’s Services) as appropriate. 

Report of the Strategic Director - Children, Schools and Families

The Committee considered the report of the Strategic Director, Children, Schools and Families which provided Members with an Outline Business case for the use of Thornton Site for Post 16 Learners with Learning Difficulties and or Disabilities.

It was reported that there was a need to develop the market for Learners with Learning Difficulties and or Disabilities in order to improve quality and reduce costs.  It was explained that the Independent Sector Provider costs were high compared to the cost of Local Authority Special School Places.  Each place cost approximately £35,000 for a day place to in excess of £65,000 for a residential placement compared to a day place at a Sefton special school of £14,000. 

The proposal was to use two million pounds of the Targeted Capital Funding to refurbish and develop the junior school building at Thornton Primary School.  The provision would complement provision at local sector colleges, Hugh Baird and Southport, and provide more effective links to those institutions.  It was reported that flexible pathways would be created in order that students may progress to the next stage of their career at the right time rather than at the end of a fixed period as happens with Independent Sector Provider Placements.  It was explained that it meant that Students may attend Thornton for 1 year, whilst others may need up to three years.

Members requested that the young people and their parents be consulted and involved in the design of the building.

RESOLVED:-

That the Outline Business Case for the use of Thornton Site for Post 16 Learners with Learning Difficulties and or Disabilities be accepted.     

Report of the Strategic Director - Children, Schools and Families

Further to Minute No. 34 of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Children’s Services) held on 26 October 2010, the Committee considered the report of the Strategic Director Children, Schools and Families which set out the technical and professional arguments as to why the I.T. (Single Child Record) Programme Scheme was of high priority.

It was reported that the project broadly comprised of the following three elements:-

·        Upgrading existing systems;

·        Implementing essential new systems; and

·        Linking separate systems to improve efficiency and reduce risk.

It was further reported that the future local authority would be much smaller and the proposed I.T. (Single Child Record) Programme Scheme was a system that would improve efficiency and effectiveness which would continue to provide a high quality service.

The report set out the anticipated outcomes and benefits to be realised from the Children, Schools and Families IT (Single Child Record) Capital Programme scheme as:-

• Reducing the time spent tracking down relevant background information of a child or young person in purview of the Local Authority, supporting early and potentially less costly intervention.
• Creating a system of flags providing information about a child or a young person in receipt of services from the Local Authority, giving a complete, holistic picture of interactions and interventions.
• Supporting informed decisions by making accurate information accessible to the right people at the right time.
• Enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of the services provided to Children and Young People in purview of the Local Authority and reduce risk, particularly in respect of safeguarding.

The Strategic Director referred to the unannounced inspection which had taken place, detailed at Minute No. 43 refers.  It was reported that implementation of the project was essential in addressing a number of the areas for development and reducing service risk particularly in respect of safeguarding.

Members agreed that the project would undoubtedly go some way in addressing the issues referred to in the unannounced inspection in relation to:-

·        Caseloads within the assessment teams being excessively high and the impact that had on the worker’s ability to complete work and delays in Children receiving services in a timely way.

·        The number of non-integrated electronic and paper recording systems continuing to be a barrier to management oversight and to efficient case management by staff at all levels.

Members referred to Young Carers and requested that they be captured within the system

RESOLVED:-

That the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Children’s Services) accept the report.   

Report of the Strategic Director - Children, Schools and Families

The Committee considered a verbal update from the Director of Children Social Care in relation to Kirwin House Children’s Home.

He referred to an Ofsted Inspection whereby the building had been referred to as “not fit for purpose” and the fact that the Council had an overprovision of Children’s Homes.  He reported that many of the young people were accessing Children’s Homes due to the lack of skills some parents have in addressing behavioural difficulties of their Children. 

The Director of Children Social Care reported that the Council had been working with Trade Unions and staff examining a different approach to help families by way of strengthening their parental skills.

The Director of Children’s Social Care introduced Mr Johnathan Allen, Team Leader at Kirwin House and Unison Representative.

The Chair, Councillor Richard Hands, invited Mr Allen to address the Committee.

Mr Allen referred to and explained reasons why, staff currently working at Kirwin House had requested to be placed at risk.  

Mr Allen agreed that there had been a rise in the number of teenagers accessing Children’s Homes due to families being unable to cope.  Mr Allen felt that the model of providing help, signposting and support in the Community to those families with teenagers would work well.

The Director of Children’s Social Care reported that the building, Kirwin House, would be de-commissioned on 31 March 2011.

RESOLVED:

That the Strategic Director Children, Schools and Families be requested to submit an update report on progress to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Children’s Services) in twelve months time.

Report of the Assistant Chief Executive

The Committee considered the report of the Assistant Chief Executive, which detailed the most recent Cabinet Member Report for Children Schools and Families.

RESOLVED:

That the Cabinet Member Report for Children Schools and Families

Report of the Assistant Chief Executive

The Committee considered the report of the Assistant Chief Executive which detailed the Committee’s programme of work.  There had been no changes to the Key Decision Forward Plan for period 1 December 2010 to 31 March 2011, St. Wilfrid’s being the only item, which fell under the remit of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Children’s Services).  The Committee were advised of its right to pre-scrutinise any Key Decision which fell under its remit.

The Lead Member, Councillor Hands, updated Members upon progress of the Children and Adolescent Mental Health Service Working Group (CAMHS), he reported that the group had interviewed, as expert witnesses, Dr. Janet Atherton, Interim Chief Executive, Primary Care Trust, Jean Massam, Children’s Trust Director and Ms Sallyann Croughan, Kings Meadow Children’s Centre. 

RESOLVED:            That:

1.         the Key Decision Forward Plan for period 1 December 2010 – 31 March 2011 be accepted;

2.         the progress of the CAMHS Working Group be accepted; and

3.         the progress and actions of the cross-cutting Working Group, to scrutinise health inequalities within the Borough be supported.

As this was the last Meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Children’s Services) before the Festive Season, the Chair, Councillor Richard Hands wished Members and Officers a Merry Christmas and Prosperous New Year.