Agenda item

To consider current performance trends and budget 2021/22, including actions being taken in response to Covid-19.

The item was presented by both The Deputy Director for Childrens Services, Childrens and Families branch and The Head of Strategy and Operations for the Children’s and Families branch on the Isle of Wight. An overview of the local context was given to members, 27,000 children and young people 0-19 on the Isle of Wight making up 19.3% of the population in the area. 20.4% of the local authorities’ children are living in poverty. 18% of Primary School age children are entitled to free school meals, this was in line with the national average. 13% of children of secondary school age were entitled to free school meals, this was lower than the national average of 15%. 8.7% of all school children compared with 34.6% across the country. School children with social, emotional and mental health needs make up 3.2 % which is higher than the England average of 2.7%.

The statistics and data was shown and explained to the committee. Including rates per 10,000 of referrals to Children’s Social Services, contacts and referrals, timely responses, children subject to child protection planning, children in need rates per 10,000, looked after children per 10,000 aged under 18, age profile of looked after children and caseloads. Performance of the workforce figures were also given. Vacancy rate was maintained at 12% below the national average of 16%. Agency worker rate was also maintained at 12% below the England average of 16.4%.

The transformation programmes that children’s services would be implementing were also put to the committee:

·       The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Approach – strengths based, family focused way to empower families and support resilience.

·       Multi-disciplinary team (RAFT) – delivering targeted support and interventions to enable more children to stay safely at home and to support reunification.

·       New case management system – to reduce bureaucracy and maximise the time social workers can spend supporting children and families.

·       Modernising placements – to improve choice for children, quality of care, the cost and stability for parents.

·       Improving access to performance and quality data – to ensure to deliver more effective and efficient services.

Through a self-assessment a number of key areas were identified for continued improvement and these included:

·       Further embed the Hampshire approach and Isle of Wight Approach to produce plans that are strength based and co-produced with families.

·       Support families to enable to children to stay safely at home and ensure that if children do become looked after, where appropriate reunification is a consideration.

·       Ensure enhanced partnership working with schools to promote attendance and attainment for the most vulnerable children.

·       Ensure that supervision frequency is met and supervision of social workers is of high quality, including reflection of practice.

·       Further increase the number of in house foster carers and placements

·       Further develop pathways to independence for care experienced young people, including deposit schemes

The Chairman asked what were the two main points of improvements moving forward ? The Assistant Director of Children Services said the two main areas were implementing The Hampshire and Isle of Wight approach and modernising placements programme.

RESOLVED:

      I.         THAT arrangements be ciruclated to members of the Committee regarding a visit to the Multi Agency Service Hub (Mash).

    II.         THAT the performance and budget data for quarter 3 and quarter 4 2020/21 was noted.