Agenda item

Report of the Director of Children and Adults Services

The Director of Children and Adult Services submitted a report (previously circulated) to provide Members with an update on performance against key performance indicators.

The submitted report provided Quarter 2 (July to September) performance information in line with an indicator set agreed by Monitoring and Coordination Group and subsequently by each individual Scrutiny Committee.

The submitted report highlighted where Children and Young People were performing well and where there was a need to improve.  It was also highlighted that where indicators are reported annually quarterly updates will not be available.

It was highlighted that 97.8 per cent of contacts were completed within 24 working hours, an increase of 25.4 percent compared to last year; 93.6 per cent who had a Review Health Assessment due received their assessment within the required month; 98 per cent of Initial Child Protection Conferences were held within 15 working days; 100 per cent Child Protection reviews had been completed within the required timescales; 100 per cent of children with a Child Protection Plan and Children Looked After have an allocated Social Worker; 98.7 per cent of Looked After reviews were completed within timescale; 90.1 per cent of statutory visits of Looked After Children were completed in timescale, which was above the target of 90 per cent; 8.7 per cent of Looked After Children had three or more placement moves within the last 12 months, an improvement of 3.3 per cent when compared to the end of Quarter 2 2017/18 and in line with benchmark data for statistical neighbours at 9.5 per cent and the national average at 10 per cent; and 25 per cent of Care Leavers were not in employment, education or training (NEET).

The areas highlighted for improvement in Quarter 2 included the percentage of dental health checks completed which was currently at 78.5 per cent (73 out of 93), which showed good progress from Quarter 1 however was still an area to undergo close scrutiny; and 80.4 per cent of child protection statutory visits were completed within timescale at the end of Quarter 2 which was slightly behind Quarter 1 performance at 86 per cent and will continue to be closely monitored and managed.

Members discussed the increase in demand for Children and Young People services which has continued to increase from Quarter1 and the possible reasons for this added pressure on the service.

Members also discussed the number of children and young people from out of the area and that this authority was the highest importer of Looked After Children from other areas because of the number of private children’s homes and independent fostering places within the authority.  As the number of private homes was increasing Members agreed that this and the planning restrictions imposed on the setting up of private homes may be an area for further examination by this Scrutiny.

The Assistant Director of Children’s Services advised Members that the increase in the number of Looked After Children was an area that officers were monitoring closely and the Edge of Care wrap around support that was due to go live in January had a number of projects to actively work towards reducing the numbers.

RESOLVED – That the performance information provided for Quarter 2 2018/19 be noted.