Agenda item

Report of the Director of Children and Adult Services

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

The submitted report provided Quarter 1 (April to June) 2020/21 performance information in line with an indicator set agreed by the Monitoring and Co-ordination 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 outlined that where indicators are reported annually, quarterly updates will not be available.

It was highlighted that 16.7 per cent of re-referrals were repeated within 12 months, which was better than the target of 18 per cent; 100 per cent of children with a Child Protection Plan and 100 per cent of Children Looked After had been allocated to a qualified social worker; 89.7 per cent of Initial Child Protection Conferences were held within 15 workings, which remains higher than statistical neighbours; 93.6 per cent of children received a statutory Child Protection (CP) visit within 10 working days, above the target of 90 per cent and an improvement on the timeliness of visits when compared with the same period last year (81.9 per cent); 94.3 per cent of statutory children in care visits were completed within timescale; 6.5 per cent (19/291) of Children in Care, as at June 2020, had three or more placements within the previous 12 months which is below the internal target, the national target, statistical neighbour and regional averages and an improvement on the 13 per cent as at June 2019; 29.6 per cent of Care Leavers were not in employment, education or training (NEET); and 100 per cent were in suitable accommodation.

The areas highlighted for focus were in respect of referrals screened and completed within one day which was below the target of 90 per cent at 79.8 per cent but also recognised that changes at the front door in March 2020 would have contributed to the figures in this quarter; timeliness of assessments was 74.7 per cent which was below the target of 90 per cent and the reasons for this were being analysed and monitored by the Head of Service although it was recognised that the data was reflective of Covid 19 restrictions put in place in March 2020; the number of children in care has increased to 291 and continues to be closely managed; 69.9 per cent (51/73) of children due a review health assessment in Q1 2020/21 had one completed, which was an improvement on the 60.4 per cent at the end of June 2019; and as a result of dental surgery closures during lockdown, 4.3 per cent of children in care that were due a dental check assessment have had one completed.

Members discussed in particular what could be done to improve the target of referrals screened and completed within one day which was below target; and how to improve the number of children completing a dental health check.

RESOLVED – That the performance information reported for Quarter 1 be noted.