Agenda item

Report of the Group Director of People

The Group Director of People submitted a report (previously circulated) to provide Members with an overview of the work by the Independent Reviewing Officer Service; and to consider the Annual Reports of the Independent Reviewing Officer for 2020/21 and the Child Protection Conference Chair for 2020/21.

It was highlighted that for the the whole of the period April 2020 – March 2021 the work undertaken by the Children’s Safeguarding Unit had been under Covid-19 arrangements and in line with guidance, all formal meetings, which in previous years had been face to face, had been conducted using virtual platforms.

The submitted report provided Members with an overview of the work of the Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO) service in relation to Looked After Children, including the Dispute Resolution Process and an overview of the performance of the unit in a range of responsibilities.

The submitted report also provided information on the role of the IRO’s and statutory and non-statutory functions that the service is responsible for; the number of children subject to Child Protection Plans at 31 March; Child Protection Demographics; Timeliness of Initial Child Protection Conferences and Children Protection Review Conferences; the percentage of subsequent plans; and highlighted the actions scheduled for 2021/22.

Members questions were in relation to the rising caseloads as a result of the increase in the number of Looked After Children; the welfare of the workforce; and the impact of home working on the workforce.

RESOLVED – That the annual reports of the Independent Reviewing Officer and Child Protection Conference Chair for 2020/21 be noted.