Issue - meetings

This paper seeks to update the PDS Panel on the progress made in addressing the 8-Key Areas of challenge to the Council by Ofsted inspectors following their four week long inspection in April / May 2017.

The Divisional Director for Safeguarding & Social Care introduced this report to the Panel. He said that it had been one year since the inspection and that officers have taken on the challenges raised by Ofsted.

He explained that Improvement Plan is regularly discussed by the Improvement Board and that the 8 challenges have been delegated individually to relevant managers.

He then responded to a number of questions that had been submitted prior to the meeting by Councillor Liz Hardman.

1.  Could you explain what the “Balanced Scorecard” is ( R50) and how it will help improve the impact of visits to Care Leavers (recommendations 2 and 6)

He shared with the Panel copies of the Balanced Scorecard and said it was a great way for teams to identify the key indicators that relate to them. He added that this is then discussed at team meetings and supervision and when pressure is identified teams work on how this should be addressed.

2.  a) What improvements have been made through “educating external partner agencies including Language Schools on the requirements of private fostering arrangements and the need to know by the LA?

b) How successful has contact been with Independent and Boarding Schools?

c) What were the changes made to the structure of the service delivery regarding private fostering that had just been implemented at the time of inspection and how have these improved outcomes?

He replied that prior to the inspection the Council had put in place a dedicated social worker for private fostering and that leaflets were distributed to GP Surgeries, Schools and Nurseries.

He added that Language Schools were contacted directly regarding this subject and that training has been offered through the LSCB.

He said that all schools are subject to the Council’s safeguarding processes and each school has a dedicated leader on safeguarding. He added that the dedicated social worker was now in the process of re-contacting all schools on this matter.

He informed the Panel that a report on Private Fostering is submitted annually to the LSCB.

The Chair asked if there was still only one recognised case of private fostering within B&NES.

The Divisional Director for Safeguarding & Social Care confirmed this. He added that he personally felt there were likely to be more cases, but reminded the Panel that the Council is reliant on these arrangements being self- reported.

Kevin Burnett suggested that this information could be enquired about on the application forms Primary and Secondary schools. He asked how the indicators on the scorecard were picked.

The Divisional Director for Safeguarding & Social Care replied that they have been developed as a group.

3. Has the review of Pathway Planning templates taken place which will be linked to an up to date Needs Assessment? Any changes from this assessment?

The Divisional Director for Safeguarding & Social Care replied that the Pathway Plans have just been completed and these will relate particularly to Care Leavers. He said that the templates will be launched on June 5^{th  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9}