Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

The Chair drew attention to the emergency evacuation procedure.

David Williams, Church of England Diocese and Ed Joseph, Member of Youth Parliament had sent their apologies to the Panel.

At this point in the meeting declarations of interest are received from Members in any of the agenda items under consideration at the meeting. Members are asked to indicate:

(a) The agenda item number in which they have an interest to declare.

(b) The nature of their interest.

(c) Whether their interest is a disclosable pecuniary interest or an other interest,  (as defined in Part 2, A and B of the Code of Conduct and Rules for Registration of Interests)

Any Member who needs to clarify any matters relating to the declaration of interests is recommended to seek advice from the Council’s Monitoring Officer or a member of his staff before the meeting to expedite dealing with the item during the meeting.

Councillor Eleanor Jackson had requested to make a statement relating to Agenda Item 8 (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)) and would do so when that item was reached on the agenda.

The Panel confirmed the minutes of the previous meeting as a true record and they were duly signed by the Chair.

A presentation relating to this item is attached and will be delivered to the Panel at the meeting.

Councillor Eleanor Jackson addressed the Panel. She informed them that she is the Secretary of the Radstock Youth Partnership and that she saw this issue as an important matter.

She explained that the Partnership had been awarded £20,000 in 2011 by the Council and that there was a high prevalent of issues in the area. She said that a local GP had estimated that 70% of 13 – 19 year olds in the area had some level of clinical depression.

She said that following a survey of young people in 2011 their requests for support and work in relation to education, healthy living, healthy eating and physical activities such as cycling and archery had been responded to.

She said that depression was like a cloud that can simply envelope young people and that she was aware that staff at Radstock College were concerned over the welfare of some students.

She stated that following a meeting of the trustees of the Partnership they would like to request that the remainder of the grant (£2,500) be devoted to the Secret Garden project. The project would be open to young people of all ages and seek to improve their mental health and wellbeing.

The Chair said she was unsure of the Panel’s role in relation to this request as they were not a decision making body, but that they could if inclined show their support for the request. She asked that the Panel discuss this further following the presentation.

Mandy Round and Sam Shrubsole, CAMHS Operational Service Managers gave a presentation to the Panel, a copy of which can be found on the Panel’s Minute Book and a summary is set out below.

Range of services

•  Community CAMH service providing specialist therapeutic work

•  Outreach service working flexibly to engage hard to reach young people and families

•  Crisis wraparound and intensive support– in and out of hours. Alternative to admission and facilitating early discharge from inpatient services

Additional benefits & strengths

•  Out of hours support

•  7 day a week service

•  Counselling service

•  Additional support to schools

•  Strong and effective multi agency partnerships and working

Dispelling the myths

·  Long waiting times

•  Referrals are screened on the day they are received

•  Emergency referrals are seen the same day and any urgent referrals are seen within 7 days following a telephone contact

·  Under resourced services

•  The service is fully resourced with a multi-disciplinary team of professionals, no front line posts have been lost since 2010.

·  Terrible services

•  Staff are trained to a high standard and investment in training, development and maintaining professional standards is an ongoing commitment within the Trust

•  Feedback from children, young people and families is positive

Challenges

•  Number of young people requiring support increasing

•  Loss of early help, preventive services

•  Ensuring that increasing number of routine referrals does not further impact on waiting times

New developments

•  Introduction of direct access for 16 and 17 year olds

•  18-25  ...  view the full minutes text for item 92.

The Local Authority is lead partner for the establishment of a multi-agency Youth Offending Service to work with young people at risk of offending and re-offending. This work is set out in an annual Youth Justice Plan.

The 11 - 19 Preventions Service Manager introduced this item to the Panel. She explained that a target was set for this period to improve the rate of first time entrants by 10% (i.e. reduce to a rate of 511). She said that the rate of first time entrants had reduced (i.e. improved) from 556 to 505, a reduction of 15.1%, exceeding our local target. This represents 78 young people entering the youth justice system for the first time and the rate is lower (better) than the Avon and Somerset average but higher than other comparator groups.

She stated that 45 of the 151 young people in the October 2013-September 2014 cohort re-offended (29.8%, a slight reduction on our previous cohort). She said that this rate remains much better than all comparator groups. However, these 45 young people committed a further 163 offences between them, giving a frequency rate of 1.08. This is equivalent to the national average but higher (worse) than other comparators. It represents a small number of young people within this cohort re-offending very prolifically.

She explained that for the rate of custody, the indicator is the number of custodial sentences passed by the Courts, presented as a rate per 1000 young people in the general population aged 10-17. We set a local target of reducing our already low rate of custody to 0.10.

The latest data available is for the period January – December 2014, compared with the baseline January to December 2013. There were no custodial sentences passed between April to December 2014 and so the local rate is now 0, a reduction of -0.19, exceeding the local target. Our rate of reduction is better than most comparators and Bath and North East Somerset is currently one of only four Local Authorities within England and Wales to have a zero custody rate.

She stated that work is currently underway to produce a Youth Justice Plan for 2015-16, to be taken to Council for approval in July 2015. Emerging priorities include:

·  Reducing first time entrants – continuation and evaluation of a project to divert young people arrested for Possession of Cannabis away from the youth justice system and into support from Project 28

·  Reducing re-offending – employment of a tracking tool produced by the Youth Justice Board to improve understanding of the re-offending cohort, together with focused work with the small group of young people who are re-offending most prolifically

Councillor Liz Hardman asked what factors had helped in the reduction of custody figures and first time entries into the youth justice system.

The 11 - 19 Preventions Service Manager replied that the work of Mentoring Plus and Compass has helped significantly alongside assigning key workers to work with individuals.

Councillor Liz Hardman asked if they worked with the Connecting Families project.

The 11 - 19 Preventions Service Manager replied that they did work closely alongside the project and believed in taking on the whole family approach.

Councillor Nicholas Coombes commented that the attendance of young  ...  view the full minutes text for item 93.

This report provides an update on the standards achieved in Bath and North East Somerset in the 2014 national tests and examinations.

The Head of Education Improvement introduced this item to the Panel.

She explained that schools within Bath and North East Somerset are in the bottom 25% nationally for the percentage of children and young people from low income (disadvantaged pupils and eligible for Pupil premium funding) families who achieve a good level of development in the EYFS (33% compared to 60% national); L4+ in reading, writing and mathematics at the end of KS2 and 5 A* - C passes at GCSE or equivalent including English and mathematics (32% compared to 62% national).

She said that at KS4 the local authority gap for disadvantaged pupils compared to other pupils achieving 5A*- C including English and mathematics narrowed from 39.1 to 34, this compares with the national gap of 27.5.

She stated that in 2014 the gaps in the EYFS increased and the proportion of disadvantaged children who achieved a good level of development was below the national for other children. 

She explained that high ability pupils are those who started secondary school at L5 or above and are referred to as high prior attainment group in the national data.  A higher proportion of high prior ability pupils in Bath and North East Somerset achieved the English Baccalaureate than nationally, and this performance was significantly above national. She added that Bath and North East Somerset was also significantly above for Science and above for every other measure except for Languages, where it was in line. Progress for high prior ability pupils is in line with the progress of higher ability pupils nationally. Value added for high prior ability pupils rose substantially form 998.6 in 2012 to 1000.8 in 2013, and is almost exactly in line in 2014 (999.9).  This shows that high prior ability pupils are achieving the outcomes they should.

She said that the overall picture was a positive one and highlighted some more of the key successes and future challenges.

Councillor Michael Evans asked how the value added levels can be increased for our disadvantaged pupils.

The Head of Education Improvement replied that it is the expectation that the Pupil Premium funding will assist in narrowing the gap and that we should look to raise the levels of all pupils and seek that they achieve their best possible results.

Councillor Liz Hardman asked if the results in relation to disadvantaged pupils were due to a lack of funding and if the Pupil Premium was being spent in other areas.

The Head of Education Improvement replied that she wished to remind the Panel that these were small cohorts and felt assured that the funding will make a difference.

The Strategic Director for People & Communities commented that he was sure that schools were honouring the funding appropriately.

Councillor Liz Hardman asked what strategies are in place to improve the current levels.

The Head of Education Improvement replied that all schools are visited twice a year. She added that the Pupil Premium Wheel provides a range of strategies to support schools in narrowing  ...  view the full minutes text for item 94.

This report provides a summary of the Local Authority’s statutory duties and its approach to securing the rights of every child and young person in Bath and North East Somerset to educational excellence.

The Head of Education Improvement introduced this item to the Panel. She informed them that a key aspect of the drive for education excellence in Bath and North East Somerset was the establishment of the Education Excellence Board (EEB). She said that all primary schools including academies are members of the Education Excellence Board.

She added that the Strategic Forum of the EEB is a representative group of all of the key partners, including Headteachers from each cluster, the Diocese of Clifton, the Diocese of Bath & Wells, The Teaching School, National and Local Leaders of Education and the Local Authority.  She stated that the work of the Strategic Forum has a clear focus on achieving education excellence for all children as set out in their Terms of Reference.

Councillor Michael Evans asked if secondary schools were to be included on the Education Excellence Board.

The Head of Education Improvement replied that the Board was set up for primary schools as they are maintained by the Local Authority in the main. She added that talks are likely to take place with secondary schools about a similar project.

Councillor Michael Evans commented that he felt that the tone of recommendation 2.1 was too positive and proposed that it is amended to:

The vast majority of children and young people in Bath and North East Somerset are currently attending a school that is at least ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’; the performance of children and young people overall are amongst the best by UK standards.  There is a determination and commitment by all the key partners to achieve education excellence for all children and young people irrespective of their starting points or social circumstances.

The People & Communities Strategic Director commented that he felt that the Government should stop changing the goalposts in terms of examinations as they recently decided to change the GCSE curriculum mid cycle. He added that he would welcome a Royal Commission to look into the education system and for it to be left alone in the main for ten years.

Councillor Dine Romero, Cabinet Member for Early Years, Children & Youth said that she was concerned about the message that would be sent to our schools if the amendments by Councillor Evans were approved.

Councillor Liz Hardman said that she felt that the recommendations should remain as printed.

The Chair commented that she felt that there was no need to change the recommendations.

The Panel RESOLVED to agree that:

i)  The vast majority of children and young people in Bath and North East Somerset are currently attending a school that is at least good or outstanding; the performance of children and young people overall are amongst the best in the country.  There is a determination and commitment by all the key partners to achieve education excellence for all children and young people irrespective of their starting points or social circumstances.

ii)  The draft School Improvement and Achievement Policy is brought to the next Panel meeting as part of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 95.

The Early Years, Children and Youth Panel have requested an update on the progress and initiatives that have been undertaken to address the growing awareness and understanding of Child Sexual Abuse. This report sets out the actions undertaken by the Council and the Local Safeguarding Children Board over the past six months.

The Divisional Director for Children & Young People, Specialist Services introduced this item to the Panel. He explained that the public profile in relation to issues of Child Sexual Exploitation continues to be very high. He said that this heightened profile and continued scrutiny means that it is vital that the Council and the LSCB continue to develop a strong, co-ordinated response to these challenges.

He informed them that the Council’s Multi-Agency Risk Management Panel was set up in October 2013. He explained that the Panel monitored and risk-assessed cases of CSE alongside cases where young people were using drugs, were absent from home and putting themselves “at risk”.

He stated that the focus of the panel has been reviewed and that it now has a  sole focus on CSE/Missing issues. He added that the core membership of the panel had reduced to those agencies with a statutory role in addressing these types of concern. He said that the membership of the panel now comprises; Police, Council (representation covering Social Care and school attendance) and Health. The panel will now meet on a monthly basis and has met twice in its new format.

He explained that over the past six months the LSCB sub-group had commissioned another round of training for staff across all LSCB agencies. As previously highlighted, the members of the Willow Project have all received three days of intensive training on the key issues relating to CSE and in how to successfully sustain relationships with vulnerable young people.

He said that in addition to this we have set up training for 100 staff across the LSCB which is aimed at being more specialist and builds upon the training which was provided last year.

He informed the Panel that along with six other regional Local Authorities, B&NES recently agreed to become a partner in a joint bid to the Home Office Innovation Fund which is also being co-ordinated by the Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner. He said that if successful the bid would provide additional resources into the region to tackle CSE. He added that the bid will enable the region to provide additional training capacity that can reach out into rural areas and ensure that awareness and recognition are priority issues for agencies outside of the urban centres in the region. He said that the bid will also provide funding for provision of a regional CSE co-ordinators post that will assist in consistency of thresholds and decision making across the seven Local Authorities.

Councillor Liz Hardman asked if the Panel could receive the results of the LSCB self assessments by schools at some stage.

The Deputy Director for Children & Young People, Strategy and Commissioning replied that he would be happy to share the results in the future.

Councillor Liz Hardman asked if any schools had become involved with the LSCB since the last meeting of the Panel.

The Deputy Director for Children & Young People, Strategy and Commissioning replied that one headteacher had recently offered  ...  view the full minutes text for item 96.

The Cabinet Member will update the Panel on any relevant issues. Panel members may ask questions.

The Cabinet Member for Early Years, Children & Youth, Councillor Dine Romero addressed the Panel. She said that she wished to inform them of the very good work of the Student & Community Partnership and its recent safety campaign ‘Got Your Back’.

She informed them that the subject of the Healthy Weight Strategy was to be discussed on March 25^th at the Health & Wellbeing Board.

She stated that CSE and child abuse must remain a focus for the Council and its Councillors and said that the role of the Corporate Parent must be highlighted following the elections in May.

She concluded by saying that she had always been happy to attend Panel meetings and felt that there had always been a good working relationship.

Councillor Liz Hardman wished to thank Councillor for her role and for her presence at Panel meetings. She also thanked the officers for their work.

The Panel will receive a verbal update on this item from the People and Communities Strategic Director.

The People and Communities Strategic Director addressed the Panel. He said that the School Improvement and Achievement Policy would further address the issue of narrowing the gap.

He explained that he had recently held a meeting with the head teachers of the local secondary schools and discussed amongst other issues; lack of attendance by pupils, narrowing the gap and the use of the Pupil Premium.

He informed the Panel that twenty schools had offered to take part in the Achievement for All project.

He said that future Medium Term Service & Resource Plans would remain a challenge with the Council as a whole having to save around £38m, and the likelihood that the People & Communities department will have to find £22m of that figure.

He said that next incarnation of this Panel will have to make its own decisions on how and what to scrutinise, but advised that CSE monitoring should remain a priority.

On behalf of the officers associated with the Panel he wished to offer his thanks to Councillor Sally Davis for her work as Chair.

This report presents the latest workplan for the Panel.

The Chair introduced this item to the Panel. She called for the Pledge to Children in Care to form part of the agenda for the first Council meeting following the local elections in May.

Councillor Liz Hardman suggested that the Panel receives a report on the Transitional Funding of Children's Centres and Services and that the draft School Improvement and Achievement Policy be added to the workplan.

The Panel agreed with all of the above proposals.