Agenda item

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.

4.  The third recommendation to the LSCB on raising awareness of CSE through licensing activity, could you explain how this will happen?

The Divisional Director for Safeguarding & Social Care replied that a member of the Council’s Licensing team sits on the LSCB’s CSE Sub-Group and came up with proposal train Taxi Drivers on this issue at the same time as they had to re-apply for their licence to show that their vehicle conforms to emission regulations.

He added that all hotels within B&NES had been written to and offered training. He said that only three responses had been received. He explained that next stage considered was to inform and contact fast food outlets.

Councillor Peter Turner suggested that the Bath Independent Guest House Association (BIGHA) be contacted on this issue.

5. Could we have a report to the Panel when the audit on practice in relation to care-leavers is produced by the DfE in October?

The Divisional Director for Safeguarding & Social Care said that this could be scheduled into the Panel’s workplan.

The Chair asked if it was true to say that the Plan is always evolving.

The Divisional Director for Safeguarding & Social Care replied that it was and he sees the Plan as very much the ‘day job’ for many officers.

The Panel RESOLVED to note the progress made and the implementation of the Improvement Plan.