Agenda item

The Panel will receive a presentation on this item from the Director for Children and Young People.

The Director of Children and Young People addressed the Panel, a summary of her presentation is set out below.

Vision and Year One Priority Areas

Deliver the Council’s Core Offer

Protecting and caring for our most vulnerable

·  Ensure a robust safeguarding system to protect children (and adults) at risk

·  Assess and meet the needs of children and young people where they have suffered significant harm or are at immediate risk of significant harm

·  Assess and meet the needs of children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities

·  Ensure that the voice of children, young people, parents and carers is central to all service planning and review

Nurturing residents’ health, safety and wellbeing

·  Provide or commission services for families in our area that support them to raise their children

Providing ways for everyone in the community to reach their full potential

·  Support young adults that have left our care until the age of 25

Provide strong and effective social work leadership

·  Development of an integrated practice model, e.g. unifying framework

·  Development of an organizational development strategy for social care, to address recruitment, retention and staff development

Ensure robust finance overview and scrutiny

·  Strengthen current finance scrutiny

·  Delivery of savings plans

Councillor Liz Hardman asked what she thought was likely to be the main obstacles she would face within the role.

The Director of Children and Young People replied that a huge commitment exists within B&NES, but that the funding surrounding the SEND reforms was likely to be the biggest challenge. She added that the Council will use the data it has to project ahead in order to attempt to meet demands. She said that collaborative working will be significant factor in the years to come.

Councillor Peter Turner asked how the effectiveness of the role will be measured.

The Director of Children and Young People replied that she has set herself a plan and discussed priorities with her Senior Management Team and that these will be monitored on a regular basis.

The Chair commented that around 18 months ago she and David Williams had met with a group of social workers and wanted to ask if the issues they raised at that time had been addressed.

The Director of Children and Young People replied that she recalled the positive feedback of this meeting and said that as a result new developments were in train. She added that day to day she sits in the same work area as the social work staff.

The Corporate Director added that it was good to now have the Principal Children & Families Social Worker to act as a link between the relevant teams.

The Chair asked how the increasing problem of ‘County Lines’ is being addressed.

The Director of Children and Young People replied that the Council has been working on this issue for some time and that strategies regarding it are being delivered.

The Corporate Director added that Police intelligence was of course also key on this matter.

Councillor Paul May commented that integration and early interventions were key areas to address within the role as well as the retention of staff to enable stability.

Chris Batten asked if a report detailing the support available for Young Carers could be brought to the March meeting of the Panel.

The Director of Children and Young People replied that it could.

The Chair thanked her for the presentation on behalf of the Panel.