Agenda item

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

Councillor Paul May, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services addressed the Panel and highlighted the following points to them.

HCRG

We are aware of an incident affecting the provider HCRG Care Group. We are working with them and others to fully understand the scale of the incident and any potential impact on health data. Patients should continue to access NHS care in the normal way. While investigations are ongoing and can take time, patients do not need to take any action or contact your care provider. Any individuals who are impacted will be contacted and advised in line with Information Commissioners Office (ICO) guidance.  

Families First Partnership Programme

The Families First Partnership Programme (FFP) is a new national programme set up in the Department for Education, backed by over half a billion pounds of investment (£523.5m). The programme will work in partnership with local areas (local authorities, police, health, education and other relevant agencies) to improve their local services and systems that help and protect children and families.

Bath and North East Somerset have an engagement meeting regarding “readiness” with the Department of Education (DFE) on March 10th 2025. We will provide a regular update on implementation plans.

Councillor May announced that this would be the final Panel meeting for the Director of Children's Services & Education, Mary Kearney-Knowles as she was retiring. He thanked her for all the work she had done for the Local Authority.

The Chair, on behalf of the Panel, gave their thanks as well.

Kevin Burnett asked if any of the Families First work could dovetail with the work outlined regarding attainment.

The Director of Children's Services & Education replied that engagement sessions were planned to take place over the coming weeks and that transformation was planned to take place across 2025/26.

Councillor Liz Hardman asked if any further update could be provided regarding the Safety Valve programme.

Councillor May replied that he could not really add anything further to his written update and had asked the Director for Education & Safeguarding to provide an update to Cabinet as soon as any new information was available.

Councillor Joanna Wright asked if he was aware that the phoneline for Bath Mind was due to close down on 31^st March.

Councillor May replied that he believed that this was a contract issue for the ICB.

Councillor Wright said that she had been contacted by a resident who has been unable to make any contact with HCRG.

Councillor May asked if she would pass those details on so that the matter could be looked into further.

Councillor Robin Moss asked if any comment could be given regarding the number of local organisations, including Off The Record and Voices, who are set to receive less or no funding in the coming year.

Councillor May replied that he shared these concerns regarding funding, was not aware of the reductions for Off The Record and was due to meet with representatives from Voices later in the week.

The Chair thanked him for his update on behalf of the Panel.