Agenda for Children & Young People's Trust Board on Monday, 1st November, 2010, 5.00pm
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Agenda, decisions and minutes
PDF 338 KBVenue: Council Chamber, Hove Town Hall. View directions
Contact: John Peel, Democratic Services Officer
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Procedural Business
(b) Declarations of Interest by all Members present of any personal interests in matters on the agenda, the nature of any interest and whether the Members regard the interest as prejudicial under the terms of the Code of Conduct.
(c) Exclusion of Press and Public - To consider whether, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted, or the nature of the proceedings, the press and public should be excluded from the meeting when any of the following items are under consideration.
NOTE: Any item appearing in Part 2 of the Agenda states in its heading either that it is confidential or the category under which the information disclosed in the report is exempt from disclosure and therefore not available to the public.
A list and description of the categories of exempt information is available for public inspection at Brighton and Hove Town Halls. Minutes: 8a Declarations of Substitutes
8.1 Mo Marsh was attending as substitute for Simon Turpitt, Eleanor Davies was attending as substitute for Andrew Jeffrey and Superintendent Steve Whitton was attending as substitute for Chief Superintendent Graham Bartlett.
8b Declarations of Interest
8.2 There were none.
8c In accordance with section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972 (‘the Act’), the Children & Young People’s Trust Board considered whether the press and public should be excluded from the meeting during an item of business on the grounds that it was likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the press or public were present during that item, there would be disclosure to them of confidential information (as defined in section 100A(3) of the Act) or exempt information (as defined in section 100I(1) of the Act).
8.3 RESOLVED- That the press and public not be excluded from the meeting.
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Minutes of the Previous Meeting Minutes of the previous meeting held on 19 July 2010 (copy attached). Minutes: 9.1 Janet Thacker noted that she was in attendance at the meeting.
9.2 RESOLVED- That subject to the noted amendments, the minutes of the previous meeting held on 19 July 2010 be approved and signed as the correct record.
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Chairman's Communications Minutes: 10.1 The Chairman welcomed the recently appointed Strategic Director, People; Terry Parkin to the meeting.
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Outcome of Unannounced Ofsted Inspection Report of the Strategic Director- People (copy attached).
Additional documents: Decision: 11.9 RESOLVED- That the report on the outcome of the unannounced Ofsted inspection is noted. Minutes: 11.1 The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, People. The report informed the Board of the outcome of the annual unannounced inspection of contact, referral and assessment arrangements with Brighton & Hove City Council’s Children’s Services. The Ofsted analysis detailed its finding under strengths, satisfactory practice, areas for development and priority actions.
11.2 The Chairman passed her recognition to social workers for their superb work and passed her thanks to the Sussex Police Authority and Social Services for their role in child protection. She noted that work was underway on the areas for development and would be monitored at a six monthly basis.
11.3 Councillor Hawkes conveyed her concern on some of the findings of the Ofsted findings in particular the delay in seeing children in need and the signing off of initial assessments by managers before they were complete. She sought reassurance on these important topics.
11.4 The report author clarified that the crucial parts of the findings focussed on children in need and workloads of the social work team. In response to this, the action plan centred upon making sure that children referred were seen quickly and through increased training that the referrals are assigned correctly.
11.5 A Member of the Board noted her concerns on the report and asked if she could have assurance on the actions on the shortcomings as the inspection was carried out four months ago.
11.6 The report author explained that there was a program of interventions devised with long-term and short-term strategies. There was now a clear pattern on initial assessments and a strategy on common assessment frameworks in place.
11.7 A Member of the Board asked how the acute impact of social services upon health care partners was being negotiated.
11.8 The report author clarified that workshops with partners had been put into place concerning tiered intervention and a development plan.
11.9 RESOLVED- That the report on the outcome of the unannounced Ofsted inspection is noted. |
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Verbal Presentation from Chair of Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) Decision: 12.4 RESOLVED- That the Board notes the verbal presentation from the Chairman of the LSCB. Minutes: 12.1 The Board considered a verbal presentation from the Chair of the Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB); Alan Bedford. The presentation covered the functions of the LSCB including the development of policies and procedures, communicating the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, monitoring and evaluating effectiveness of the Local Authority and Board partners, production of an annual report, and participation in the local planning and commissioning of children’s services. The report went on to cover LSCB accountability and key issues discussed by the LSCB.
12.2 The Chairman thanked the Chair of the LSCB for attending the meeting and providing an informative presentation on the work of the LSCB and how it leads to service improvement.
12.3 An NHS Brighton & Hove Primary Care Trust representative praised the presentation and said he would take great interest in the future reports to be submitted to the Board.
12.4 RESOLVED- That the Board notes the verbal presentation from the Chairman of the LSCB. |
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Future Partnership Arrangements (Board Discussion) Decision: RESOLVED- That the Board notes the presentations made and the matters arising concerning the future partnership arrangements of the Board.
Minutes: 13.1 The Board considered a presentation from the Lead Commissioner, Children, Youth and Families. The presentation considered matters central to the future partnership arrangements of the Board and the role of the Council under the Intelligent Commissioning structure. Issues considered included opportunities, challenges and priorities and the benefit of partnership.
13.2 The Board considered a presentation from a representative of the NHS Brighton and Hove Primary Care Trust (PCT). The presentation addressed matters concerning the abolition of the PCT and the transference of its commissioning duties to General Practitioners and its public health duties to the local authority. The presentation also covered how this transition would be managed effectively.
13.3 The Board considered a presentation from a representative of the Sussex Police Authority. The presentation included information on strategic partnerships with other local bodies, their existing and new areas of work which, included amongst others, work on substance misuse, Youth Offending Service and Restorative Justice.
13.4 The Board considered a presentation from the representative of the Community and Voluntary Sector Forums (CVSF). The report covered the organisation of the CVSF, the services they provided for children and young people, an identification of the strengths and weaknesses of the CVSF and how they would go forward with these. The report also considered the role of the CVSF within the CYPT Board and their priorities in co-operation with the Board.
13.5 Councillor Hawkes thanked the representatives for their presentation which she had found very helpful. She believed it was essential not only for the Board to continue but also to evolve as it had recently and become even more inclusive as responsibilities shift.
13.6 Councillor Fryer enquired about the assistance given to GP’s as part of the transitions.
13.7 The representative of the PCT responded that meetings would be held with GP’s and training given both individually and collectively. This would be a central focus of the transition.
13.8 Councillor Fryer noted that she would expect an increase in commissioning with profit-making organisations. She asked who would oversee this.
13.9 The representative of the PCT clarified that for the next two and a half years she would be undertaking this task. Under the new organisation, there would be an accountable officer responsible for the commissioning process.
13.10 The Professional Executive Committee Chair of Clinical Commissioning informed the Board that there was a mix of anxiety and excitement among GP’s surrounding the changes. She added that she thought GP’s would be best suited to the role as they had first hand experience of the service and potential improvements. There were concerns for accountability but the dialogue between the concerned groups had just begun.
13.11 The Chairman noted her pleasure that the Board Members were positive, pro-active and wished to continue the duties of the Board.
13.12 RESOLVED- That the Board notes the presentations made and the matters arising concerning the future partnership arrangements of the Board.
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Corporate Parenting Strategy
Report of the Strategic Director- People (copy attached). Additional documents: Minutes: 14.1 The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, People. The report informed Members of the Board of the arrangements for the collective responsibilities that Members and Officers of Brighton & Hove City Council and it partner organisations have for children and young people in care of the local authority. These included children accommodated by voluntary agreement with their parent(s), those on statutory orders, those in shared care arrangements, those remanded into care and unaccompanied asylum seeking children.
14.2 Councillor Hawkes requested that all elected Members be kept regularly up to date of the implications of the central and local government spending reviews on child care and safety.
14.3 The report author responded that there would be Members seminars held, an elected Member brief and a presentation on the matter that would be distributed to all Members.
14.4 Councillor Fryer enquired upon the details of the virtual school for looked after children.
14.5 The report author responded that the virtual school was an organisational tool to enable effective coordination of educational services at a strategic and operational level for looked after children. The aim was to offer practical support to children, young people and their carers on day to day issues such as support with reading, homework and contacting school. He suggested that the head teacher of the virtual school be invited to a future meeting which the Board Members agreed would be extremely informative.
14.6 RESOLVED- That the Board:
1) Agree the attached Corporate Parenting Strategy for Brighton & Hove 2) The Partnership Board accept their responsibilities in furthering the goals as outlined in the corporate parenting strategy within their own organisation and collectively as a partnership 3) This is a Council-wide and partner agency responsibility and individuals at every level across all service areas in Brighton & Hove must as the Corporate Parent, achieve these tasks.
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Children's and Young People's Plan Performance Report Report of the Strategic Director- People (copy attached).
Additional documents: Decision: 15.6 RESOLVED- That the Board notes the data and analysis in the CYPP Performance Report and agrees to the action being taken to improve performance.
Minutes: 15.1 The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, People. The report gave a progress check on the delivery of the Children and Young People’s Plan in relation to the four Strategic Improvement Priorities and the related performance measures. The report was also designed to inform the Board’s discussion about future arrangements for partnership working across services for children, young people and their families.
15.2 Councillor Fryer enquired about what would replace the National Indicator targets set by central government.
15.3 The report author responded that although still unclear at the moment and more would be know upon the completion of the Munro report. However, he expected the Indicators to be replaced by a single, comprehensive data report that would be sent to central government.
15.4 Councillor Fryer noted her concern on data produced measuring substance abuse by young people and asked if a more detailed breakdown could be produced and brought to a future meeting in particular segregation into age grouping.
15.5 The report author explained that the data accumulated was of concern. The information indicated that there was not an increase in the number of young people using substances but an increase in the amount of use by each young person. A new training programme would begin in the autumn and a specialist needs assessment process for the treatment of young people misusing substances would begin in November. The results would be presented to the Board at the earliest opportunity.
15.6 RESOLVED- That the Board notes the data and analysis in the CYPP Performance Report and agrees to the actions being taken to improve performance. |