Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, Fourth Floor, Easthampstead House, Bracknell. View directions

Contact: Lizzie Rich  01344 352253

Items
No. Item

1.

Minutes and Matters Arising

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on 27 January 2017 were approved as a correct record.

 

Matters Arising from the Action Log

  • Pan-Berkshire Sub-Groups Hosting Arrangements had been reviewed and agreed at the pan Berkshire Independent Chairs meeting on 8 March 2017
  • The structure chart for Berkshire Health Foundation Trust had been circulated, and information regarding the new integrated children’s services would be circulated to the Board from Erika Hyett.
  • It was requested that the Board confirm whether details for the new LADO had been disseminated to schools and partner agencies.
  • Julia Powers agreed to take forward the action for John Ennis regarding Bracknell Forest Council and Bracknell Forest Homes’ policies for high risk MAPPA cases.
  • Reading Borough Council with the Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner had put in a bid to the Department for Communities and Local Government to fund refuge places for victims of domestic violence in the Thames Valley, and had been awarded £131k in funding. It was hoped that this would ease pressure on Berkshire Women’s Aid. The Board requested that the Domestic Abuse Executive provide updates on this as part of their routine submission to the LSCB.
  • The pan-Berkshire Chairs group had agreed in principle to a task and finish group around elective home education to consider any amendments/develop recommendations for local arrangements as it was recognised that there were national policy issues
  • The Chair had raised concerns in a meeting with Ofsted who had been considering safeguarding issues around home education, and recognised the challenge and concerns of Local Authorities and LSCBs. If a formal statement or outcome was produced, Alex Walters would circulate this to the Board.

It was requested that details of the CAFCASS re-organisation be provided to the Board. (Action: Alison Small/Spencer Hird)

2.

Challenge Log

Minutes:

Alex Walters presented the LSCB Risk and Challenge Log 2016-17 as a standing item. The log had been updated to include an Impact Factor rating, following suggestions made by the Peer Reviewers to indicate risk and impact of lack of progress .

 

Arising from discussions, the following key updates were noted:

  • 1-Work to address attendance and evaluation at LSCB multi-agency training was underway, funded by the income generated from the new charging policy.
  • 6-An external auditor had been sought to review fixed term exclusions from Bracknell Forest schools.
  • 11-An update on progress regarding an independent residential provider against their action plan had been undertaken in February 17 but follow up work was needed.
  • 10-The Board had not yet been assured that e-safety work had been picked up sufficiently across partnerships, and so this challenge would be carried forward and form a priority area for improvement in 17/18
  • 12-The Child Protection Conference audit templatehad been recently updated, and would be shared with the LSCB. (Action: Angella Wells/Alison Burnell)
  • 3-There remained concerns regarding the transition between children’s and adult’s social care services regarding CSE and the eligibility criteria and would form part of a priority area for improvement in 2017/18 (Action: Karen Roberts)
  • 28 -CSE training and raising awareness arrangements in schools were not yet clear, despite requests from the CSE subgroup and a focus from the Council’s Overview and Scrutiny function. The CSE sub-group referred this issue back to the Board for advice on how to proceed. It was agreed the Chair would escalate this to the Chief Officer/DCS. (Action-Alex Walters).  Jonathan Picken agreed to review the s175 audit requirements in order to clarify what information is currently gathered. (Action: Jonathan Picken). Peter agreed to ask a secondary school what CSE awareness training had taken place (with staff and pupils) and how they commission their safeguarding training, (Action: Peter Floyd)

3.

Peer Review Feedback and Action Plan

Minutes:

Alex Walters presented the LSCB Peer Review Action Plan 2017, and discussed the feedback from the recent peer review undertaken of the LSCB on 30 and 31/1/17.

 

Board members had found the peer review process fair, reasonable and useful. Reviewers had been very positive about the ambition of the LSCB and the level of engagement and commitment from partners. Partners were thanked for their involvement and availability for the review process.

 

It was noted that many of the areas for improvement had been addressed and completed. In response to questions, the following points were noted:

  • It was suggested that a statement could be included on the LSCB website to detail the Board’s independence from the Local Authority, and be reiterated in induction of new Board members. There was a responsibility on Partners to feed back the message of an independent Partnership to their organisations.
  • It was recognised that although the LSCB was independent of the Local Authority, the statutory responsibility for the Board remained with the Council’s Chief Executive.
  • In terms of recognising the regional footprint for some partners, the Chair had raised  with pan-Berkshire Chairs the potential of an East Berkshire Serious Case Review group, however it was agreed that it was important not to lose the information sharing opportunities and learning from non-Serious Case Reviews in Bracknell Forest. This will be subject to a fuller review at the June pan Berkshire Chairs meeting.
  • Impact work would be included on all future agendas.
  • Newsletters with the findings and learning from audits/quality improvement activity would be produced from the Board, in a similar way to that already circulated by Children’s Social Care.
  • The work around data and performance management would be reviewed to assess whether it was too focussed on the Local Authority, although it was agreed that the Board was good at including partner agencies updates and reports where provided.

4.

LSCB Self-Assessment

Minutes:

Jonathan Picken asked the Board members to use the template to consider and discuss the effectiveness of the Board against the Ofsted criteria, with provision of examples and evidence of impact. Responses were noted and collated to feed in to future work.

 

It was agreed that the LSCB self-assessment document would be circulated to the Board for further consideration and be presented to the LSCB at its May meeting.(Action: Alison Burnell)

5.

Hertfordshire Bid Update

Minutes:

Lorna Hunt gave a update on the Hertfordshire Bid to the DfE Innovation fund, which had been approved.

 

The family safeguarding model had been trialled in Hertfordshire, and a final evaluation was awaited but initial outcomes were very promising. This would now be expanded to cover Bracknell Forest (and Luton, Peterborough and West Berkshire Councils)   following a successful joint bid to the Innovation fund.

 

The new model would be trialled in tow of the long term teams, the Over 11s team and the Under 11s team. The team would include specialist practitioners for substance misuse, mental health and domestic abuse who would work jointly with social workers and family workers.. There would also additionally be a clinical psychologist available to both teams. 

 

It was hoped that the new model would be implemented by the end of September 2017, and would be funded for 21 months from this point. Following the 21 month period, a business case would need to be created to sustain the service and secure further funding.

 

With regard to governance, there would be a quarterly Directors of Children’s Services meeting for the Local Authorities involved, a pan-Berkshire Executive Board, and  Project Board with five workstreams including ICT and accommodation, Communications and consultations, Performance Management and evaluation, workforce training and practice development. Partners were encouraged to input to and agree the development of key performance indicators for the model.

Senior Partners would sit on the Executive Board and, if the model of working was found to be successful, they would look to re-align budgets to sustain the model long term.  Evaluation of the service will be undertaken by a University included in the project from the beginning.

 

The report on the model would be going to the Council’s Executive for approval in the coming weeks.

 

In response to questions, the following points were noted:

  • The Youth Offending Services was a good example of a successful multi-agency co-located model.
  • The involvement of mental health professionals would help families, as some children did not meet the criteria for CAMHS support.
  • All children’s social care staff would be trained in motivational interviewing, which would be added benefit..
  • The LSCB requested to see the Hertfordshire evaluation when available and the report describing the project when agreed by the executive.(Action: Lorna Hunt)

6.

JTAI Inspection Update

Minutes:

Lorna Hunt and Jonathan Picken updated the Board on the Joint Targeted Area Inspection programme and the next tranche of 6 which would focus on the theme of neglect-particularly adolescent neglect. These would be then be followed in 2018 by the theme of Child Sexual Abuse within the family

It was suggested that a multi-agency audit on neglect could be undertaken to prepare for inspection. It was anticipated that the focus would be on over 10s.

 

An audit day was being planned for the end of May 2017, in which one or two cases would be audited together with partner agencies in a day. It was agreed that this practice would be useful, irrespective of the impending JTAI.

7.

LSCB Safeguarding Business Plan

·         Action Plan Progress

·         Proposed Priorities for 2017/18

Minutes:

Alex Walters presented the LSCB Safeguarding Plan 2016-19, with particular highlights /updates given around the progress against the targeted priorities for 2016-17:

 

1.    Increase the effectiveness of the safeguarding journey for children and young people

  1. Ensure the effectiveness of the arrangements to reduce the impact of violence on children and young people
  2. Ensure the effectiveness of the arrangements to provide Early Help provision
  3. Strengthen arrangements in place to safeguard missing children and those at risk of CSE
  4. Ensure the effectiveness of the steps partners must take to counter hate crime and extremism

 

A Business Development workshop had been held on 10/3/17 with the LSCB and sub group chairs and key partner leads to review evidence of progress and additional areas of potential priority for improvement focus.

 

  • Targeted Priority 1 was achieved but needed to carry forward in 17/18 to reflect the need to review and monitor the increase in Child Protection Plans and repeat CPPS and the increase in LAC who are NEET and MASH arrangements.
  • Targeted Priority 2 and 3 were achieved but would continue into 17/18 to follow up the specific actions arising from the auditing activity.
  • Targeted Priority 4 was achieved and would be included in “business as normal” reporting arrangements
  • Targeted Priority 5 was achieved but a specific focus on Online Safety was still required
  • An additional priority area on Disabled Children in terms of transition between adults and children’s services and placements out of Borough and this was agreed in principle by the LSCB.

 

Alex Walters and LSCB Team agreed to produce a more detailed Business Plan for 17/18 for agreement at the May LSCB.

8.

LSCB Audits

·         Forward Plan of Audits

·         Update of Current Audits

Minutes:

Jonathan Picken presented the reports setting out the quality assurance and improvement activity undertaken by the LSCB through its Audits and Surveys 2016-17, with particular focus and update on the multi-agency audits currently underway

 

  • CSE/Missing Consultation with Children and Young People. It was recognised that contact with young people had proven challenging but there was evidence of effective learning
  • Primary School Exclusions Audit with a focus on Early Help services
  • Domestic Abuse Audit

All of these audits involve discussions with multi-agency practitioners and discussions with children and their families.

 

It was intended that these audits would be completed and outcome reports and recommendations would be available to the Learning and Improvement Subgroup in April, and then presented to the May Board along with the LSCB learning leaflets

9.

LSCB Performance Data

Minutes:

Alison Burnell presented the LSCB Performance Data for the period Quarter 3, 2016-17, giving particular focus to the following areas:

 

·         Child Protection Plans, which had increased from 142 at the end of June 2016 to 177 at the end of February 2017. An independent review had been commissioned by the Local Authority to consider the possible reasons for the increase and this report will be considered at the LISG in April and the LSCB in May 17.

·          The number of Children in Need with a disability had increased, although new SEN and Educational Health Care Plans had not seen an increase. Work to scope how the LSCB can be assured of the safeguarding of disabled children is currently being scoped.

·          CSE cases reported to the Police-in Bracknell Forest had been the highest in Berkshire in Q3 with 24 cases. There had also been an increase in the number of CSE cases discussed at SEMRAC, with 36 in Quarter 3.

·         Sexual offences against under 18s included an apparent increase in the number of rapes reported and it was recommended that the CSE Sub-group consider general trends on this issue to inform their local profiling narrative.

10.

Six Monthly Reports

·         Learning and Improvement Sub-Group

·         Board Finance Update

·         Substance Misuse Report

Minutes:

The LSCB received six monthly reports from the Learning and Improvement Sub-group, the Substance Misuse report, and the Board’s Finance report.

 

Learning and Improvement Sub-group

Alex Walters presented the Learning and Improvement Sub-group Update report.

 

The Learning and Improvement Sub-group had undertaken several reviews of partner single-agency audits, multi-agency audits, two surveys and the year-on evidence of impact following the Serious Case Review C. It has developed a safeguarding supervision framework for all organisations and considered the multi-agency strategy to prevent children becoming subject to repeat Child Protection Plans and arrangements for visits to children subject to child protection plans. The LISG has also considered the action plan from an independent residential provider and monitored the progress.

 

It was requested that the Early Years year-on impact report be provided to the Group. (Action: Lorraine Collins)

There has been key work around GPs and S11 returns which had resulted in successful local engagement and provided the opportunity to support  improvements.

 

 

LSCB Finance Report

Jonathan Picken presented the LSCB Finance Report, which set out the proposed budget for 17/18, and it was recognised that the budget for 16/17 was on track.

 

Partner agencies were expected to maintain the current level of commitment  and the budget for 17/18 would be formalised once contributions from all partner agencies were confirmed.

 

Cost savings and efficiencies were being sought wherever possible.

 

Jonathan commented that the new charging policy for LSCB training had generated approximately £7500 this year, which would enable the Training and Professional Development sub-group to undertake necessary work around the needs analysis and evaluation of training and other projects.

 

The proposed budget was agreed in principle, subject to confirmation.

 

Substance Misuse Report

The Substance Misuse Report was deferred to the next meeting to enable a representative to respond to questions on the report. 

11.

Other Reports

·         MASH Evaluation

Minutes:

Mairead Panetta , Head of Safeguarding presented the MASH Evaluation report.

 

The Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) had been established in May 2016. An external safeguarding consultant had been appointed to undertake a review of the service.

 

The evaluation had been very positive about practice evidenced through audit within the MASH and this was welcomed.

However the review suggested that the referral processes required further integration  and proposed that the MASH be expanded to be the single point of entry for all children’s services referrals including Early Help and CSC  as opposed to the dual referral system currently in place. It also recommended adopting the MASH standards framework and these to be monitored by regular audits

.

Mairead and other Children’s Services colleagues were due to visit the Hampshire County Council Early Help Hub to see how this worked.

 

In response to questions, the following points were noted:

·         A previously commissioned review of Early Help had not been presented to the LSCB and there was a clear need to ensure that the recommendations were aligned

·         The measured approach for assessing and considering potential changes to the current system was welcomed

·         It  was hoped that the visit to Hampshire County Council would enable good learning opportunities to inform any future decision.

·         All JTAIs were assessing the ‘front door’ of social care, and it was suggested that these reports be reviewed to obtain any learning

 

Further work would be undertaken and a future report would come to the LSCB proposing any future changes to the current arrangements recognising the need to ensure that these arrangements were crucial to an effective safeguarding system.

12.

New LSCB Report Template

Minutes:

Alison Burnell presented the new LSCB report template, which had been developed to ensure uniformity and improvement in the identification of key issues in reports submitted to the Board.

 

The new template had been established based on West Berkshire LSCB’s template. Following the peer review, the Board had been advised to consider how to streamline arrangements and reduce the amount of printing and length of reports to Board members. The new template would encourage brevity, whilst prompting report writers to consider the specific relevance of their item to the LSCB.

 

It was agreed that the template would be sent out to all partners. (Action: Alison Burnell)

 

The LSCB agreed to trial the new template at its next meeting.

 

13.

Any Other Business

Minutes:

It was acknowledged that Keith Grainger had notified that he would be stepping down from chairing the Training and Professional Development sub-group, and a new chair would be sought. Any partner who was willing or knew of someone with skills in this area was asked to contact Jonathan Picken.

61.          Dave Phillips reported that the Safeguarding Adults Partnership Board had been consulted on a joining with the equivalent at Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead. The LSCB expressed concern that some local arrangements may be lost and requested the opportunity to be involved in the consultation.

 

Ian Boswell reported that he had met with town centre developers to discuss issues about potential anti-social behaviour in the town centre leading up to The Lexicon’s opening in September 2017. New provision for young people was being assessed as part of this process.

 

Alex Walters gave a formal notification of thanks on behalf of the LSCB to John Ennis, National Probation Service for his significant involvement and contribution to the work of the LSCB, following John’s move to Reading NPS.

 

Alex also thanked all partners for contributing to the independent chairs’ appraisal, and commented that feedback from the appraisal would be presented to the LSCB as last year.

14.

Information Items (circulated by email)

·         Minutes from other Partnerships

·         Berkshire Family Justice Board Quarterly Report

·         Peer Review Feedback Presentation Jan 17

Minutes:

The LSCB noted the following Information Items which were distributed electronically:

  • Minutes of other Bracknell Strategic Partnerships-Community Safety Partnership; Health and Wellbeing Board and CYP Partnership
  • Berkshire Family Justice Board Quarterly Report
  • Peer Review Feedback Presentation January 2017

15.

Date of Next Meeting

19 May 2017, 9:30am

14 July 2017, 9:30am

22 September 2017, 9:30am

24 November 2017, 9:30am

Minutes:

The next meeting was scheduled for 19 May 2017.

 

Contact Information

Democratic services

Email: committee@bracknell-forest.gov.uk