Agenda and minutes

Contact: Julie Mayer
tel. no.: 020 7332 1410  Email: julie.mayer@cityoflondon.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies

Minutes:

Apologies were received from Ruby Sayed (Deputy Chairman) and Deputy Joyce Nash.

 

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 1.

2.

Members' declarations under the code of conduct in respect of items on the agenda

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

3.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 85 KB

To agree the minutes of the previous meeting.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 3.

Minutes:

Resolved – that the public minutes and non-public summary of the previous meeting be agreed as an accurate record.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

4.

Special educational needs and disability (SEND) - Update pdf icon PDF 88 KB

Report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services.

 

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 4.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee received a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services and noted the update.

 

Members received a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services which provided Members with an update on Special Educational Needs and Disability. As Ofsted had visited during the planning stage, the timescales would also be visible in the outcome report. In order to implement learning from the Inspection; parents of SEND children and young people are in the early stages of implementing a carers’ forum. Giving a voice to parents and young people, and the co-production of services, is very much at the forefront of Year-2 priorities. Parents are very keen to promote weekend activities. However, this can be challenging given the low numbers and age range of the young people concerned. Priorities for this year include short breaks, commissioned from Hackney; including siblings with disability as well as SENs. Parents feel that the current offer is limited, mainly due to the restraints within the City, but options were being explored; i.e. swimming at Golden Lane Leisure Centre.

 

Members suggested that officers engage with the Departments of Planning and Transportation and Open Spaces and the Barbican Arts Centre. Officers advised that the development of the local leisure offer is a high priority and, whilst this is a work in progress, parents and partners are encouraged to share their experience with web searches. A recent session at a City Library had been very successful and resulted in the children’s work being displayed at a City Museum. Another parent is working with Friends of City Gardens on a proposal for a sensory garden for autistic visitors.

 

The Chairman of the Community and Children’s Services Committee has attended the Ofsted meeting, which he had found very positive and commended the team for their hard

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

5.

Mental Health Strategy pdf icon PDF 59 KB

Report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services.

 

 

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 5.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee received a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services and noted the update. The City Corporation’s current Mental Health strategy 2015–2018 was approved by the Health and Wellbeing Board in December 2015. The CoLC and City and Hackney CCG share ownership of the document. It aims to improve the mental health of people in the City, keep people well and then ensure that we provide effective support when mental health problems do arise. An action plan was developed to monitor the progress against four priorities to deliver better outcomes for residents, workers and rough sleepers. This strategy is due to be refreshed.

 

A joint Mental Health Strategy will enable a collaborative approach to provide more effective mental health and wellbeing services and improved health outcomes for the workers and residents of the City of London. A draft strategy will be brought to Members in April 2019.

 

 

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

6.

Early Help Annual Report 2017-2018 pdf icon PDF 307 KB

Report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services.

 

 

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 6.

Minutes:

The Committee received a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services and noted the update.

 

The vision and aim of Early Help, articulated in the Early Help strategy, is that we reach the right families with the right help, in the right place at the right time. This includes responding to current needs and putting support in place so that escalation to statutory services is prevented wherever possible. The goal is that children and families would be able to manage well without targeted support and that early help would prevent dependency on, or referral to, statutory services in the future. Direct work with children and young people at Tier 2 is coordinated through the CAF and TAC mechanisms. While partner agencies have been encouraged to complete CAFs and to lead TAC meetings, there were no external CAFs completed in 2017/18. Therefore, data in this report refers only to cases held within the Children and Families Team.  It was noted that whilst there were fewer partner CAFs , there was increased activity in respect of allocated Early Help cases in the Children and Families Service.  With a permanent Early Help specialist worker in post , the momentum to maintain strong focus on Early Help was continuing with positive feedback provided on the direct support provided by the Early Help service. 

 

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

7.

Corporate Parenting Strategy Annual Report 2017-18 pdf icon PDF 76 KB

Report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services.

 

 

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 7.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee received a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services and noted the update.

 

The City of London Corporation is a Corporate Parent to the children who are in its care. These looked-after children are children and young people aged from 0 to the eve of their 18th birthday who cannot safely remain with their family, or those for whom the City Corporation acts as a parent in the absence of family. children in care (CIC) can include unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC), children with multiple disabilities and those who have suffered abuse and/or neglect. As such, looked-after children and young people are one of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged groups in our community.  The report noted to the continuing good work that the CoL does as a Corporate Parent to its children in care population and Care Leaver Population. It was noted that the Chairman will be meeting with the Children in Care Council in October. Members were pleased that there were positive reports in respect of the Children in Care Council going on its annual summer trip- this time sailing in the English Channel.

 

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

8.

Action for Children Annual Survey 2018 pdf icon PDF 68 KB

Report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services.

 

 

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 8.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee received a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services and noted the update.

 

Between February and March 2018, Action for Children carried out the annual service user survey with children and families supported by the City of London’s Children and Families Team. This survey included families open to early help, children assessed as being in need, children subject to a child protection plan, children looked after by the City of London, and care leavers. The survey sought to establish the views from children of varying age ranges, so questionnaires and methodologies were adapted to suit the needs of the children.

 

Overall the feedback from the survey was very positive, especially about the relationships between young people and their social workers. This was particularly evident in looked-after children and care leavers. Children and young people felt safe and there was positive feedback about the Children in Care Council (CiCC). Three young people who were looked after by the City raised concerns that there were not enough laptops for educational use. This issue has been resolved and young people who need one have been allocated a laptop. Members acknowledged that the report complimented the presentation at the previous Sub Committee that had been given by Action For Children on the initial findings of the survey , which at the time had just been completed.

 

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

9.

Service Improvement Plan 2017-2018 pdf icon PDF 82 KB

Report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services.

 

 

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 9.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee received a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services and noted the update. 20 tasks are marked as ‘amber’. Work in the next quarter is to turn these to green, including the areas highlighted above. Key actions include:

· Work with the new Virtual School Head to drive forward and extend employment and educational opportunities for our children looked after and care leavers.

· Amending and relaunching the MASH to improve information sharing at the beginning of family involvement (September) (SIP 1.5)

· Writing guidance for staff on specific risk assessment tools (SIP 1.6a/1.6b)

Members were pleased with the progress being made in respect of the priorities set out in the Service Improvement Plan(SIP). The SIP will remain as a standing item on the agenda.

 

 

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

10.

Progression of Workforce Development Commissioning Arrangements pdf icon PDF 66 KB

Report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services.

 

 

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 10.

Minutes:

The Committee received a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services and noted the update.

 

Throughout 2018, the Workforce Learning and Development for the People’s Directorate within the Department of Community and Children’s Services (DCCS) will be tendering to appoint a service provider to deliver a wider range of learning opportunities for staff across the Directorate. A range of options have been explored for the delivery of learning and development to specifically meet the needs of social care staff across the service areas within the People’s Directorate. The Workforce Development Group, consisting of Senior Managers and Human Resources personnel, agree a tendered service would best meet the identified need. Funding for this new service has been sourced from the Departmental Local Risk budget. This will fund the development and deployment of a two-year tendered contract to deliver learning and development activity within the Directorate. The new service support the service to meet the future demands in respect of Social Work accreditation.  It is anticipated that this will be in place by end of the calendar year.

 

 

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

11.

The City and Hackney Safeguarding Adults Board (CHSAB) Annual Report 2017/18 pdf icon PDF 66 KB

Report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services.

 

 

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 11.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee received a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services and noted the update. The City and Hackney Safeguarding Adults Board (CHSAB) is a statutory Board and it is a statutory requirement to produce an annual.

In summary during 2017/18:

 · City of London partnership concluded its financial abuse awareness event. The CHSAB has taken up the mantle and is planning a follow-up campaign in 2018/19 to raise awareness among residents about how to keep safe and avoid financial abuse.

· City of London continues to build on its work with people who are socially isolated. We are involved in an initiative to address social isolation and loneliness for residents, which has the potential to reduce the likelihood of people becoming the subject of an adult safeguarding concern.

· City of London ran successful ‘Rough Sleeping’ event, signposting rough sleepers to appropriate services.

· City of London staff from all partner agencies attended the ‘Learning from Safeguarding Adults Reviews (SARs)’ workshops and have taken the learning back into their organisations.

· The Assistant Director for People and Community Services is the chair of the SARs sub-group and has led the group towards an evaluation of learning that identifies key themes to address in the strategic plan.

 

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.

12.

Questions of matters relating to the work of the Committee

Minutes:

There were no questions.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

13.

Any other business the Chairman considers urgent

Minutes:

There were no items.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.

14.

Exclusion of the Public

MOTION - That under Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part I of the Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 14.

Minutes:

RESOLVED - That under Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part 1 of the Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 14.

15.

Non-Public Minutes

To agree the non-public minutes of the previous meeting.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 15.

Minutes:

Resolved – that the minutes of the previous meeting be agreed as an accurate record.

 

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 15.

16.

Adult Safeguarding Performance Report

Report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services.

 

 

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 16.

Minutes:

The Committee received a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services and noted the update.

 

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 16.

17.

Children's Safeguarding Report for Quarter Four and Year-end 2017/18 and Quarter One 2018/19

Report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services.

 

 

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 17.

Minutes:

The Committee received a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services and noted the update.

 

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.

18.

City of London Children in Care Council (CiCC) - Update

Report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services.

 

 

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 18.

Minutes:

The Committee received a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services and noted the update.

 

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 18.

19.

Non-public questions on matters relating to the work of the Committee

Minutes:

There were no questions.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 19.

20.

Any other business that the Chairman considers urgent and which the Committee agree should be considered whilst the public are excluded

Minutes:

There were no items.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 20.