Agenda item

The Board received the quarterly monitoring report (QMR) for quarter two (1 July 2024 to 30 September 2024) for Children’s Social Care and Early Help and Education Departments.

The reports informed Members of the key performance indicators identified to measure progress against each of the priorities identified within the Children and Young People Plan.

It was noted that the new format and content of the QMR was agreed by the Board at the November 2024 meeting.  This was then updated to correlate with the priorities identified in the newly launched Children and Young People’s Partnership Plan 2024-27, and to comply with the new Corporate QMR reporting template.

Members commented that progress against many of the milestones was in ‘amber’ so appeared to have stalled, and challenged the reasons for this.  The Chair also commented that he had challenged the schools SEND transport policies as there were savings to be made there, as well as in other areas – residential placements, outside foster agencies and court costs.  It was agreed that a meeting would be set up to discuss these four areas in particular.  Officers would provide relevant information on demand for the services, costs and strategies currently being used.  In relation to SEND transport, examples of types of requests being dealt with would be presented at the meeting, to assist Members.

In response to the queries over the amber status’ the following additional information was provided in response to questions:

P1.4 – Partner led MAPS – there was work going on in the background and Officers were working with the Early Help Improvement Board and other partners.  Additional data would be available in Q3;

P6.5 – in relation to the Local Authority’s role in ensuring children who were electively home educated (EHE) were safeguarded and received a suitable education, the Government was progressing a Bill in Parliament which would legislate this; 

P6.5/6 – in cases where there was a concern following an inspection, over the quality of education received by a child who was EHE, a Schools Attendance Order could be issued via the Court and the child would be admitted to mainstream education using ‘in year fair access’;

P5.3 – The two new members of Quality Assurance staff were now in post and had visited all schools.  In relation to exclusions it was noted that there was a change in the reasons for being excluded, as incidents relating to drugs possession and use had increased and schools operated a zero tolerance policy towards this.  Drugs were being found in adapted vapes and Ketamine and snuff had been discovered recently in secondary schools.  Officers advised that a multi-agency partnership meeting was planned to discuss this issue – Councillors Lloyd Jones and Ryan requested to know the details of this so they could attend;

P3.1 – there were improvements in EHCP completions and more were expected in quarter 3; and

P7.7 – agency costs were coming down and social care staff were using Connect Halton for recruitment, in liaison with HR.  It was confirmed that the Council did not pay ‘finders fees’ for agency staff who became employed by the Council full time.

RESOLVED:  That the quarterly monitoring report be accepted as the mechanism by which Members could monitor and scrutinise progress going forward.