Agenda item

          The Board received the performance management report for Quarter 2 for 2025-26.

 

          The key priorities for development or improvement in 2023/24 were agreed by Members and included in the Business Plan, for the various functional areas reporting to the Board as detailed below:

· Education, Inclusion, Provision Services

· Children and Families Services

 

          The report detailed the progress made against objectives and milestones and performance targets and provided information relating to key developments and emerging issues that had arisen during the period.

 

          Highlights included increased attendance in the Family Engagement Hub and the Edge of Care Service successfully reducing residential placements. There had been an increase of children being placed in care which was at 384 at the time of the meeting but this included care leavers. EHCP timeliness was above the national average and timeliness had improved with EHCP annual reviews; following funding being granted by the Department for Education (DfE), officers intend to keep improving timeliness.

 

          The new Ofsted framework had been launched, and secondary school standings had increased above 71% for good or outstanding Ofsted grading. There had been a significant drop in exclusions and suspensions, and these were all scrutinised by officers. Even though there had been a drop in attendance at schools, attendance at the PRU (pupil referral unit) had improved and work will continue to improve this.

 

          164 staff members had received training through the Social Work Academy. There had been a reduction in using agency staff due to successful recruitment of agency workers by the Council. There had been an increase in permanent staff off long-term sick.

 

          The Council still struggled to recruit foster carers, but this was a national problem. To mitigate this, a new App had been launched called ‘Tell A Friend’ which had some success but it would not cover sufficiency needs.

 

          Schools were contacted to see if they would be interested in expanding their resource provision for SEND pupils and at least six schools expressed an interest in this. Consultations will be had with these schools, their communities and the DfE around this. Ashley High School will have four new classrooms built on site for their pupils by September 2026 and Brookfields School was also looking to expand their provision. Officers wanted to focus on SEND provision being expanded in secondary school as this was where the demand was.

 

          Prior to the meeting, several members of the Board received a presentation on the Youth Trailblazer Project for care leavers and NEET (not in education, employment or training) young people. The project’s purpose was to help young people access employment or education and it utilised money from the combined authority.

 

          For the future, officers will focus on reducing care demand, stabilise fostering provision, and helping create a care home with non-for-profit organisations.

 

          It was noted that the PRU was not in the most suitable location, however there was no alternative building and there were no funds available to build a new PRU.  This was a priority for the Council’s Strategic Asset Plan. Officers were working with the Headteacher of the PRU to ensure that they received all the provisions needed to educate the children there. This includes an incentivising curriculum and well-trained teachers. The PRU enhanced its breakfast club provision, and it now had 10 children attending it on average daily. To improve attendance, the PRU had a minibus to pick up pupils so they would not need to rely on public buses.

 

          Regarding the NEET figures, monthly meetings were had with Halton College. In terms of funding, the combined authority wants to be able to continue doing NEET work at a local level so possible delays with Central Government could be avoided.

 

          Officers had worked hard to reduce delays with court hearings regarding SGOs (special guardianship orders). They previously took up to two years but recently cases had been resolved in less than three months. Work to reduce the amount of time that C2 applications (an application in existing court proceedings relating to children) took had been done due to rising number of children being placed in care. It was preferable that children placed in care had no legal orders as this caused children who will be placed on SGOs to remain in foster care placements. Delays for court hearings could take up to four and a half months.

 

          Discussions were had with a national provider regarding getting children to school, but funding was needed from the DfE to do this. This scheme would improve student attendance and academic attainment for when they are in care.

 

          It was clarified that a court order would be required to remove a child from their home. However, if a child was deemed to be at immediate risk, then the Police would administer a PPO (Police protection order) or an EPO (emergency protection order) could be issued. Courts do not delay on actioning these orders but if there were delays in getting the case heard in court then a Section 20 could be discussed with the child’s parent or guardian as this would mean the child is put voluntarily in to care.

 

          In response to the Chair, officers confirmed that the cost placement panels will report to Corporate Parenting Board as part of the new structure. Historically, they reported to the Head of Children’s Services.

 

          It was confirmed that the debts from placements had increased due to residential placement costs increasing and there not being enough in-house foster carers. This was being addressed through the DCS Forum. 

 

          The Board noted that officers were doing everything possible to try to mitigate rising residential placement costs for out of borough placements, but Central Government would need to help all local authorities resolve this issue as it was a national issue. councils have resolution for this.

 

          Regarding violent incidents that happened in schools, officers confirmed that risk assessments were put in place to protect children and teachers when these incidents happened. The children and school staff involved in any reported incidents were safe and positive feedback and been received from the headteachers of schools where the4se incidents happened.

 

          It was clarified that JUNO is a non-for-profit organisation who LCR (Liverpool Combined Authority) have partnered with to purchase properties and turn them into in-borough care homes. They had recently bought one property in Halton and planned to purchase two more. There will be eight placements by 2027. It was noted that large numbers at residential homes would not be accepted by Ofsted

 

          RESOLVED: That the report be noted.