(Members Code of Conduct - Part 4A of the Constitution)

To receive disclosures of interests from members and co-opted members on matters to be considered at the meeting. The disclosure must include the nature of the interest.

An interest must also be disclosed in the meeting when it becomes apparent to the member during the meeting.

Notes:

(1)       Members may remain in the meeting and take part fully in discussion and voting unless the interest is a disclosable pecuniary interest or an interest which the Member feels would call into question their compliance with the wider principles set out in the Code of Conduct.  Disclosable pecuniary interests relate to the Member concerned or their spouse/partner.

(2)       Members in arrears of Council Tax by more than two months must not vote in decisions on, or which might affect, budget calculations, and must disclose at the meeting that this restriction applies to them.  A failure to comply with these requirements is a criminal offence under section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992. 

(3)       Members are also welcome to disclose interests which are not disclosable pecuniary interests but which they consider should be made in the interest of clarity.

(4)       Officers must disclose interests in accordance with Council Standing Order 44.

No disclosures of interest in matters under consideration were received.

Recommended –

That the minutes of the meeting held on 17 January 2018 be signed as a correct record (previously circulated).

(Jill Bell – 01274 4580)

Resolved –

That the minutes of the meeting held on 17 January 2018 be signed as a correct record (previously circulated).

ACTION: City Solicitor

(Access to Information Procedure Rules – Part 3B of the Constitution)

Reports and background papers for agenda items may be inspected by contacting the person shown after each agenda item.  Certain reports and background papers may be restricted. 

Any request to remove the restriction on a report or background paper should be made to the relevant Strategic Director or Assistant Director whose name is shown on the front page of the report. 

If that request is refused, there is a right of appeal to this meeting. 

Please contact the officer shown below in advance of the meeting if you wish to appeal. 

(Jill Bell - 01274 434580)

There were no appeals submitted by the public to review decisions to restrict documents.

To receive referrals have been made to this Committee.

The Committee is asked to note the referrals and decide how it wishes to proceed, for example by incorporating the item into the work programme, requesting that it be subject to more detailed examination, or refer it to an appropriate Working Group/Committee.

No referrals had been received.

The report of the Strategic Director of Children’s Services (Document “AH”) presents the most recent information on the workload of Children’s Social Work Teams and updates Members on key pressures on the service. The workload analysis is based on activity up to 31^st December 2017.

There has been a slight rise to the overall workloads of social workers, and pressures upon the service since the last report was presented. The report demonstrates that Social Work Services for Children & Young People in the District remain strong, robust and well managed.

Recommended -

That the Committee consider further reports in the 2017-18 work programme to ensure the continuation of safe workloads and practice into the future given the current financial climate.

(Di Drury – 01274 437077)

The report of the Strategic Director of Children’s Services (Document “AH”) presented the most recent information on the workload of Children’s Social Work Teams and updated Members on key pressures on the service. The workload analysis was based on activity up to 31^st December 2017.

There had been a slight rise to the overall workloads of social workers, and pressures upon the service since the last report was presented. The report demonstrated that Social Work Services for Children & Young People in the District remained strong, robust and well managed.

The Deputy Director of Social Care noted that the increase in workloads was a cause for some concern but  that mitigating action had been taken to ensure the safe running of the services.  He added that the issue of most concern was the balance between experienced and less experienced social workers.  He went on to advise that social worker turnover was at 17.7%.  Feedback provided at exit interviews had highlighted that the level of pay was lower than other authorities and in particular Kirklees.  He advised members that an additional £450,000 had been allocated in the 2018/19 budget for the social work service and that consideration was being given to how best to use this.  He noted that managers had not left the authority and remained loyal to Bradford despite bigger rewards that could be offered in other authorities.  He referred to the increase in looked after children to 988 but noted that  this was still significantly better than the Council’s statistical neighbours.  He noted the significant pressure due to the number of referrals and assessments that were being received.

A member asked a question about the staff survey referred to at a previous meeting.  In response the Health and Wellbeing Portfolio Holder advised members that a working party of Labour members had been set up and had held meetings and drop in sessions with social workers who had also completed questionnaires.  She added that an improvement plan had been drawn up and that an additional £450,000 had been allocated in the 2018/19 budget to deal with issues raised.  It was agreed that the questionnaire and action plan be circulated to members of this Committee.

A member asked a question about the support that was given to looked after children that were excluded from mainstream school and the Deputy Director of Social Care advised that the Head of the Virtual School reported regularly to the Corporate Parenting Panel.  He acknowledged that looked after children were vulnerable but that in general they did have good attendance records.  He accepted that some looked after children did struggle in mainstream settings and that the Head of the Virtual School worked to reintegrate them into mainstream schools.  Support plans for looked after children were reviewed every six months to ensure that they had the right level of support.

A representative of UNITE attended the meeting and highlighted the union’s serious concerns regarding Children’s Services.  He stressed that this report should be considered  ...  view the full minutes text for item 66.

The report of the Strategic Director of Children’s Services (Document “AI”)provides a summary of the Annual Report of the Safeguarding Children Board to accompany the full report which is provided as an appendix. The report provides a summary of priorities and achievements of the Board in 2016/17, as well as the annual summary of the Child Death Overview Panel. 

Recommended –

The Committee is asked to consider the annual report of the Bradford Safeguarding Children Board, and comment as appropriate.

(Mark Griffin – 01274 434361)

The report of the Strategic Director of Children’s Services (Document “AI”)provided a summary of the Annual Report of the Safeguarding Children Board to accompany the full report which was provided as an appendix. The report provided a summary of priorities and achievements of the Board in 2016/17, as well as the annual summary of the Child Death Overview Panel. 

The Independent Chair and members of the Safeguarding Children Board  attended the meeting and the Chair introduced the report. 

The Chair of the Committee noted that after 2018 the Safeguarding Children Board would no longer be statutory and asked who it would report to.  In response the Health and Wellbeing Portfolio Holder noted that both the Children’s and Adult Safeguarding Boards reported to the Health and Wellbeing Board at present and that it was envisaged that this would continue.

The Chair of the Child Death Overview Panel summarised the Panel’s Annual report and noted that infant and child mortality in the district had reduced but remained above national and local rates.  She confirmed that there was a specific strategy regarding consanguinity and that a significant amount of work had been undertaken regarding reducing risks.  A leaflet had been produced for families, a short video had also been produced which was aimed at communities at risk, community development work was undertaken and individual genetic counselling was undertaken.   The Health and Wellbeing Portfolio Holder referred to the 10 years of evidence produced by Born in Bradford and suggested that Professor Wright, Chief Investigator, Born in Bradford be invited to the Committee.

In response to a question about measures taken regarding child protection and safeguarding a transient population it was noted that steps were taken to ensure that pregnant women were seen before 13 weeks of pregnancy and that hard to reach and vulnerable women were identified.  The Health and Wellbeing Portfolio Holder who chaired the Children’s Trust  had held workshops involving all services to identify challenges and good practice.

In response to a member question whether the “Hamza Khan” case could happen again it was noted that a whole system review was undertaken following the case and that lessons had been learned but that we should never be complacent.

A co-opted member welcomed the liaison between the Adult and Children’s Safeguarding Boards.  She noted the increased number of deaths and suicides among undergraduates and welcomed an opportunity to engage with local universities on the issue.

The Health and Wellbeing Portfolio Holder noted that the suicide prevention plan included a section on students.  She also noted the work being undertaken on building resilience in pupils moving from primary to secondary school.

The Chair of the Child Death Overview Panel advised that an audit was undertaken of child and adult suicides and that there was no indication that Bradford was an outlier for suicides.  It was noted that there was a detailed suicide plan in place which was being implemented.

The Health and Wellbeing Portfolio Holder noted that the Health and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 67.

The report of the Strategic Director of Children’s Services (Document “AJ”) provides a briefing to the Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee regarding the issue of Neglect and it includes how the Bradford Safeguarding Children Board and partners are working together to drive improvements across the District’s safeguarding partnership and to hold agencies to account for their work in their area.

Recommended -

That the Committee is invited to note the comments of Document “AJ” and shall receive a further update on the progress of the response to Neglect in 12 month’s time. 

(Mark Griffin – 01274 434361)

The report of the Strategic Director of Children’s Services (Document “AJ”) provided a briefing to the Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee regarding the issue of Neglect and it includes how the Bradford Safeguarding Children Board and partners were working together to drive improvements across the District’s safeguarding partnership and to hold agencies to account for their work in their area.

A member raised the issue of recording instances where children had missed a doctor or dentist appointments as “was not taken” rather than “did not attend”.  It was noted that this had been raised with Health colleagues and that progress on the matter would be chased.  She raised the issue of children needing glasses and not being taken to the optician.  This issue was recognised by officers.

The Chair of the Safeguarding Children Board referred to the complexities of neglect and different streams of neglect such as deliberate neglect and neglect by omission where parents had not received adequate parenting themselves.

A co-opted member questioned the adequacy of training in schools regarding neglect.  However it was noted that the highest level of referrals were received from schools.

Resolved –

That Document “AJ” be noted and a further update on the progress of the response to neglect be presented to the Committee in 12 months time.

ACTION: Strategic Director of Children’s Services

The report of the Chair of the Children’s Services Overview & Scrutiny Committee (Document “AK”) presents the Committee’s Work Programme 2017-18.

Recommended -

That the Work Programme continues to be regularly reviewed during the year.

(Licia Woodhead – 01274 432119)

Resolved –

That the Work Programme continues to be regularly reviewed during the year.

ACTION: Overview and Scrutiny Lead