(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 must consider their interests, and act according to the following:

(2)       Disclosable pecuniary interests relate to the Member concerned or their spouse/partner.

(3)       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. 

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

No disclosures of interest in relation to items under consideration were received.

Recommended –

That the minutes of the meeting held on 1 February 2023 and 15 February 2023 be signed as a correct record (previously circulated).

(Kav Amrez / Louis Kingdom – 07929 070228 / 07890 416570)

Resolved –

That the minutes of the meetings held on 1 February 2023 and 15 February 2023 be held as a correct record.

(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. 

(Kav Amrez / Louis Kingdom – 07929 070228 / 07890 416570)

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

Any referrals that have been made to this Committee up to and including the date of publication of this agenda will be reported at the meeting.

There were no referrals to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

The CEO of Bradford Children and Families Trust will submit a report (Document “B”) that presents a progress update to Children’s Services Overview & Scrutiny Committee on the first 4 months of the Bradford Children and Families Trust which includes quarter 1 of 23/24 reporting.

Recommended –

That the Committee is invited to note this report, the new Improvement Plan and the Quarter 4 Progress Report (see appendices).

(Ruth Terry - ruth.terry@bradfordcft.org.uk)

The Portfolio Holder for Children and Families introduced (Document “B”) and highlighted the importance of partnership working between the Bradford Children and Families Trust (BCFT), Bradford Local Authority Children’s Services, and other partners across the district. The Portfolio Holder added that the Improvement Plan would be regularly reviewed. The Chief Executive of Bradford Children and Families Trust provided the Committee with a brief overview of the report before the Chair invited Members to ask questions.

A Member of the Committee asked several questions about foster carers and if there were plans in place to increase the number of foster carers and how this might transpire. The Executive Director of Social Care and Practice stated that there had been success over recent months and that twelve potential foster carers were currently undergoing assessment and that many more people had expressed an interest. Members were told that work was being conducted that focussed on placement stability. It was added that fostering was being promoted through community groups and faith organisations to try and encourage more people to become foster carers.

A Member cited page 19 of the Improvement Plan Progress Report contained within Document B and noted the figures stated that there had been 35 new starters but 21 leavers, and asked why this was. The Chief Executive of BCFT acknowledged the issues with staff retention and stated that it was a work in progress. The Committee were informed that leavers were typically leaving for positive reasons such as promotions elsewhere rather than due to workload issues.

The Chief Executive of BCFT was asked about the Homes Regulatory Compliance review and whether the review was routine. The Committee were informed that homes were inspected on a yearly basis. The Strategic Director for Children’s Services added that homes are now overseen by the trust.

A Member asked about ‘embedded conversations’ that were mentioned in the report and asked what this meant in relation to the Integrated Front Door. Members were told that the purpose was to address any concerns and direct families in the right direction to ensure the correct support was provided. Officers explained that the Integrated Front Door (IFD) played a crucial role in the safeguarding system in Bradford. The Executive Director of Social Care and Practice stated that collaborative work between key partners was essential to provide an efficient Front Door. The Assistant Director of Children’s Services informed the Committee that the approach to IFD was based on research from Professor David Thorpe.

Officers were asked about the process of how matters not directly related to Front Door were tracked. Officers explained that in such an instance the matter would be tracked through Early Help hubs and the necessary support would be offered. It was added that there were also links to partner agencies as well as schools and health practitioners which provided a joined-up approach. Members were informed that data was reviewed regularly to monitor how many calls result in early intervention.

A Member of the Committee asked about  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.

The report of the Chair of the Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Document “C”) includes the Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee work programme for 2023/24. 

Recommended –

(1)      That members consider and comment on the areas of work included in the work programme.

(2)      That members consider any detailed scrutiny reviews that they may wish to conduct.

(Mustansir Butt – (01274 432574)

The Committee acknowledged the work programme and were told by the Scrutiny Lead that sessions and site visits were being arranged for Members. There was a discussion in relation to potential areas of work in Children’s Services that could be explored, specifically Members asked if it would be possible to incorporate items related to home to school transport and a school holiday activity programme into the work programme.

Resolved –

That the Committee discussed and amended the work programme and agreed to include the following topics into the work programme:

(1)  School Holiday and Activity Programme;

(2)  Home School Transport.

ACTION:  Overview & Scrutiny Lead.

                                                   (Mustansir Butt – 07582 101597)