The Strategic Director, Children’s Services will submit Document “C” which provides an update on highlights from the Children’s Services Improvement Plan and focuses on areas of progress, action in the next period and areas of concern and potential concern.

Recommended-

That the contents of the report (Document “C”) and the progress being made be noted.

                                                                        (Irfan Alam – 01274 432904)

Officers from Bradford Councils Children’s Services informed Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee members of the highlights from the Improvement Plan and also focused on the areas of progress, as well highlighting the areas of work in progress.

Members heard that officers continued to monitor performance utilising bi-weekly forecasting reports and the monthly Vital Signs report, to ensure that the service is on track and that any concerns are identified at the earliest opportunity.

Councillors were keen to have an update in relation to the Children’s Services Commissioner.

In response, Officers stated that Steve Walker had been appointed at the Children’s Services Commissioner and had joined on 15 September 2021.  In addition to this, Officers indicated that Steve Walker would be working in Children’s Services for 12 weeks and would be focusing on Children’s Services and Social Care and whether Bradford Councils Children’s Services has the capacity to improve or whether Bradford Councils Children’s Services need to be moved into a Trust status.  Members also learned that at the end of this work, a number of recommendations will be developed. 

Furthermore, officers also indicated that Steve Walker was also willing to meet with members of the Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Members raised their concerns about health targets for children not being met and what individuals were actually required to do.

Officers replied by indicating that a consent form was required and this was checked by the Deputy Director, along with the four Heads of Service.  As well as this, every week there is data available relating to Children’s health assessments that are required.  Members of the Committee also heard that at the moment, there are 32 children requiring health assessments.

Moving on, Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee members were wanted to know why there was a downward trend with regards to the children in care visits in accordance with timescales and what actions were being taken to address this.

Here, officers highlighted that this was due to a combination of virtual and physical visits, along with capacity issues, which have resulted in children not being seen on time.  However, members heard that the trend was improving.

During the discussion around Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services, (CAMHS), members heard that there had been some improvement to the CAMHS provision, however the CAMHS system in Bradford had struggled and that it was too early to be able to demonstrate the impact and that looked after Children are being treated as a high priority group.

Moreover, members of the Committee were extremely concerned at increased number of external placements for looked after children.

In response officers highlighted that the demand coming into the service is high and that they were working with families to establish the level of support that they require, thus preventing them from going into public care. As well as this, officers further stated that it was imperative that the right children were actually in care.  Officers further stated that they also needed to examine the Councils residential core capacity and purchasing placements from independent homes.  Having said that, Children’s Services officers, that it was crucial that children are closer and residing in the District, subsequently having a better chance to support the children and their families.

Furthermore, members discussed the RAG rating, (Red, Amber and Green) and that there were a lot of areas that were amber and red and requiring significant improvement.

Children’s Services officers acknowledged this as a fair point and stated that they were now a different leadership team than before and that now was a good opportunity to review the Improvement Plan and look further at the areas of work that need to be focused on.  As well as this, officers also emphasised that there are some underpinning practices issues that needed to be addressed.

Nevertheless, members of the Committee still felt that there were significant concerns around the areas of Children’s mental health services, strengthening the “front door”, increases in domestic abuse and failing to take action sooner.

Resolved –

(1)  This Committee requests that an informal and remote session be arranged with the Commissioner and members of this Committee at a date and time to be decided, to discuss the remit of the work to be undertaken and any key findings to date.

(2)  This Committee requests that the Improvement Plan be presented to the Committee, at its meeting on Wednesday 17 November 2021.

(3)  That the Annual Report for Looked After Children, be presented to this Committee, at its meeting on Wednesday 17 November 2021.

Action – Strategic Director, Children’s Services

                                                                        (Mark Douglas – 01274 431266)