Agenda item

The Committee received the report on the key priority indicator information within Children’s Services, as detailed within the circulated report for indicators:

·        Priority Indicator 1- Average Number of Cases held by Qualified Workers across the Service

·        Priority Indicator 2- Staff Supervision Rates

·        Priority Indicator 3- The Number of Social Worker Vacancies across the Service (including number of starters/leavers/agency/staff/sickness)

·        Priority Indicator 5- Number of Approved Foster Carers within the Council

Members noted the numbers of staff that had received supervision but stated that the figures included in the report did not give corresponding numbers of staff so there was no way for the Members to know if there was good or bad performance against the indicator. Similarly the information presented in relation to Children Placed by Foster Carer Type was considered and it was noted that the percentages and numbers of children being presented in two separate tables made it difficult to analyse the information in relation to the indicator. The Committee requested that in future overall numbers of the cohort that the Priority Indicator is referring to be included in the report in the same graph or table.

Members discussed the average number of cases held by qualified workers across the service. In relation to the School Based Teams it was queried if any changes would occur within the Teams when the new Ysgol Bae Baglan School opens in September 2016. Officers explained that there are no anticipated changes to the Teams who are mainly geographical in nature although ongoing assessments of staffing and structure is continual within the service to ensure they are operating efficiently and effectively.

The Committee noted that the number of Social Worker vacancies was slowly increasing and asked if this was becoming a concern to the service. Officers stated that the number of vacancies were not a current concern although noted that if rates continue to rise concern could begin to grow. It was explained that as Social Workers progress their careers they tend to move upwards into management roles which do not exist in the Council so they end up moving to other organisations to continue their career path. Officers were satisfied that the Management Structure in the service is stable and when exit interviews are conducted with the relatively low number of leavers the responses are positive. It was also noted that two vacancies are for newly created posts.

Members noted the number of agency workers within the service and officers explained how agency workers are used where necessary but reminded Members it has recently been agreed to introduce five Peripatetic Workers to the service to cover sickness/maternity absence in an attempt to rely less on agency workers.

In relation to the Number of Children placed with Foster Carers Members queried if the pooling of data under the two age ranges hid a general transition or if there in fact a real change as children move from Primary to Secondary School. Officers explained that no significant change occurs but as the children progress through the Looked After Children (LAC) system the needs they present can become more complex and challenging and they can become harder to place and may need to go to external placements although Members were pleased to note the decrease in external placements in relation to this indictor.