Minutes:
The
Committee scrutinised the following matters:
Cabinet
Board Proposals
5.1
Western Bay Youth Justice and Early
Intervention Annual
Plan 2017-18
The Committee received the Western Bay Youth Justice
and Early Intervention Annual Plan 2017/18 as contained within the circulated
report.
Officers explained that the Youth Offending
Services are statutory multi agency partnerships that have a legal duty to
co-operate in order to secure youth justice services appropriate to their area,
funded from a variety of sources and this report presented the background and summary
of the Early Intervention Plan 17/18.
Members questioned how the rates of re-offending
remain high but the actual number of young people reoffending continues to
fall. It was explained that there exists a core of repeat offenders who account
for these numbers.
The fact that the Youth Offending Teams have been
merged was discussed and the Committee questioned how the new arrangements are
working. Officers assured Members that
arrangements are working well and representing good value for money.
The Committee asked for further information on the
benefits of regional working arrangements. They observed the continual decline
in reoffending rates and asked how this compares to the situation before the
inception of Western Bay and requested the statistics in relation to this.
Members discussed those young people who are
excluded from school but who are not offending and asked for detail on the support
that is offered to them. They agreed that the responsibility is with the
leadership and governing bodies of the schools and the Schools Improvement Service.
Young people’s interests were considered by the
Committee as they agreed that a variety of skills and abilities could lead to
interest in different academic or vocational routes of study.
The Committee raised concern on the elements of
work that are heavily reliant on WG grant funding and that the impacts of
Bridgend moving out of the Abertawe Bro Morgannwg Health Board are unknown.
Concern was raised over the assistance required
with speech and language and officers assured Members that sufficient support
is provided.
Members asked for further information in relation
to the consultation that had been carried out on the plan. Young people themselves
have been consulted on the content and the responsibility for sign off rests
with the Youth Offending Team Management Board.
The Committee requested that further information on
consultation be included in future such reports received by the Committee.
Following scrutiny, the Committee were supportive
of the proposals to be considered at Cabinet Board.
5.2
Western Bay Safeguarding Children
Board Annual Report
And Business Plan
The Committee received the Western Bay Safeguarding
Children Board Annual Report and Business Plan as contained within the
circulated report.
The Western Bay Safeguarding Children Board was established
in April 2012 and Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council is identified as the
lead partner responsible for establishing effective regional safeguarding
boards for the Western Bay area. It is a multi-agency group with responsibility
for supervision, challenge and oversight of safeguarding issues hence was being
presented for information at this meeting.
The Committee asked about the operation of the
Board and how are any concerns escalated. Officers explained that individual partner
agencies would be written to directly.
Members queried the timescales for completion of
Child Practice Reviews. It was explained that while there is a pool of trained
reviewers and chairs who willingly undertake practise reviews as an addition to
their working role this does regularly impact on availability to attend panel
meetings undertake learning events and write reports.
It was noted that austerity measures haven’t impacted
significantly on the work of the Board as it is not a frontline service and it
is the caseloads of the service which have to be managed effectively in line
with austerity and budget measures.
The Committee raised some concern over the data
presented in the graphs within the report observing that the data presented was
not consistent graph by graph making comparison and disaggregation difficult. Members
requested that an analysis of NPT children be provided, split into LAC/non LAC
and those under special guardianship as well as those on the CSE register.
Further concern was raised on the Action Plan as
Members felt the wording used could be strengthened to include tasks,
strategies and relevant legislation to avoid it becoming a ‘tick box’ exercise.
Members were concerned that half of children/young people
at risk of Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) go missing and the discrepancy in
how this is defined and recorded across the region.
The Committee asked for further information in
relation to Gwella Project Management who are named as those responsible for outcomes throughout the
action plan.
They requested that a report on Gwella
be added to the Forward Work Programme of the Committee
The Committee requested a detailed presentation on CSE
be added to the Forward Work Programme of the Committee.
Following scrutiny, it was agreed that the report
be noted.
5.3 Western Bay Commissioning Strategy for Care Homes for Older
People 2016-25
This report was withdrawn from the agenda and will
be considered at a future meeting.
5.4 Quarterly Performance Management Data 2017/18- Quarter 1
Performance- 1 April 2017-30 June 2017)- Children’s
Services.
The Committee received information on the quarterly performance
management data 2017/18 for Quarter 1 for Children’s Services as contained
within the circulated report.
It was explained that some of the final data is
awaiting sign off by Welsh Government and that some 15/16 indicators are new
statutory indicators where information is not yet available.
The Committee queried the average length of time
for all children who were on the Child Protection Register during the year.
Officers explained that more children are being maintained at home so the risk
is being managed for longer.
The Committee requested that previous figures for caseload
per worker be included in the next report for comparison.
Following scrutiny, it was agreed that the report
be noted.
5.5 Quarterly Performance Management Data 2017/18- Quarter 1
Performance- 1 April 2017-30 June 2017)- Adult’s
Services.
The Committee received information on the quarterly
performance management data 2017/18 for Quarter 1 for Adult’s Services as
contained within the circulated report.
Members observed the under reporting of
Homelessness and officers confirmed that accurate data will be available in the
next performance report.
The Committee discussed adults who have Carers Assessments
and officers explained that the data represents a moment in time and that the
quarterly data stands in isolation. Refusal of assessments was discussed and
the Committee agreed that it is important that the Council continue to promote
the assessments whilst providing advice and assistance and the Committee stated
the importance of recording this advice.
The data was discussed and the Committee expressed concern
that some of it is difficult to compare and disaggregate. The Committee
requested that officers bring back a report on performance overall based on the
style of report that the previous Children, Young People and Education Scrutiny
Committee used to receive on key priority indicators to give this committee an
option to consider and agree what priority information they wish to see
reported to them on a regular basis.
Following scrutiny, it was agreed that the report
be noted.