Agenda and minutes

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Contact: C  Senior Governance Officer

Items
No. Item

9.

Apologies for absence

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were made by Councillosr Lani-Mae Ball, and Nikki McDonald, the Panel’s co-optee, John Hoare and invitee, Jim Board.

10.

To consider the extent, if any, to which the public and press are to be excluded from the meeting.

Minutes:

None

11.

Declarations of Interest, if any.

Minutes:

Declarations of interest were made by Councillor Jane Cox by virtue of working for NHS which involves child protection medicals and adoption and Looked After Children medicals.

12.

Public Statements

(A period not exceeding 20 minutes for statements from up to 5 members of the public on matters within the Panel’s remit, proposing action(s) which may be considered or contribute towards the future development of the Panel’s work programme).

Minutes:

There were no public statements made.

13.

Demand Management - Local Solutions pdf icon PDF 381 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Panel received a report on the prototype Local Solutions Model for accessing Early Help in the Community. The report set out the model, functions and partnership approach in addressing needs at the earliest opportunity through a strength-based practice.

 

It was explained that the prototype was established following findings from the report “Reducing Demand at the Front Door to Social Care by the Innovation Unit, December 2018”, which outlined the need for Early Help to be rooted in place, community-led and strengths based.

 

Members were provided with a presentation that included;

 

1.         Where are we at – Local Solutions Group

2.         The right thing to do/the time is right

3.         Impact

4.         Case study

5.         What is needed to be done

 

There was a discussion held and the following issues were raised;

 

Front Door – Comments were made about the lack of understanding as to what support was available.  It was explained that staff based at the first point of call were all trained individuals.  It was continued that after the initial call, presentation would be made to the Local Solutions group by the family or practitioner on their behalf.  Members were advised that solutions for that family was found through undertaking a multi-agency response.

 

Concern was raised that with each individual place working separately, those in need of support might slip through.  It was explained that there were 88 communities across Doncaster and once the prototype was evaluated it would be then considered how it could be rolled across Doncaster.  It was stressed that it was about making the approach part of the ‘day job’ rather than creating something new and additional.  It was clarified that everyone across the Borough should have the same access to the same opportunities regardless of where they lived.

 

It was explained that the model had only been in operation since mid-July 2019 with minimal Councillor involvement, however, meetings would soon be taking place with Ward Councillors to explain how the model would operate and be developed from its grass roots.

 

It was explained that the work focused on two local areas (Denaby and Hexthorpe to develop ideas through working together.  It was explained that the reason for selecting Hexthorpe and Denaby was due to the number of social care referrals made in those areas and because the communities were of a similar make-up.

 

Officers provided assurances that they were aware of the infrastructures and support organisations in place operating in both Denaby and Hexthorpe such as Well Denaby and Garage 32.  Reference was also made to the Denaby Foodbank (satellite of the Mexborough Foodback) which was being launched in the Community Library later in the year and Food Aware in the Denaby Family Hub.

 

Members were informed that there was now confidence in the model with no foreseen issues that would create barriers.

 

The Assistant Director for Commissioning and Business Development, stressed that although facts and figures were important and presented a positive picture, it was as important to recognise what it actually  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.

14.

Doncaster Education Attainment Summary 2019 pdf icon PDF 769 KB

Minutes:

The Doncaster Education Attainment Summary 2019 report provided an update for review by the Panel in relation to provisional data and early indications of achievement and improvement across the following education phases:

 

           Early Years

           Year 1 Phonics Screening Check

           Key Stage 1

           Key Stage 2

           Key Stage 4 (GCSE)

           Key Stage 5 ( A Level)

 

It was explained that the data contained in the report was provisional and represented early indications (and was therefore subject to change). It was continued that formal and final validated data would be released by DFE later in the autumn term and will be presented to the Panel at that time.

 

The Head of Education provided the Panel with highlights from the results.  Members complimented the results and the significant improvement made and commented that a clearer explanation of the acronyms presented in the report in future would be helpful. 

 

Reporting of Results - A Member raised concern about how partial other data sets reported through the media in isolation and out of context could have a negative impact on what is a very positive set of results across all key stages. results when reported through the media.  It was felt that positive results should be promoted accordingly in a constructive manner.  Officers commented that more positive reports were now being made through the media which was viewed as a step forward.

 

Pupil Premiums – Concern was raised about the differences between those children that were on pupil premiums and those children who were not.  it was detailed that for those children in receipt of pupil premium, 48% of pupils achieved the combined measure compared with 50% of pupil premium children nationally indicating that it was a national issue (whereas the figure for non-pupil premium children at KS1 was in line with the national figure at 69%). Members were assured the Council was aware of this and that the achievement and progress of pupil premium children and other disadvantaged and vulnerable groups remained a priority in line with the Doncaster Opportunity Area, Priority 1.  It was noted that some schools in disadvantaged areas were addressing this issue very well.

 

It was clarified that there wasere more than one data set which formed the criteria for Pupil Premiums (such as Free School Meals, Sports Premiums, Looked After Children and other data sets). Members were reassured that any data that had been released would not have involved fully validated data and a more comprehensive response would be possible once that validated data had been released.

 

Final Validated Data – The Assistant Director, Commissioning and Business Development explained that a more detailed report would be shared with Members later in the calendar year once the validated data was made available. This report would focus specifically on achievement for vulnerable and disadvantaged groups, and included those children in receipt of Pupil Premium.

 

Future Priorities - In terms of future priorities, it was explained that there was a support, development  and challenge process within  ...  view the full minutes text for item 14.

15.

Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Workplan Update - September 2019 pdf icon PDF 290 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Panel received a report updating Members on the Panels work plan for 2019/20.

 

A copy of the work plan was attached at Appendix A of the report taking account of issues agreed by OSMC at its meeting on the 27th June 2019.

 

There was also a brief discussion around the Forward Plan.

 

Concern was raised regarding the number of items for the 5th December 2019 meeting.  It was proposed that consideration would be given to holding an extraordinary meeting between December 2019 and March 2020.

 

RESOLVED that the Panel;

 

    i.          Note the Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Workplan 19/20 - September 2019 update.

   ii.          Include on the Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Workplan an update on the Demand Management for the end of 19/20 or beginning of 20/21 municipal year.

  iii.          Take consideration of the views of Young Advisers in terms of the Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Workplan.