Agenda item

This report provided a review and analysis of the operational and financial performance challenge carried out by the Director of People of the Doncaster Children’s Services Trust (the ‘Trust’) in Quarter 2 of 2018/19.

 

The following highlights were provided, that;

 

·         Since the last report to the Panel, a further children’s home had achieved an outstanding grading in the quarter, meaning that the quarter ended with all homes managed by the Trust being rated, good, or better.

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·         The Trust which was also registered as a Voluntary Adoption Agency was inspected by Ofsted and achieved an improved grading from ‘Good’ to ‘Outstanding’ indicating a pleasing trend of performance

 

It was outlined that areas of good performance included;

 

·         A2 - Timeliness of Single Assessments – Quarter 2 = 91 %

 

·         A3 - Percentage of case file audits rated ‘Requires Improvement’ or better – Quarter 2 = 100%

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·         A8 - Children in Need with Open and Current Plan (Quarter 2 = 94%)

 

And areas of potential concern highlighted included;

 

·         A1 - Percentage of Re–referrals in last 12 months (Quarter 2 = 27%) – Whilst it was recognised that high demand pressures had the potential to impact adversely on casework, referrals and re-referrals,  systemic issues were also having an impact.  It was stated that Ofsted had rated practice as ‘Good’ with appropriate application of thresholds.

 

·         E1 - Number of contacts into Social Care (Quarter 2 average = 1898)

 

It was recognised that RAG ratings mechanisms were not to be used as absolute thresholds of judgements. It was felt that comparisons were useful and it was recognised that some cohorts were very small, which can ‘skew’ the figures year on year.

 

The following areas of performance were raised during the Panel discussion;

 

A4 – Children Seen in appropriate timescales (CIN, CPP and CIC) – It was explained that the number and volume around Children in Need (CIN) continued to be a challenge to keep this indicator within tolerance. Members were informed that this challenge related to a wider problem and that there was a need to understand the data better and consider how it played into the wider early help system.  Members were told that the Council had commissioned the Innovation Unit to help understand the stem of flow and process issues through a separate analysis.  It was explained how it could be a symptom of other issues, the robustness of the Early Help Offer and partners contribution. It was noted that the Early Help Offer needed to be addressed and if resolved should have a positive impact on this performance measure.

 

An offer was provided from the Director of People to circulate the report from the Innovation Unit. 

 

Members were informed that nationally demand was increasing and that there was a higher rate of incidence and social care intervention.  It was commented that 3 years ago there wasn’t a robust system in place - an area that had significantly improved.

 

Members were reminded about the regular performance challenge meetings taking place that included the quarterly meetings and monthly finance and performance meetings. 

 

E34/E35 - Number and rate (per 10,000) of Children in Need – (Quarter 2 average = 1677/396) - It was recognised that the numbers of Children in Need remained high.  Members were informed that the demand on children’s social care was increasing amongst different categories of need and this was something that the Trust would need to address. It was commented that there was a national concern around the rising demand of Children in Need and that assumptions were sometimes made that those in Children in Need were at risk when they weren’t.  It was viewed that further work needed to be undertaken to identify what the story was about behind the case.

 

It was commented that at any point around 30% of children were being assessed.  It was recognised that the numbers appeared high and it was questioned whether some of those children could be stepped down in to Early Help support and intervention..

 

It was reported that at the end of March 2018 there had been a 10/11% reduction on numbers, and that other local authorities would release their statistics which would be published nationally by the Department of Education at the end of March 2019 and comparisons could be made.  It was stated that there was a confidence that Doncaster’s performance would be closer to that of the comparator group.

 

It was reported that there had been a number of Ofsted inspections recently and that all external inspections of children’s services in Doncaster had shown that children were in the right part of system and receiving timely services.

 

A Member commented that Early Help had various meanings in different organisations which could cause confusion.  The Director of People offered to circulate the Early Help strategy that would include definitions of Early Help to Members of the Panel.

 

In terms of what was being undertaken around Children in Need, Members were informed that there would be a joint response with a range of activity (as part of the Early Help strategy).  Reference was made to the specific legal term in the 1989 Children Act which stated that a child was in need if their health or development would be impaired without services. From this, it was explained that services could intervene earlier where needs were escalating but that it was also about the wider partnership response who have a duty to collaborate.  Concern was also raised around the negative impact that austerity has had to children and families as well as challenging communities. 

 

Other improvement work which was taking place, was  discussed and this included the following :-

 

Joint Council and Trust Focus for improvement work in the next quarter - In addition to the actions and reviews being undertaken, it was explained that a joint Future Placement Needs Strategy group had been set up with representatives from the Council and the Trust.  This group was to consider what joint commissioning work and decisions were needed in regards to the service provision required in Doncaster and would explore options and solutions to reduce the costs of children placed into care outside the area.

 

Annual Contract Review – It was noted that each year, the Council was required by the terms of the contract between the two parties, to carry out a review of the operation of theChildren’s Trust and report this by 31st December to the Secretary of State for Education.

 

It was explained that the Council was currently awaiting the outcome of a DfE commissioned review by on the options for the governance of the Trust going forward. Members were informed that so far this had identified the need to work closer together to understand the demand and forecasts across the whole.children’s system, which would include the care ladder.   It was added that this included considering what immediate controls would be put in place. The DFE report would consider  a future operating model for the Trust

 

Sector Led Improvement – Members were informed of the Joint Strategic Improvement Group held in October, 2018 when the meeting discussed the Association of Directors of Children’s Services annual regional performance challenge, which included a requirement for  all Authorities to identify and evidence their strengths and areas for improvements on which they were challenged by other Authorities. . It was reported that Doncaster’s 6 strengths comprised the following: -

 

1.          Leadership

2.          Safeguarding and child protection

3.          Adoption

4.          Youth Offending

5.          Key Stage 2 Outcomes

6.          Children and Young Plan Mental Health

 

And the 6 areas of improvements comprised:

 

1.          Children in Care Placement and Commissioning

2.          Front Door 

3.          Key Stage 4 Outcomes

4.          Attendance and Exclusions

5.          Early Years (Inequality Gap)

6.          Certain systemic issues early help

 

DCST Finance Update - In terms of the financial pressures being experienced by the Trust, Members were reminded that an updated DCST Finance report would be considered by OSMC on the 21^st January 2019.  The Chair of OSMC in attendance at the meeting invited Members of the Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Panel to attend that meeting or alternatively, would be welcomed to provide any questions to be raised during the Committee’s discussion.

 

Investment in Technology – Members were told that investment in technology had recently been made to provide 4G enabled tablets to frontline staff to allow mobile working.  It was explained that this was being rolled out and that users receiving the new equipment were undergoing training. It was commented that improvements were already being seen in the timeliness of recording.

 

Members commented that they were heartened to see the positive work being undertaken between the Council and the Trust.

 

RESOLVED that the Panel note the report