Issue - meetings

To receive the report of the Director of Children’s Services providing an overview of progress in refreshing the Joint Area Review (JAR) Action Plan.

The Committee noted the update on the Joint Area Review (JAR) Action Plan and listed completed actions introduced by Peter Lewis (Director of Children and Young People’s Service (C&YPS)).

Councillor Reith, the Director of C&YPS and the interim Deputy Director (Children and Families) answered questions from the Committee and the Committee noted that nationally there were not sufficient numbers of health visitors.  The Director of C&YPS also commented that moving to more independent chairing of bodies such as the Local Safeguarding Board and Serious Case Review (SCR) panels meant more demand on a small number of qualified people.  Part of the improvement work within the service had been the employment of three social-work consultants working with Haringey social-work staff.  The Council worked towards filling the professional gaps by the end of the financial year.  The Department had so far recruited at least 12 new permanent staff including new Heads of Service and the Assistant Director of Safeguarding. Staffing charts for the Children’s Services departments were tabled.

The Committee asked whether further funding would be sought by the Council to cover short term capacity needs and were informed that on-going negotiations were continuing with the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF).

The Committee questioned whether the target of clearing the backlog of cases by December 2009 was realistic.  The Director of C&YPS recognised the challenge and stated that the Department could meet the target.

The Committee noted that the data provided in the assessment framework was a combination of statutory and local performance indicators. Officers recognised that the data needed to be easier to understand and were working with the Secretary of State’s office and the Government Office for London (GOL) to present the information better.

RESOLVED

i.          That the progress made to date against the Joint Area Review (JAR) Action Plan, specifically the JAR 2008 recommendations and main findings, be noted.

ii.         That the overall summary programme update be noted.

iii.        That the key performance indicators, programme level risks and issues be noted.