Issue - meetings

In September 2009 Members took part in a training session on Initial Assessments, and as part of that session looked at the performance data  for Haringey. This report will provide an update on that data and will  include information about assessments available for the training session.

The committee considered an update on performance data for initial assessments.  The data used to inform the report was available nationally and was submitted each year in May to the Department of Education.  Haringey’s performance on initial assessments was compared to other comparator boroughs.

The committee was provided with the statutory context   for safeguarding which local authorities had responsibility for.  The two elements of safeguarding included: preventing a child from harm and promoting a child’s welfare by maximising a child’s opportunity for development. It was commented that there was significant focus nationally by social workers on preventing harm to a child but there was the overall question of how much social workers were promoting a child’s welfare and understanding the key learning milestones of children as part of this safeguarding duty.

The committee obtained information on the key areas looked at when completing an initial assessment which was completed within 10 working days of a referral being received.  It was noted that, further to an initial assessment being completed, it could be decided that a core assessment will be required. This was a more in-depth assessment which would take 35 days to complete.  Members sought assurances on the contingencies in place to prevent harm coming to a child within the 35 days that a core assessment will take to complete. In response, it was noted that, following any significant concerns about a child’s welfare, proceedings would hastened significantly with court orders for taking the child into care sought before the completion of the core assessment. There was, in exceptional circumstances, available an emergency court order which could be obtained at very short notice if the situation was deemed urgent.

The committee referred to the data on initial and core assessment and examined the rate of referrals and completion of assessments in comparison to other comparator boroughs.  It was noted that the rate of completion of initial assessments had improved significantly by 2010/11. Previously performance had been lower in comparison to other comparator boroughs as it was affected by the need to complete and clear the backlog of cases. The timescale for completing initial assessments had been 7 days and this had been increased to 10 working days in 2010/2011. Other local authorities had also been using the 10 day timescale in 2010.   The focus by the service had been on quality and ensuring that assessments were completed fully and correctly.  The independent member of the committee suggested that the timeliness of completing assessment may be a future issue for the committee to commission work on and explore further. There was a balance in ensuring the quality of assessments but also allowing required action to be taken in the interest of the child by completing a timely initial assessment.

RESOLVED

That the report be noted