132 Independent Review Officer Mid Year Report PDF 111 KB
To consider the findings of a basic checklist audit into looked after children reviews undertaken by the Independent Review Officers.
Minutes:
The Independent Review Officers had used a basic checklist to carry out a random sample analysis of looked after children reviews. The audit was designed as quick process that could provide some immediate data and create a benchmark for future audits . At the time of the audit there had been vacant IRO posts which were now in the process of being filled therefore in future there would be more capacity to compile a more sophisticated audit which would highlight any underlying issues that needed attention and resolution in the children’s service.
The IRO officer spoke of the positive findings from the audit which were the rate that decisions from the LAC review were implemented and ensuring that a children were included and prepared for their LAC review. The areas to be further investigated by the IRO officers were the number of social work reports not available and total number of care plans available for inspections These findings were being discussed with children’s service and the IRO’s recognised that there was a need to be more rigorous in identifying and reporting where a care plan or social work report had not been found. The increase in IRO officers would assist with this .
Regarding the number of total care plans available, Members were assured that the figure reported did not mean that no care plan was in place. There were either legal care plans or draft care plans in place which had not formally been drafted.The Committee were further advised that there would be recommendations coming forward from the IRO officers about the implementation of care plans for Social workers to follow. The Committee suggested alternative ways of looking at the data concerning LAC reviews such as examining the timescale of when the care plans are being completed within. The Committee learned that the IRO’s had completed a further audit on the care of LAC examining cases in September ,October, November which would be reported back to the Committee in the new year.
The Committee were informed that the Quality Assurance and Practice Development service had been in place since June and its role was to provide independent scrutiny on the systems and process in place for the care of children. The service were working on a quality assurance framework and a report on this development work focused on Looked after Children could be considered by the Committee at their January meeting.