Agenda and minutes

Please note that this meeting may be filmed or recorded by the Council for live or subsequent broadcast via the Council’s internet site or by anyone attending the meeting using any communication method. Although we ask members of the public recording, filming or reporting on the meeting not to include the public seating areas, members of the public attending the meeting should be aware that we cannot guarantee that they will not be filmed or recorded by others attending the meeting. Members of the public participating in the meeting (e.g. making deputations, asking questions, making oral protests) should be aware that they are likely to be filmed, recorded or reported on. 

By entering the meeting room and using the public seating area, you are consenting to being filmed and to the possible use of those images and sound recordings.

The chair of the meeting has the discretion to terminate or suspend filming or recording, if in his or her opinion continuation of the filming, recording or reporting would disrupt or prejudice the proceedings, infringe the rights of any individual or may lead to the breach of a legal obligation by the Council.

The Chair referred Members present to item 1 on the agenda in respect of filming at this meeting.  Members noted the information contained therein.

Apologies for absence were received from Amanda Bernard, Yvonne Denny and Anita Jakhu.

The Chair will consider the admission of any late items of urgent business (late items will be considered under the agenda item where they appear. New items will be dealt with as noted below).

None.

A member with a disclosable pecuniary interest or a prejudicial interest in a matter who attends a meeting of the authority at which the matter is considered:

(i) must disclose the interest at the start of the meeting or when the interest becomes apparent, and

(ii) may not participate in any discussion or vote on the matter and must withdraw from the meeting room.

A member who discloses at a meeting a disclosable pecuniary interest which is not registered in the Register of Members’ Interests or the subject of a pending notification must notify the Monitoring Officer of the interest within 28 days of the disclosure.

Disclosable pecuniary interests, personal interests and prejudicial interests are defined at Paragraphs 5-7 and Appendix A of the Members’ Code of Conduct.

None.

To consider any requests received in accordance with Part 4, Section B, Paragraph 29 of the Council’s Constitution.

None.

To approve the minutes of the meeting of 4 July 2022.

It was noted that all of the actions arising from the minutes of the last meeting had now been undertaken.

In respect of the appointment of a non-voting co-opted Member (item 8), Amanda Bernard had been appointed to represent the Haringey SEND Parent Carer Forum on the Panel.  The Chair welcomed her to the Panel.

In respect to the reference to transitions (item 9 – Cabinet Member Questions), it was noted that Haringey Healthwatch were undertaking specific work on this issue.  This was particularly focussed on the transition from an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan to adult social care services.  It was agreed that Healthwatch be invited to come along to the joint meeting that the Panel was planning to arrange on this issue with the Adults and Health Panel.

AGREED:

1.    That Healthwatch be invited to attend the joint meeting with the Adults and Health Scrutiny Panel on transition that is planned to take place early next year to report on their work on the issue; and

2.    That the minutes of the meeting of 4 July 2022 be approved.

To receive an update on high level financial performance for the service and

scrutinise how this meets organisational priorities.

Josephine Lyseight (Head of Finance (People)) and Andrew Osei, the finance lead for Children and Young People, reported on the current financial position for Children’s Services at the end of Quarter 1.  There was currently a projected overspend of £4.7 million which mainly arose from Children’s Social Care and from Prevention and Early Intervention.

Referral rates in Children’s Social Care continued to be high and were 24% up.  In addition, the percentage of families in acute stress had increased from 18% to 30%.  Work was taking place to manage these pressures.  In respect of Early Help and Prevention, there had been an increase in the number of EHC Plans and this had increased demand for SEND transport.   There was also an overspend in Children’s Centres of £0.2 million, which was mainly due to the increase in the cost of living.

In respect of safeguarding and social care, the number of looked after children (LAC) was still high but had recently reduced.  The number of secure placements had gone down but unit costs had increased.  This was being addressed through better procurement.  In Early Help and Prevention, measures were being taken to manage down the costs of SEND transport.  This was being done through a range of actions, including improved procurement, travel training and route mapping.

Mr Osei reported that all the savings projected for Quarter 1 had been achieved.  The outturn position for the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) had shown a £3.5 million overspend, which had left an accumulated DSG overspend of £20.5 million.  £4.6 million of last years DSG overspend had come from the high needs block.  There was currently a projected overspend for the current year of £3.8 million, all of which came from the High Needs Block.  This would bring the cumulative deficit up to £24.3 million.   The reason for the pressures on the High Needs Block was the increasing number of children with EHC Plans, which included 25% of looked after children (LAC). The DSG was ring fenced so could not become mixed in with the Council’s budget. 95% of capital projects were currently on track, with £1.8 million slippage anticipated.  

In answer to a question regarding which electoral wards were seeing the largest increases in safeguarding referrals and EHC Plans, Ann Graham (Director of Children’s Services) reported that this information would be included in future performance reports to the Panel.   In answer to a question regarding the levels of funding for schools within individual EHC plans, she reported that it was difficult to make comparisons as they were unique for each child. Jackie Difolco, Assistant Director for Early Help and Prevention, reported that there was a banding framework that had been shared with the previous Panel.  It was agreed that this would be re-circulated.  The service were  working in partnership with an organisation called ISOS who had been commissioned to review the current bandings model with stakeholders and involving schools and parents.  The current banding model provided a fixed rate, although the range of delivery  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20.

To receive and comment on a presentation on the implications of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 for safeguarding and scrutinise how this has been addressed by the Council and its partners. 

Beverley Hendricks, Assistant Director for Safeguarding and Social Care, reported on the implications of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021.  The Act recognised that children can be victims of domestic abuse and that the whole family can also be affected. It specified that a child who sees, hears or experiences domestic abuse and is related to the person being abused or the perpetrator, is also to be regarded as a victim of domestic abuse. Abusive behaviour towards a child or young person under 18 was still dealt with under child protection procedures. There was a clear role for health services and the Police in the prevention of Domestic Abuse. 

The Act provided a statutory definition of domestic abuse and emphasised that it was not just physical violence but could also be emotional, controlling or coercive behaviour.  It also placed a duty on local authorities to provide accommodation support for victims and their children in refuges and other safe accommodation.  In addition, it provided a list of what suitable accommodation might look like which will be shared with the Panel.

The Act had clarified the circumstances in which a court could make a barring order to prevent proceedings that could further traumatise victims. It extended the controlling or coercive behaviour offence to cover post-separation abuse and created a new offence of non-fatal strangulation or suffocation of another person.  In addition, it clarified the general proposition that a person may not consent to the infliction of serious harm and prohibited health professionals from charging a victim of domestic abuse for reports and/or evidence.

The implications for safeguarding of domestic abuse on children and young people were  well established.  Growing up in a household of fear and intimidation could impact on children’s health, wellbeing, and development.  Young people could also experience domestic abuse within relationships, although they may not identify themselves as victims. Those who engaged in abusive behaviour might seek to deny the abuse by stating that they were not in a relationship.  The Act specified that social media and information technology could now be identified as a means of harm.  Young people’s lives were often heavily reliant on the use of digital technology and perpetrators of abuse could exploit this.

There were four strands to the response to the Act by the Council and its partners:

·         Developing a Co-ordinated Community Response;

·         Prevention and Early Intervention;

·         VAWG Commissioned Services; and

·         Raising awareness.

The overall approach was captured within the VAWG Strategy.  The key focus of the partnership had been to develop a co-ordinated community response.  It had delivered:

·         A programme of awareness;

·         32 Safe Spaces; and

·         150 VAWG Community Champions had been trained. 

The VAWG Business Group was set up to strengthen the response across key agencies and an action plan developed.   The Police had  set up a specialist domestic abuse unit called ‘ADAPT’ with 7 dedicated staff members as a direct result of gaps highlighted within the action plan. This was an intervention developed specifically for Haringey and Enfield and was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21.

To consider and comment on the Haringey Youth Justice Strategic Plan 2022/23, including the effectiveness of interventions with young people.

Jackie Difolco, Assistant Director for Early Help and Prevention, reported there was a duty for each local authority area to produce an annual youth justice plan.  This was to include details of how youth justice services were funded and delivered.

The report highlighted achievements during 2021/22.  There had been reduction in serious youth violence offences of 25% and of 12% in knife crime.  There had been a specific focus on mental health and well-being in order to address the increase in such issues.  As part of this, there was now a Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) practitioner in the service who could also support staff in their work.  There continued to be a strong focus on disproportionality, which enabled practitioners to obtain a better understanding of their cohort.  In addition, there was also a range of identity based work taking place. 

There was a continuing and increased focus on health, well-being and substance abuse, including systemic training for all front facing staff.  The service was also working with other colleagues in Children’s Services as part of an exclusions working group to ensure that there was a joined-up approach.  A pledge was being created that all Haringey schools will be encouraged to sign up to.  The Service’s office had remained open for five days a week to during the pandemic but services had also been made available in community settings.  71% of young people that the service worked with were supported to remain in full time education.  Community reparation projects had been expanded and this included a recent partnership with the food bank at the Selby Centre.  The service had been proactive in involving fathers of young offenders and would continue to be a priority in the 2022/23 plan.  Overall performance was high, with plans, interventions and home visits undertaken in a timely manner and to a high standard.

In terms of the cohort, half of those were young black men.  The overall number of offences had reduced by 37%.  Drugs offences had overtaken violence for the first time.  44 young people had entered the youth justice system for the first time. The percentage of young people who reoffended was higher than in comparable local authorities but had come down.  Audit activity concluded  that, in over two thirds of the cases audited, work with young people  was graded as  either good or outstanding.  There had been a drop in young people staying on in full time education post 16 and this would therefore be a key focus of the new plan.

There had been a strong focus on systemic training and evidence based interventions. Three members of staff had also taken part in Your Choice cognitive behavioural therapy training with the aim on reducing serious youth violence via therapeutic skills and sessions.  The service had undertaken two participation initiatives; Think Space was aimed at young people and their families whilst Team Space involved staff.   Feedback from young people was obtained regularly, responded to and incorporated into service planning. 

Key  ...  view the full minutes text for item 22.

To report on the opening of Rising Green Youth Hub.

Ms Difolco reported on the opening of the Rising Green Youth Hub in Wood Green.  A wide range of partners had been involved in the project, from its inception to completion.  It had required £1.3 in capital, which had come from a range of sources.  Young people had been actively involved in the design of the Centre and the builders had been open and encouraging of this.  Wood Green Youth Voices had been established to facilitate this.  60 people had attended the launch and the centre was now regularly attracting between 50 and 70 young people to sessions.  It was intended to extend the usage of the centre to young children and older people.  There would also be a focus on income generation.

Ms Graham commented that the intention had been to develop a similar model to the Bruce Grove Youth Centre but in Wood Green.  The new centre was proving to be popular and was well attended.  It was noted that, following a successful summer holiday programme, there had been increased attendance from   children young people with a learning disability, which was welcome.

The Panel welcomed the opening of the new centre and agreed to visit it.

AGREED:

That a visit be arranged by the Panel to the Rising Green Youth Hub.

To consider the development of the workplan for Overview and Scrutiny for 2022-24, including matters relating to children and young people.

The Panel noted that a work plan was being developed for all of overview and scrutiny, including the Children and Young People’s Panel.  This would cover the next eighteen months. A comprehensive consultation process was currently taking place on which local issues should be prioritised within it.  An on-line survey had taken place and there was also shortly to be a Scrutiny Café event to which a wide range of people had been invited including Members, officers, partners, community and voluntary organisations and young people.  Each scrutiny body would be given the opportunity to select specific issues to undertake in-depth reviews on and items for regular panel meetings.  In addition, there were routine and regular items that would need to be included, such as Cabinet Member Questions, updates on the implementation of recommendations from recent reviews, the budget and performance data.

In respect of the next meeting of the Panel on 7 November, the following provisional items had been identified:

·         Cabinet Member Questions – Cabinet Member for Children, Education and Families;

·         Review on Haringey Family of Schools – Update on Implementation of Recommendations; and

·         Exam and Test Results.

The Panel suggested that the issue of sexual abuse and violence in schools be added to the list of potential items in the work plan.  Amongst other things, this could explore how good practice could be shared.  Ms Graham reported that work was already taking place on this matter and an update on the “Everyone’s Invited” initiate could be provided a future meeting.

AGREED:

That the issue of sexual abuse and violence in schools be added to the list of potential items for inclusion in the work plan.

·         7 November 2022;

·         30 January 2023; and

·         20 March 2023.

·         7 November 2022;

·         3 January 2023; and

·         20 March 2023.