Agenda item

Members to consider the recent OFSTED report on the Council following the Inspection in January 2011.

The Committee received, for information, the Ofsted report conducted into safeguarding and Looked After Children (LAC) during 10 to 21 January 2011. 

The report reflected the progress that had been made since November 2008 with an overall assessment of ‘adequate’ with the capacity for improvement being assessed as ‘good’ being awarded. This was considered to be a significant milestone for the service which would continue to be built upon.

The Committee discussed the areas for improvement identified in the report and an update was provided as to how these were being addressed. It was noted that the Corporate Parenting Committee would monitor progress with respect to the recommendation that LAC who went missing should have the opportunity to meet with a suitably designated independent person upon their return.

There was discussion around how children and young people who went missing, who were not in the care of the Local Authority, were monitored and it was requested that officers should determine where and how this function was carried out. In response to a suggestion that all children should have the opportunity to discuss the reasons for their disappearance with an independent person the Committee was advised that although this would be desirable the Local Authority was dependent on the information that it received from other organisations with regard to this. Consequently it may not be possible to maintain a consistent approach. 

The Committee was advised that one of the causes of children going missing from home was to due to grooming and it was noted that this could affect any child regardless of their background. 

The Committee discussed the recommendation around the monitoring and extended use of personal education plans for LAC and it was noted that this would be monitored by the Corporate Parenting Committee. There was agreement that the educational attainment of LAC should be a key area of focus.

In response to a query as to how the recommendation made with respect to quality control and assurance would be affected by budget cuts and what preparation was being made for this, the Committee was advised that a multi agency scorecard was being developed at present , which would be in place by May.  In addition officers were working with the Local Safeguarding Children’s Board (LSBC) to form an outcomes based quality assurance framework and a sub group had been formed to monitor progress with respect to this.

There was agreement that that the Committee should receive a report on this at a future meeting.

In response to a query as to the level of work that would need to be undertaken in order for the service to achieve an assessment of ‘good’ the Committee was advised that at least another year would be required for services to be developed to a point that might attract this kind of assessment. It was noted that an assessment of ‘adequate’ was a milestone for the Borough at this point and that it had not been anticipated that an assessment of ‘good’ would been given for the overall rating.

In terms of the national picture an assessment of ‘adequate’ placed Haringey very much in the average category. It was noted that there were an increasing number of Local Authorities being assessed as ‘inadequate’.

In terms of the recommendation made with respect to reducing the level of non attendance at child protection review medicals and the monitoring of this, the Committee was advised that there were instances where information was not passed between NHS and Local Authority. The recommendation recognised that this exchange of information was essential and it was noted that mechanisms were being established to systemise this. 

The Committee was advised that the recommendations set out in the report would be picked up within the Safeguarding and Looked After Children’s Plan (which was originally called the Joint Area Review (JAR) Plan). An improvement plan would also be compiled and submitted to Ofsted setting out how the improvement areas identified would be addressed.

During discussion with colleagues from health it had become apparent that a list of children considered to be ‘of concern’ was kept and this was now being shared with the Local Authority. Further work would be undertaken to develop information sharing between nurses caring for children that were subject to Child Protection Plans and social workers.

In response to a query as to how effectively the Local Authority and health worked together the Committee was advised that joint working had improved significantly since 2008. This relationship had been strengthened further by the establishment of the joint Public Health team and their locating to River Park House.

There was a general consensus that it would be useful if a representative from health attended a future meeting to gain an insight into their perspective on safeguarding and the relationship with the Local Authority.

The Chair thanked officers for their work with respect to the Ofsted inspection and the progress made in order achieve the assessment awarded.

RESOLVED:

1. That the report be noted.
2. That a representative from health should be invited to attended a future meeting as discussed above.