Agenda item

This report sets out performance data and trends for an agreed set of measures relating to: Children and Families - Contacts, referrals and assessments and Child Protection.

The Committee considered performance data and trends for an agreed set of measures relating to: Children and Families - contacts, referrals and assessments and child protection. The following key information was noted:

·        Steady decline in the number of looked after children

·        Reduction in the number of contacts being received by the First Response Team

·        Re-referrals stood at 12% against a target of 16% - this was a positive indication that there was  quality initial  contact with the families leading to a low number of re – referrals.

The committee noted that  this was the final occasion for the committee considering  performance on initial and core assessments  as the  new  single assessment had now started. Members noted that , under this new assessment process,  there was an up front interest in seeing the child within in 10 days with a decision also within his timeline. The performance target figure for this would be 95%. A core assessment would need to be completed in 45 days.  This process would be   aided  by a  new referral template which is focused on analysis and reflection.  

 Understanding was sought on the  thinking behind  the choice of days to complete single assessments and it was noted that   the number of days (10) was chosen in consultation with other boroughs. The Committee were keen to   maintain their understanding  of the  service performance  in  taking  forward an initial  assessment of a  case and whether this was  good or not   and questioned how this could now  be done. In response it was noted that  there was scope to compare  the single assessment  figures to  how  many children were seen  within 10 days in previous months and years.

  Understanding was sought on how the Committee could get a better understanding of outcomes for children from looking at performance information.  It was explained that the performance figures provided a comprehension of   the impact of the service’s work and initiatives. A performance  figure which  provided a stark example of this,  was the number of children that had been on a plan for  longer than 2 years would provide an indication if outcomes for the child were being achieved.  The service were continually  examining the  length  of time a child was on a plan in comparison to their age to understand if outcomes were likely to be achieved. All cases were different,  a young person, they may need the security of being of a CP plan to enable the high level monitoring but a young child should not be on a plan for a  long period. As a way of developing understanding about the outcomes being delivered for a child,  agreed a sample of child protection plans could be looked at and outcomes followed up by the Independent member

The speed of decline in the number of children  that were  subject to plan and  also  the number of children coming off plan  was compared  and discussed. This  was attributed to the impact of the safeguarding and support team beginning to work with the family straight after they had been referred by First Response instead of  as previously,  waiting  until after the initial assessment stage.  There was a real since of momentum in taking this early contact awork with the family forward as on as possible.  The service was also reviewing CP plans for children that have been on them for more than 15 months and ensuring that actions were being followed up and continual  assessment undertaken of whether  further action was needed.  This action coupled with the less number of children coming onto plan impacted on the figures.

 The services were also aware that more visits to children on plans helped speed up the process and work was commented to be to  a much higher quality. 

 Agreed that it would still be prudent for the Committee to  monitor this performance figure but it was likely that this performance figure would eventually  plateau .The head of safeguarding and support would also continue too monitor the thresholds  in place to place  a child on a plan  and how they were being applied.

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