Agenda item

To note the Quarter 4 2023/24 Performance Report.

Members are encouraged to email any questions in advance by Monday 15 July 2024.

9.1          The Quarter 4 2023/24 Performance Report was taken as read.

9.2          A member asked for an update on workforce capacity in Children’s Services. It was noted that there had been improvements in the workforce capacity in children’s social care, with a reduction in staff turnover and a reduction in the use of agency staff. However, there was continued pressure within SEND services. To address this, Cabinet had recently agreed for additional investment in this area.

9.3          The member asked for further clarification regarding the workforce capacity issues in SEND services. Kirsten Harrison, Director of Education, explained that educational psychologists had a pivotal role in Educational, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) assessments. However, the recruitment of educational psychologists remained a challenge given that there was a limited pool for this specialist workforce that all local authorities were drawing from. Work was being undertaken with HR to consider how to attract individuals to these roles at GCC, including consideration of welcome payments and developing an apprenticeship style model for individuals to train at the Council. It was acknowledged that this single point of weakness had considerable implications for the EHCP process.

9.4          A member asked whether the increase in school suspensions and exclusions was a local issue or part of a national trend. In response, Kirsten Harrison explained that it was a national issue which was playing out locally, with numerous factors contributing to the increase, including limited funding in schools and growing challenges relating to the emotional regulation and mental health of pupils. However, there were certain factors operating within the local education system that were also having an impact, such as the overlay of grammar schools on a comprehensive school system in the County. The importance of early intervention was highlighted, and it was understood that the Council was working on its outreach offer from The Altus alternative provision school, as part of the Change Partnership Programme with the Department for Education (DfE).

9.5          A member queried whether intervention needed to start from as young as 5 years old. Kirsten Harrison emphasised that intervention needed to start from birth as part of early years provision. Early Years SEND Assessment Centres had a role in identifying needs as early as possible. It was also emphasised that a child did not need a diagnosis for needs to be identified and addressed at the earliest possible opportunity.

9.6          The member continued to ask how many parents were aware of the help available during the early years. It was noted that the local offer had been redeveloped in collaboration with the Parent Carer Forum, however officers were aware that the information available in the Local Offer was not reaching everyone. Consideration was being given as to how to make the Local Offer more easily accessible and visible.  

9.7          The member asked whether schools were providing this information to parents. Kirsten Harrison emphasised that schools were doing everything they could to meet the needs of children despite challenging circumstances.

9.8          A member asked a question regarding the Legal Gateway Panel. Paul Shallcross, Director of Safeguarding and Care, informed members that the Legal Gateway Panel had been operating for 6 months and worked to centralise and ensure consistency with decision making relating to the thresholds for care proceedings. There would be a review of the process in September 2024.

9.9          The member continued to ask whether the process had prevented children from entering into care unnecessarily. Paul Shallcross felt that it had, by introducing proportionality in decision making.

9.10      There was a discussion as to the expectations of parents regarding the responsibility of schools to support the needs of children. One member suggested that parents needed to take more personal responsibility for their children’s needs. They felt that action needed to be taken to improve parenting skills.

9.11      Ann James highlighted the importance of establishing connections with families, which was where the Family Hubs would play a key role. They would enable the Council to work in partnership with families to provide children with the tools and skills they required. Paul Shallcross added that they had just launched their practice framework in children’s social care, which focused on giving parents the skills they needed to parent as best they could.