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Councillors and committees

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Bridges Room - Civic Centre

Contact: Rosalyn Patterson E-mail:  rosalynpatterson@gateshead.gov.uk 

Items
No. Item

F29

Apologies for absence

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Bradford, Councillor Buckley, Councillor Reay, Councillor Burnett and Ayodele Akin (co-opted member).

F30

Minutes of last meeting pdf icon PDF 361 KB

The Committee is asked to approve as a correct record the minutes of the last meeting held on 3 February 2022

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on 3 February 2022 were approved as a correct record.

F31

Ofsted Improvement Plan pdf icon PDF 616 KB

Report of the Deputy Director, Children, Adults and Families

Minutes:

The Committee received a report and presentation on the Ofsted Improvement Plan which came from the focussed visit in September 2021 and the short inspection in April 2019.

 

It was reported that the findings were very positive, however there were a small number of areas for improvement. Using the learning from both inspections an action plan was developed which identifies six areas of improvement;

 

·        Improve the quality and focus of written plans to ensure they are specific and targeted to meet the needs of individual children

·        Secure access to services for those children in care who live out of the borough

·        Improve the quality and impact of supervision and contingency planning for children in need

·        Ensure routine inclusion of children and their families’ views in audits

·        Development of contextual safeguarding arrangements

·        Further development of domestic abuse provision

 

In terms of improving the focus of written plans it was reported that there has been the introduction of co-production of plan so social workers are able to support young people to lead and be inclusive in their own plans. Training for social workers has been developed on this issue and will be delivered from March to July 2022 and it is anticipated that all plans will be written to the child by August – October 2022.

 

The action around the development of contextual safeguarding arrangements came from informal feedback. This has led to a Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) worker post which will be incorporated into the contextual safeguarding team. There is also a Dedicated Return Home Support Worker (RHSW) in place to undertake return home interviews with all young people reported missing. There has also been a specialist Young People’s Domestic Abuse Worker (YPVA) role developed to support young people experiencing abuse in their own relationships. These roles will work closely with the Contextual Safeguarding Team. 

 

It was reported that return home interviews have to be offered to every young person who is missing, however the young person may not necessarily take up the offer. Previously, there was a 30% uptake, however the Return Home Support Worker has been in post since September 2021 and engagement rates have increased to 65%, as at January 2022.

 

It was questioned as to what the co-production of plans involve. It was confirmed that this involves working with partners, parents and young people to look at the language used and help write the plans to the child or young person in language they understand.

 

It was also questioned as to the obligations on the authority in relation to children placed out of the borough.  It was confirmed that if a Gateshead child is placed outside of the borough the service continues to ensure the placement is regulated, the social worker will visit the child to maintain contact and family time. Care proceedings and legal work around that child is still the responsibility of the authority. In terms of children placed out of borough and attending schools outside of the area it was noted that Personal Education  ...  view the full minutes text for item F31

F32

Overview of Performance and Activity of the Adopt North East Regional Adoption Agency 2020/21 pdf icon PDF 306 KB

Report of the Deputy Strategic Director, Children’s Social Care and Early Help

Minutes:

Committee received a presentation on the work of the Regional Adoption Agency (RAA).

 

In 2015 it came into statute that local authorities had to become part of a RAA and in 2016 Gateshead collaborated with Northumberland County, Newcastle City, North Tyneside and South Tyneside Councils to form a RAA; Adopt North East. This went live in 2019.

 

A hosted model was opted for and this sits with North Tyneside Council as the lead for Adopt North East. The delegated functions include; recruitment, assessment and approval of adopters, family finding for children and support for adopters, those adopted and those affected by adoption for all five local authorities.

 

In terms of governance for the RAA, lead members meet on an annual basis and also attend quarterly Executive Board meeting. The Senior Leadership Group meeting quarterly and an Operational Leadership Group meet monthly.

 

Adopt North East is made up of 46 staff; one senior manager, five team managers, one team co-ordinator, 31 social workers and 8 business support officers.

 

In terms of performance for 2020/21, 21 children have been placed with adopters and 23 have been adopted (some of these are from 2019/20). Gateshead is good at placing children in fostering to adopt placements and has twice as many as other local authorities in the RAA. This arrangement places children with potential adopters before plans are endorsed by the courts, therefore social workers must be confident that the court will approve the placements. It was reported that so far, all fostering to adopt placements have had their legal adoptions order granted.  Gateshead has also had no disruptions of adoptive placements, whereas this has not been the case for other authorities.

 

It was noted that there has been an increase in the initial contacts of potential adopters, however there is a fall off after initial contact. Therefore work is ongoing around this as there has been an increase in the number of placements required to be outsourced due to lack of placement sufficiency.

 

A number of adoption support mechanisms are in place and there has been positive feedback around fostering panels, however it was acknowledged that there have been issues around medical advisors availability which will be picked up at the next leadership meeting.

 

It was reported that there is no inspection framework for RAA’s as this is picked up through individual local authority’s inspection. So far there has been positive feedback in relation to Adopt North East. However, there are issues around sufficiency of places which is placing additional financial burden on authorities who have to pay for external placements on top of the fee to Adopt North East.

 

RESOLVED    -           That the content of the report be noted and an annual Regional

Adoption Agency report be brought back to Committee.

 

 

F33

How Gateshead is meeting the needs of Children and Young People with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) pdf icon PDF 395 KB

Report of Strategic Director, Children, Adults and Families

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee received a presentation on the needs of children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

 

It was reported that there has been a substantial increase in the number of assessment requests and Education Health Care Plans (EHCPs). The number of new requests for 2022 is 277, this figure was 196 for 2020 so this has meant a massive increase in demand. In terms of neighbouring local authorities Gateshead is slightly higher, with 3.9% EHCPs, regionally the average is 3.8% and national average is 3.7%. However, Gateshead is lower than the regional and national averages in terms of SEND Support.

 

It was noted that since 2017 there has been an increase in the number of primary SEN for Social and Emotional Health, Speech Language and Communication Needs and Autistic Spectrum Condition.  There has been a decrease in the number of primary SEN for specific learning difficulty, moderate learning difficulty and severe learning difficulty.  Figures have remained static in relation to hearing and visual impairments, physical disability and profound and multiple learning difficulties.

 

It was reported that in Gateshead there are higher numbers of EHCPs than regional and neighbouring authorities and therefore it is becoming harder to place these children in Special Schools.  It was noted that work is underway to review the ARMS provision and it is anticipated that three new provisions will be opened from September 2022. Kells Lane Primary School is also providing an additional 10 places to meet demand, in partnership with Gibside School. There are also discussions with a further three primary schools to offer new provision from September which will create a further 24 places.

 

Schools are being encouraged to think about Preparing for Adulthood earlier, so from year 9 onwards, the four Preparing for Adulthood headings will be included in EHCPs;

-        Higher education or employment

-        Independent living

-        Friends, relationships and community

-        Being healthy

 

It was reported that the SEND Service has invested in a further 4.4 FTE posts to cope with increased demand. The Gateshead SENCO Network is being re-launched, including local peer groups and open door policy for support. Work is underway on participation and co-production, looking at how far the young people and carers influence strategic planning. The Parent / Carer Forum has been re-launched and meets regularly with senior leaders to discuss areas of concern.  The SEND Youth Forum has also been relaunched following the appointment of a new Engagement Officer. An SEND newsletter is circulated to a wide range of stakeholders every half term, which provides updates across education, health and care.

 

In terms of next steps it was reported that the new Green Paper on SEND is expected soon, as well as a new SEND Inspection framework. There will be a review of Secondary ARMS provision and a step up of the monitoring role to reduce further increase in requests for top-ups. In addition parents and carers will be supported to engage in strategic SEND developments.

 

The point was made that  ...  view the full minutes text for item F33

F34

Permanent Exclusion Data pdf icon PDF 485 KB

Report of the Strategic Director, Children, Adults and Families

Minutes:

Committee received an update report on permanent exclusion data. It was reported that, although this is a fluctuating picture, over the last four years there has been an overall downward trend in permanent exclusions.

 

Generally exclusions are at their highest rate over the autumn term and are most commonly due to persistent disruptive behaviour.  In 2020/21, male students were more likely to be excluded. There were no exclusions in primary settings in the last year.

 

It was reported that 103 places are currently commissioned at River Tyne Academy. Work is ongoing to look at how young people are supported in our schools and help them before they become permanently excluded.  Schools are being offered to work with the team on managed moves, 4-5 weeks prior to Fair Access Panel. It is hoped the early help work will prevent issues further upstream.

 

Work is ongoing to explore what the service has and needs with secondary leaders and what the main drivers are to prevent and reduce permanent exclusions.

 

It was noted that permanent exclusions for one-off major incidents will usually return to mainstream school as soon as possible through the Fair Access Panel. There is a strengthening reintegration of previously permanently excluded young people and River Tyne Academy support to reintegrate young people back into mainstream schools.

 

The point was made that some Headteachers speak to other schools and agree managed moves outside of the Fair Access Panel. It was noted that there is a consultation on permanent exclusions and it is expected that there will be additional guidance around offsite agreements which may change that going forward. All Headteachers are asked to inform the Fair Access Panel on any managed moves agreed outside of Panel.

 

Concerns were raised that permanent exclusion meetings can be daunting and therefore some parents may not engage with the process. It was noted that in terms of Pupil Disciplinary Committees parents are provided with information and evidence packs prior to the meeting. It was recognised that some parents may not be confident to attend and it was acknowledged that this may need to be strengthened in terms of a potential advocate for parents or helping parents to become more confident to advocate for themselves.

 

It was requested that data around free school meals in relation to permanent exclusions be included in the report to Committee next time.

 

RESOLVED    -           (i)         That the information be noted.

 

                                    (ii)        That an update report be brought back to Committee in

12 months time.

F35

Work Programme pdf icon PDF 138 KB

Joint Report of the Chief Executive and Strategic Director, Corporate Services and Governance

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Committee received a report on the work programme for the remainder of the 2021/22 municipal year.

 

RESOLVED    -           (i)         That the Committee noted the provisional programme.

 

                                    (ii)        That the Committee noted that further reports on the

work programme will be brought to the Committee to identify any additional policy issues, which the Committee may be asked to consider.

 

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