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Councillors and committees

Agenda item

The Council Plan - Six Monthly Assessment and Performance Delivery

Report of Strategic Director, Care Wellbeing and Learning

Minutes:

Committee received the six monthly performance report which provided an overview of performance and highlighted trends that have improved and declined since the last report.

 

It was reported that there are seven indicators highlighted as exceptions as they have not improved. Overall performance trends are positive with 15 out of the 22 indicators showing improvement since the last report. 

 

It was noted that 7 out of 12 indicators under the Live Well Gateshead outcome have improved. This includes; an increase in the number of families engaged by the Troubled Families Gateshead programme; a reduction in the use of custody for 10-17 year olds; a reduction in the number of mothers smoking at the time of delivery; a reduction in 4-5 year olds with excess weight issues; a reduction in the number of children subject to a child protection plan and an increase in the proportion of care leavers in suitable accommodation and education, training and employment.

 

Committee was advised that eight out of 10 indicators under the Prosperous Gateshead outcome have shown improvement. It was reported that there has been an increase in the percentage of schools rated outstanding and the percentage of children offered their preferred primary school place. There has also been an increase in the percentage of children achieving a good level of development at age 5, and those achieving the expected standard at Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2.

 

In terms of those indicators that have declined these were outlined by service area. In relation to Learning and Schools there has been a reduction in the number of children offered a place at their preferred secondary school, although performance is 88% and is above the national average this is still a decline from last year. It is expected that this figure will continue to decrease in future years as capacity within the current secondary school system remains as it is.  In the Early Help service, performance has declined in relation to the number of eligible two year olds accessing free places, however it is likely that this will improve as information is still being collated. Also, there has been an increase in the number of first time entrants into the youth justice system aged 10-17 years, this is currently being investigated by the YOT Board and prevention staff have moved into Early Help to provide an early intervening co-ordinated service. There has also been a decline in performance in relation to the support for young carers.

 

In the Public Health service performance has declined in terms of the reduction of excess weight in 10-11 year olds, a Members Seminar has been arranged for January 2018 to look at this issue further. In addition, hospital admissions for self-harm rates have increased, a further report will be brought back to the Committee to look at local level data and analysis.  It was reported that there has also been an increase in the percentage of children in low income families, children in poverty, work is ongoing around financial inclusion to mitigate the impact of welfare reforms.

 

Following actions identified in the last performance report it was noted that work is ongoing to look at the increase in permanent exclusions and focusing on individual pupils to identify issues, a behaviour conference was held in July 2017 with Head teachers to address issues. Work is also underway on developing the Early Help Strategy to empower families and professionals from all sectors.  In addition, the statutory duty to provide 30 hours free childcare for eligible 3 and 4 year olds commenced on 1 September. It was noted that a Complex Child in Need Team and Rapid Response Team has been established to improve the planning framework and to address the increase in Child Protection Plans. In the last performance report it was identified that more work was needed to improve outcomes for care leavers, since then a report has been to Corporate Parenting OSC detailing the provision of support to care leavers, including programmes such as Wise Steps, Choices, Pathways 2 Work. Also Service Directors have pledged to offer apprenticeships to care leavers.  An action plan is now in place to oversee the SEND Joint Commissioning arrangements.

 

Key actions over the next six months were noted;

·         Continue to develop and implement the learning and actions emerging from the Behaviour conference linked to permanent exclusions

·         Allow for the new early help model to settle and ensure that families will not experience delays in receiving the service in the transition period

·         Implement the new Rapid Response and Child with Complex Needs teams within Children and Families Social Care

·         Continue to develop and implement the learning and actions from the SEND Joint Commissioning arrangement action plan

 

It was questioned why decreasing the number of children living in poverty was not included in the key actions. It was noted that the key actions were broad objectives with a number of actions ongoing around each key action, and there was an understanding that this was continually looked at over a longer than 6 month period. Committee was reassured that child poverty prevention is a priority even if not listed as a key action. The point was made that there was a limited ability to do anything to solve child poverty due to the financial pressures on all and that the Council did not have the tools to resolve, in particular in the short term.  It was agreed that this issue could be considered as a potential review topic in the Committee’s work programme next year.

 

It was questioned whether the decline in the number of people receiving their first choice secondary school was to do with the majority of schools becoming academies. It was noted that there are inequalities across schools in Gateshead in relation to GCSE results and there continues to be extremely popular schools.

 

It was queried what the care leavers programmes entailed. It was confirmed that these are pre-training preparation for young people, providing an opportunity for them to get a taster of work. There are links with further and higher education establishments through designated staff who can help tailor bespoke work for looked after children.

 

RESOLVED    -           (i)         Committee agreed that the activities undertaken during

April to September 2017 are achieving the desired outcomes in the Council Plan 2015-2020.

 

                                    (ii)        That the comments of the Committee be noted in

relation to areas it feels require more detail.

 

Supporting documents:

 

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