Agenda and minutes

It was noted that Councillors Clarke, Darby, Dormer, Osibogun and Turner had submitted their apologies for the meeting. Apologies were also received from Zoe Williams, co-optee.

Councillors Stuchbury and Wilson were also in attendance at the meeting.

The Chairman will appoint the Vice-Chairman of the Children’s and Education Select Committee for the year 2023 to 2024.

The Chairman appointed Councillor Ade Osibogun as Vice-Chairman of the Select Committee for the ensuing year.

For Committee Members to declare any Personal or Disclosable Pecuniary Interests.

·       Cllr K Bates declared a personal interest as a school governor.

·       Cllr D Blamires declared a personal interest as an employee of Bourne End Academy and as a parent of a child with SEND at a local authority school in Buckinghamshire.

·       Cllr S Kayani personal interest as a Policy Advisor for the Dyspraxia Foundation and as an employee at Bourne End Academy.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meetings of the Committee held on 23^rd March and 17^th May 2023.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meetings of the committee held on 23^rd March 2023 and 17^th May 2023 be AGREED as an accurate record and signed by the Chairman.

In relation to the addendum to the minutes Katie Dover noted that the responses to items 12 to 14 would be circulated to committee members this month.

Public Questions is an opportunity for people who live, work or study in Buckinghamshire to put a question to a Select Committee. The Committee will hear from members of the public who have submitted questions in advance relating to items on the agenda. The Cabinet Member, relevant key partners and responsible officers will be invited to respond.

Further information on how to register can be found here: https://www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/your-council/getinvolved-with-council-decisions/select-committees/

No public questions were received in relation to this agenda of the Select Committee. It was noted that Councillors Stuchbury and Wilson attended the meeting to ask questions under specific items.

For the Select Committee to consider the update report on the work of the Children’s Services Department.

Contributors:

Cllr Anita Cranmer, Cabinet Portfolio holder for Children’s Services & Education

John Macilwraith, Corporate Director – Children’s Services

Simon James, Service Director - Education

Richard Nash, Service Director – Children’s Social Care

The Chairman welcomed Cllr Anita Cranmer, Cabinet Member for Children’s and Education; Richard Nash, Service Director – Children’s Social Care and Errol Albert, Service Director – Transformation and Improvement, to the meeting.

In their presentation, the following points were highlighted:

·       The update report on the work of the Children’s Services Department had been forwarded to Cabinet for consideration. A number of significant issues had been highlighted in the Cabinet report, including the issues relating to the substantial increase in demand levels nationally, the progress of the schools’ white paper, the Care Review and the government’s response to it. Demand levels and changes at the national level had a significant impact on how the service would meet the challenges of the future.

·       Mr Nash commended Sandra Carnell and her team’s excellent work for children's homes as two had received outstanding Ofsted ratings and the positive inspection outcome for the youth offending service. However, he recognised the need for ongoing improvement and highlighted the challenges in finding appropriate placements for children in need.

During the discussion, comments and questions raised by the Committee included:

·       A Member asked if Buckinghamshire would receive any of the £27 million in funding for carer recruitment and retention. Mr Nash clarified that the mentioned figures were national and that the report was written before the specific division of funds among local authorities was known. They were currently awaiting further information on how the allocation will be distributed. Mr Nash acknowledged the importance of having clarity on the funds and stated that as more information becomes available, the Committee would be updated accordingly.

·       Concerns about the clarity of paragraph 2.9 regarding social worker pay in the report were raised. They sought clarification on the specific roles and types of social workers being referred to, and questioned whether the conditions of service were determined at the local authority level or followed a national pay and terms structure. Mr Nash acknowledged the need for detailed answers and committed to providing a written response with the necessary information. He mentioned that efforts were made to ensure pay parity with other local authorities, aligning with prevailing pay rates for similar roles.

ACTION: RN

·       A Member noted that the care review suggested abolishing the role of Child Protection Conference chair, which was not mentioned in the strategy. Mr Nash advised that there had been no proposals to change these roles, though there had been an ongoing debate regarding the role of independent reviewing officers for looked-after children.

·       It was noted that the county was falling behind in meeting the completion targets for the digitalisation of Education, Health, and Care Plans (EHCPs). Mr Nash acknowledged that the demand for EHCPs was increasing annually by approximately 16% and emphasised the need to consider digital solutions to improve performance. Potential barriers that certain parents and carers may face in accessing digital services were highlighted. Mr Nash agreed with these concerns and emphasised the importance of developing a strategy that ensures easy access to digitalisation for all  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

For the Select Committee to consider a report regarding the Children’s Services Transformation Programme.

Contributors:

Cllr Anita Cranmer, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Children & Education

John Macilwraith, Corporate Director, Children’s Services

Errol Albert, Service Director - Transformation

The Chairman invited Cllr Anita Cranmer, Cabinet Member for Children’s and Education, Richard Nash, Service Director – Children’s Social Care and Errol Albert, Service Director – Transformation, to speak on this item.

In their presentation, the following points were highlighted:

·       The transformation programme was prompted by a rise in demand for services, including higher referral rates compared to similar areas. Nationally, there was a 32% increase in child protection plans, and the number of children in care was projected to surpass 100,000 in the next decade.

·       The council acknowledged the need to improve risk management and support for children with emerging needs, creating an environment conducive to effective social work by addressing caseloads and providing adequate support. Buckinghamshire Council’s Children’s Services have improved significantly and were striving to achieve a good rating from OFSTED.

·       The comprehensive programme of change would be implemented to ensure that children and young people were at the centre of decision-making at every stage of the process, moving away from traditional practices. The proposed changes aimed to consider new demands and emerging risks, minimise the need for repetitive storytelling by families, provide continuity of support, and utilise local services effectively. Any changes requiring job transitions would involve formal consultation.

·       A cultural workforce framework was being established to ensure consistency in values, expectations, and support provided to social workers. The goal was to recruit and retain social workers successfully by focusing on staff development and well-being.

·       A triangle model was used to illustrate the focus on strengthening support at the early stage to prevent concerns from escalating. The narrow end represented statutory duties related to child protection and safeguarding, while the wider end represented the aim to reduce the need for intensive intervention. The middle part involved targeted intensive family help through multi-agency teams, including qualified social workers and family support workers. The goal was to identify and support families at an earlier stage by providing easily accessible services, which would reduce the need for intensive statutory interventions such as child protection plans, care proceedings, or removal from home.

·       The transformation journey was already underway, with phase one focusing on early help pathways and preventing the escalation of needs. Services within the organisation and external partners were being assessed for their potential contributions. This included developing smaller, cohesive multi-agency teams that are attuned to local communities, including schools and voluntary community partners. This shift also allowed for the identification of a trusted lead professional who could develop relationships with families and ensure they receive the right services. Collaboration with partners was crucial to provide continuity of support. Phase two would involve wider services and their alignment with the model. Discussions and engagements were taking place with various boards and partners, and staff feedback and ideas were being gathered to shape the system and identify their roles in achieving the desired outcomes.

·       Strategic commissioning was also a priority, especially in the challenging area of children's placements. Efforts were being made to recruit and support foster carers, strengthen the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

For the Select Committee to consider the report of the review group on “Pathways for Children with SEND”.

Contributors:

Cllr Diana Blamires (Chairman)

Group Members

Councillor Blamires, Chair of the SEND task and finish review group, provided the following update about its progress: 

·       The inquiry focused on improving the experience for parents of children with autism, ADHD, anxiety or depression awaiting diagnosis when accessing pathways to services for SEND. Surveys had shown that over 90% of parents suspecting their child might have one or more of these conditions were correct, emphasising the need to offer substantial support from the outset and easy access to key information.

·       Several recommendations were made to improve access to pathways to SEND services which had arisen through the extensive interviewing of relevant key officers, staff of the authority and parents.

·       One recommendation was made to provide additional training for teaching and nursery staff to validate parents' concerns. Failure to offer timely support may result in the escalation of needs and increased costs for children's services. The need for more educational psychologists, including trainee positions, was also raised, as their input could be valuable even before a formal diagnosis was made.

·       Issues were raised regarding the accessibility and effectiveness of the section of the council's website called the ‘local offer’, which was for the provision of SEND information. Many parents reported difficulties navigating the website and suggested improvements such as short videos in simple language and clear signposting. The term ‘local offer’ used nationally by the government for local SEND provision appeared to be not adequately understood.

·       Additionally, schools reported positive experiences when children or returning students with ADHD and autism spoke openly about their conditions, helping to reduce bullying and stigma while increasing understanding among their peers. Schools also highlighted the importance of showcasing successful individuals with ADHD and autism as role models, providing inspiration and boosting confidence for students facing similar challenges.

During the discussion, comments and questions raised by the Committee included:

·       Attendees commended the work of the inquiry group on the report.

·       A Member asked if there were one or two key issues that could be focused on to make a difference, considering the overwhelming number of issues discussed. Cllr Blamires highlighted the lack of information as a recurring problem. Many parents, especially those new to the system, struggled to find the right information and resources. The overall aim should be to simplify and streamline the process of accessing relevant information, creating clear and accessible pathways for parents and professionals.

·       A Member noted that progress had been made in the early pathway communication, particularly with the implementation of written statements of action. Initiatives like the AET (Autism Education Trust) programme could be expanded to include other conditions, providing quick and effective interventions at the beginning of the diagnostic pathway.

·       Although not formally recommended, the value of parent-led organisations was acknowledged, with several individuals highlighting the significant support they offer. It was proposed that the council promote the formation of local parent groups during their interactions with specific organisations, as parents involved in such groups found them highly beneficial.

·       A Member suggested considering an alternative name for the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

For the Select Committee to consider and agree the draft work programme for the year ahead.

Contributors:

All Members

Katie Dover, Senior Scrutiny Officer

The Select committee received the draft work programme. Members were advised to contact the Scrutiny Officer for the committee with any additional topics they wished to be include.

The following suggestion was raised during the meeting:

·       It was requested that the principal social worker annual report, scheduled for the 7th of September meeting, include quantitative data alongside qualitative data. It was also suggested to include key performance indicators (KPIs) in the report to gauge the extent of success and provide guidance on the current status. Having qualitative and quantitative data would offer a more nuanced view and prevent misinterpretation of the information.

·       A Member suggested exploring alternative provision (AP) in more depth, possibly in conjunction with the ongoing transformation project. They highlighted the potential risk of students returning to mainstream settings without experiencing positive developments, which could potentially contribute to long-term consequences like permanent exclusion. They proposed conducting a detailed examination of the AP landscape in the county and its potential impact on other services.

The next meeting of the Select Committee will take place on Thursday 7^th September at 2.00 p.m. in The Oculus, The Gateway, Aylesbury.

The date of the next meeting of the Select Committee will be Thursday, 7^th September 2023. However, the start time has been changed to 10 a.m.