Agenda item

For the Children’s and Education Select Committee to

(i)                  Receive a verbal update from the Chairman on the work of the Rapid Review Group on the recruitment and retention of social workers.

(ii)                To put forward further suggestions for the work programme for the 2022/2023 council year.

Contributors:

Councillor Mark Dormer: Chairman of the Rapid Review Group

Katie Dover: Senior Scrutiny Officer

a)      The Chairman noted that a rapid review group had been set up by the Select Committee to look at the recruitment and retention of social workers. The Chairman of the review group, Councillor Dormer had sent his apologies to this meeting but had provided the following words for the Chairman to read in relation to the investigations the group had made so far, as follows:

Update for Children’s & Education Select Committee Report into the Retention and Recruitment of Social Workers

With the OFSTED inspection expected in Q4 2021, members of the group took the decision to postpone the commencement of the report to allow senior Officers to focus their time and efforts on the imminent inspection. The following progress had been made:

-          Once the inspection had been completed the group began its investigations. All meetings have been held online and in an ‘open mic’ session with free two-way conversation encouraged. At all stages, the group has emphasised its approach as one of a ‘critical friend’ looking to help and support the service, but not being reticent about making firm but fair conclusions.

-          The group began its investigation with a lengthy meeting with the head of the service, Richard Nash, who provided a full assessment of the national backdrop and how this specifically affected Buckinghamshire with its then ‘inadequate’ OFSTED rating. Subsequent meetings have included members of the finance team to provide context for the financial implications of recruiting agency and overseas staff. The group has been forensic in its approach to data and costs and delved deep into the financial implications and costs of how the staffing model currently operates and how it might work in an optimal situation.

-          The group has examined the organisational workings of the service, together with the administrative burdens placed on certain sections of the organisation, the technology employed to support staff and the role and function of Human Resources.

-          In order to ensure that the group created an open forum for discussion, the decision was taken for the Head of Service to be excused from meetings with Line Managers and individual Social Workers, in addition the group itself took responsibility for encouraging participation, rather than relying on individuals proposed by others within the service.

-          A broad section of Line Management from across the service have attended meetings and there has also been two additional meetings with social workers themselves to ensure that the group has received a wide range of opinions from a variety of different people. A great deal of time has been spent in pre-meeting preparation to ensure that key topics and areas were fully examined in depth, but the group has also been keen to allow and encourage open conversations and discussions throughout all meetings. In addition, all meetings have been concluded with the reaffirmation of our approach to privacy and encouraging those attending to send in further thoughts and observations post the meetings as they see fit.

The group has now concluded the interview and meetings aspect of its investigation and is moving to the ‘wash-up’ stage. However, we will retain the option to revisit the meetings stage if we feel that we have areas which require more investigation or granularity before the group reports its findings.

The overriding aim of the group is to deliver a report which reflects a true and fair reflection of the current situation for the recruitment and retention of social workers together with key recommendations. Where Buckinghamshire is successful and on point, we will ensure that this is recognised, but where there is room for improvements, the group will not shy away from criticism where it is due.

B) Future Items for the work programme

A draft list of items included children’s social care improvement plan: SEND inspection results, Early help and children’s centres, and the report of the rapid review group.

Councillor Hussein requested more information on the attainment gap and the workings of the 11 plus exam scheme, in particular the relationship between the schools and the authority, as the council was not responsible for the scheme but for running it.

Councillor Turner requested more information on the engagement and participation of children in care and engaging them in the work of the council on corporate parenting.

Councillor Birchley requested more information on children with special needs placed outside Buckinghamshire.

Mr Nash noted that the Improvement Board held him to account and the work was also reported to the Cabinet. The Select Committee would have sight of the work, rather than have a separate item coming to the committee.

Councillor Stuchbury noted the need to ensure Section 106 contributions matched the needs required in the council.