Agenda item

·         Councillor Graham Hinchey (Cabinet Member - Children and Families) will be in attendance any may wish to make a statement;

·         Tony Young (Director – Social Services), Irfan Alam (Assistant Director – Children’s Services, Jo-Anne Phillips (Project Manager) and Marisa Moon (Team Manager, Intake and Assessment) will present the report and be available to answer any questions Members may have;

·         Questions from Committee Members;

·         The Way Forward for this item will be considered at the end of the meeting.

As part of the Committee’s 2017-18 Work Programme, Members had previously requested a briefing report on the implementation of Signs of Safety in Cardiff Council.  Signs of Safety is an integrated framework for Childrens Services which sets out principles for practice; disciplines for practitioners; a range of tools for assessment and planning, decision-making and engaging with children and families; and describes the processes through which the work is undertaken with families and children.

The Committee received a report providing an overview of the Signs of Safety framework and a summary of the three key principles, or columns, used to address key challenges of the work, namely: Working in relationships is paramount; Thinking Critically; and Based on Everyday Experience.

In Cardiff, in response to the challenges facing social work practice, Childrens Services embarked on the implementation of a single risk framework by adopting the Signs of Safety model, which would enable the service to work towards a strategic vision based on prevention and reducing the need for statutory interventions.  It was agreed that a project approach would be used to embed the framework across the service.  A Project Team was established to work alongside a Signs of Safety consultant and an implementation plan was produced.

Furthermore, a steering group was agreed as a means of developing internal forms and processes to best assist the implementation of Signs of Safety.  The steering group membership included staff from across the service.

Members were advised that Signs of Safety is focussed on keeping children and young people safe.  Its successful implementation is predicated on a whole service change to social work practice and a commitment to keeping families together by managing and reducing risks.  Significant progress had been made but some challenges remain.

The Chairperson welcomed Graham Hinchey, Cabinet Member for Children and Families; Irfan Alam, Assistant Director of Social Services; Jo-Anne Phillips (Project Manager; and Marissa Moon (Team Manager, Intake and Assessment); to the meeting.  Following brief statements from the Cabinet Member and the Assistant Director, the officers were invited to deliver a presentation entitled ‘Implementing Signs of Safety in Cardiff Council’.

The Chairperson thanked the officers for their presentation.  The Committee was invited to comment, seek clarification or raise questions on the information received.  Those discussions are summarised as follows:

·         Members asked whether Childrens Services involvement with families is brought to an end when cases are closed.  Officers confirmed that Children Services involvement is ended but a safety plan is put in place and there was an expectation that stakeholders, such as schools or the family, would report back to Childrens Services should problems arise.

·         The Assistant Director stated that staff within the service are committed to the Signs of Safety approach.  Staff are still facing demands and challenges from high caseloads and work to recruit additional social workings into newly established posts was continuing.

·         All Social Work Teams were visited and staff were invited to provide examples of who they are trying to face the challenges.  A good response was received and those examples were shared across the service area.

·         Members supported the service’s aspirations but asked for further clarification with regard to how these could be achieved without reducing social workers’ caseloads.  The Assistant Director stated that growing capacity within the service was critical.  It was accepted that more staff and more managers are needed.  However, changes to working practices are also necessary, such as providing reflective areas away from the main office.  The ultimate aim is to improve practice and reduce the numbers of looked after children.

·         Officers advised that Signs of Safety practices are discussed in internal meetings.  Feedback from staff has been overwhelmingly positive.  Structures are being put in place to support changes and maintain the positive momentum.

·         Members sought clarification regarding the legal implications of the changes.  The Assistant Director stated that Children Services have engaged with other agencies.  Judges are familiar with the Signs of Safety framework and, whilst sceptical, some positive feedback has been received.  Members were asked to note that there are some child protection cases where the Signs of Safety approach is not appropriate and the existing procedures will be utilised.

·         With regard to the case study referred to in the presentation, Members noted that the child had 13 years of Childrens Services involvement, including the closure of cases, prior this case being closed.  Members asked what was different about this closure and was there still a need for ongoing awareness of the case.  Officers stated that the case is not closed in the ‘traditional’ way.  A meeting is held and support networks are put in place.  If the safety plan is unsuccessful there is an expectation that Childrens Services will be notified.

·         Members asked whether there were any plans to revisit previous decisions and apply the signs of safety framework.  Officers stated that where children are placed for adoption there is no recourse.  Consideration is being given to the establishment of a dedicated team to discharge care orders using the Signs of Safety approach.

The Cabinet Member made a closing statement.  The Committee was advised that there is no hiding from the numbers of children being presented.  Whilst this presented budgetary difficulties, the best outcome for those children is paramount.  Patience will be required before numbers of looked after children are reduced.

AGREED – that the Chairperson writes on the Committee’s behalf to the Cabinet Member to convey their comments and observations.