Agenda item

To undertake monitoring of the Council’s performance on Children’s Services for quarter 1, 2019-20.

Members were advised that this report provided the Committee with the performance information for the first quarter of 2019/20. Members would have the opportunity to question the Cabinet Member and officers on the performance, as well as the management actions to tackle any areas of poor performance.

The Chairperson welcomed Councillor Chris Weaver, for this item and invited him to make a statement in which he said that it would be good to see the in-depth version of the performance report.

The Chairperson welcomed Claire Marchant, Director of Social Services and Deborah Driffield, Interim Assistant Director, Children’s Services and asked them to present the performance report to Committee.

The Chairperson invited questions and comments from Members;

Members made reference to the report highlighting issues but lacking in detail on how to resolve the issues, making specific reference to Child/Disabilities.  Officers explained that there had been major commissioning work for domiciliary care and there were only 3 providers for Children.  There had been engagement exercises before the retendering exercise but there was only so much detail that could be included in the report, but there are significant plans underneath each of the bullet points.  A more detailed report could be brought back to Committee.

Members asked about locality working and signs of safety impact on caseloads.  Officers considered that caseloads in Cardiff are not significantly higher than elsewhere; they explained that locality working is three localities, with 3 Looked After Children teams in each; the social worker now works with the family rather than the child; this makes it easier to link provision, to step things down and should make it easier to embed Prevent.  Signs of safety is a journey, locality will give it more infrastructure, with more managers with time to reflect on practice.  It does take longer, working with families to establish a way forward, but it helps in the long run. 

Members referred to the proposal for a targeted team of case workers and asked where these would be from.  The Assistant Director explained that when she started to make changes in the LAC service there had been a huge backlash and people left; they had commissioned managed teams and bring them in when struggling, it costs money so it’s not used lightly but the difference the team had made in just 4 weeks was incredible.  In terms of modelling, the current managers are now working differently too.

Members referred to education needs not being met and asked what the issues are and what is being done to resolve them.  Members were advised that this was a significant issue for out of county children, there was a big piece of work underway with education to understand the issues including the provision of education in settings and Cardiff has a low number of hours to meet educational outcomes.  The Safeguarding Board and Corporate Parenting Advisory Committee are also focussing on this issue.

In relation to sickness levels and people leaving the service; Members asked whether the culture of the department was being addressed, especially when new people are being recruited.  Officers explained that up until recently short term sickness was lower than other departments; long term sickness was more problematic; most are in a disciplinary process although some are not.  With regards to Culture, Members were advised that there was a really strong bullying culture when the current Assistant Director had taken up post and this still effects the ability to recruit.  It was now clear that this would not be tolerated, it was made clear how current management model appropriate and robust management behaviour; however the bullying had been a long time in existence and would take a while to go.  Members asked for numbers of ongoing disciplinary cases and were advised that the figures could be provided after the meeting.

Members noted that staff turnover was quite high and asked for the average length of employment in the last five years.  Officers agreed to find out the information and provide it after the meeting; however noted that there was also staff movement internally.

Members considered it was refreshing to hear officers speaking so openly and honestly.  This was reiterated by the Cabinet Member who considered it was excellent to see officers be as straight forward with scrutiny as they are with Cabinet Members.

Members made reference to the Reflect project and asked how this was progressing.  Officers said this was difficult to answer, it was an excellent project but it had been raised with the adoption service about concerns over the court process.  Currently if a child if adopted against wishes then they are offered Reflect. Once the child is adopted then the Council’s role stops.  The Regional Adoption Service provides ongoing support so officers have asked if they would consider to work with parents to encourage them to go to Reflect further along the process.  Officers agreed to look at the number of referrals and provide the information to Committee.

AGREED – That the Chairperson writes to the Cabinet Member on behalf of the Committee expressing their comments and observations discussed during the Way Forward.