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Agenda item

Out of County Placements - Inquiry Report - Progress Briefing

To enable Members to review and assess the progress being made following the inquiries recommendations.

Minutes:

The Chairperson advised that this item enables Committee to review the Directorates progress on the implementation of accepted recommendations following the Committee’s Out of County Placements inquiry which was submitted to Cabinet in July 2018.

 

The Chairperson welcomed Councillor Graham Hinchey, Cabinet Member for Children and Families, for this item, and invited him to make a statement.   Cllr Hinchey explained that there had been a lot of work over the past 3 years, there was now more understanding of Out of County placements and the issues related with them.

 

The Chairperson welcomed, Claire Marchant, Director for Social Services and Deborah Driffield, Interim Assistant Director, Children’s Services to present the progress report.

 

The Chairperson invited questions and comments from Members;

 

Members referred to Recommendation 1 and asked why November had been a particularly good month’s assessment.  Officers explained this related to needs met by themselves, the young people would have had a discussion regarding needs/issues and identified their own resources.  Officers were not sure why that month was so high percentage wise.

 

With reference to Recommendation 2, Members asked why the percentage target of 63% placements to be in Cardiff had been reduced to 60%. Officers explained it was reduced as they were so far away from it, there had been an increase in numbers in residential care and this impacts on the overall percentages.

 

Members asked about internal placements and the numbers of new homes and new beds.  Members were advised that there would be 17 extra beds across 4 homes; with another 2 homes coming on board soon.  It was also important to look at the assessment centre and how we can do more in-house fostering.  Members discussed the differences across the City with planning permission for homes and objections from ward members; discussions were happening with Planning on these issues.

 

In relation to Recommendation 3, Members asked what outcomes were expected from the initiatives.  Officers outlined a number of things including; focus on the process being efficient and more business-like; weekly meetings looking at recruitment and staff; working closely with marketing an communications; adding a market supplement; making it easier for students on placements to stay; growing our own through university courses and ensuring staff feel supported in their roles.

 

Members asked about stages/timeframes of the Team Managers development programme.  Officers stressed this was a significant change with a fairly new management team.  They knew they needed a development programme, it is underway but it also needs a wider development programme; this would be crucial for the relationship between Operational Managers and Staff.  The Cabinet Member added that the team are very approachable, in an open plan office; there has been a significant increase in PPDR’s and next was to improve the quality of them. Officers added that the OM tier has been restructured and the team managers would be next.

 

Members asked about the university places and what engagement there was with schools.  Officers explained that HR have asked them to go into schools to engage.  The university courses are not full, so the plan is to grow our own through secondment and support to qualification.

 

With regard to Recommendation 4, Members made reference to the chart colours; officers explained that they had to double up on some agency checks as people were not qualified or had been disciplined.

 

In relation to Recommendation 5, Members asked what our responsibility was.  Officers explained that they need to inform Social Care Wales.  It takes a lot of officer time to conduct the checks but they are being robust.

 

The Cabinet Member explained a briefing note in relation to Recommendation 6 had been sent out last week.

 

With regard to Recommendation 7, Members asked what support there was for the pinch point in the middle and if there was anything Committee could do to avoid it happening.  The Cabinet Member said an Early Help update each month would be helpful outlining the Early interventions and preventions.  Also to look at how any changes affect the quality of outcomes.

 

Members discussed Recommendation 8, it was noted that ‘where it is safe to do so’ was added in.  It was noted that Looked after Children had not gone up as projected and that kinship care had increased.  Members noted the drop in referrals in August and September and were advised this was due to referrals from school and teachers and the summer break.

 

In relation to Recommendation 10, Members said they had previously been advised that there has been some resistance from some staff and asked if this was still the case.  Officers advised that there were still some issues, although they had moved on with team managers having a project plan, good practice and principles to measure against.

 

Members discussed Recommendation 13, Members noted that the Children’s Commissioner for Wales was calling for profitable agencies to be moved out of the equation, looking at the Scottish model which was also now being used in parts of England.  It was said that there are numerous third sector charities that work in foster care and there could be a possibility of an alliance with LA’s, taking advantage of recruitment etc. and forcing the private sector out of the market.  Officers agreed to look at the alliance suggestion and noted that the private sector had shown interest in piggy-backing with the Council.

 

With regard to Recommendation 16, the Cabinet Member noted that you can’t stop demand, lots of work had been done realigning the budget and on top of this there was the market supplement and the assessment centre.  Whilst currently in a better position, he could not guarantee on any overspend.  Officers discussed controllable and uncontrollable budgets and the need to keep the children safe and provide the service.  It was noted that the budget could easily be skewed by sibling groups and any workforce issues.  Members considered there could be more invest to save work undertaken.

 

Members discussed Recommendation 19, the Cabinet Member recommended that Members read the Action plan.  Members asked for the terminology used to be checked.

 

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

Supporting documents:

 

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