Agenda item

The Panel considered details of the current performance and operational challenges for Slough Children’s Services Trust (SCST) as at December 2020. The Assistant Director of Frontline Practice and Improvement at SCST informed Members that although there were areas of improvement required, performance had improved against a backdrop of significant pressures brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic, resource constraints, and workforce difficulties.

The report updated the Panel on the national perspective; the Trust’s revised Improvement Plan; current operational pressures; and caseloads.  The following points were noted:

·  There was a national increase in the number of children and young people presenting with more complex needs.  The upward trend had been increasing for more than two years but had become even more acute due to the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

·  The revised Improvement Plan for SCST had been circulated to the Panel and it included listening to the voice of the child and their family to drive plans and intervention; ensuring stability in the workforce through recruitment and retention; improving supervision and management oversight; and embedding quality assurance, continuous learning and improvement as part of the journey to a ‘Good’ Ofsted rating.

·  There had been an overall improvement in progressing actions in the Improvement Plan over the past month with 11 additional ‘green’ rated actions and 5 additional ‘reds’.

·  The Trust continued to manage the operational pressures which included the lack of quality social workers available for recruitment, a recent organisation wide IT outage between 5-9 November and the lack of placements available for children and young people.

·  There had been a spike in caseloads in October 2020 although it had reduced to a more manageable level since then.  Another increase was expected following the return of all children to school on 8^th March 2021.

·  The specific performance issues were noted in Referral and Assessment (Front Door), Safeguarding and Family Support; Care Leavers and Children Looked After and Support Services.  The number of children in care was 215, up from 210 the previous month, and there was an increase in the number of large and complex sibling groups coming into care.

·  There were a total of 11 vacancies in the Trust at the end of December which was a reduction of 3 on the previous month.  Nine of these vacancies were for social workers.

The Panel asked a number of questions about the report including the impacts of Covid-19 on children’s mental health and wellbeing.  The Officer recognised this was a significant challenge and explained the support in place including clinicians working for the Trust who could help children access the pathways to most appropriate services.  There was a partnership approach to support children during ‘lockdown’ and it was highlighted that vulnerable children were still able to attend school which was positive.  The Officer highlighted it was likely there were ‘hidden harm’ to children who could not be monitored or supported in the usual ways during ‘lockdown’ and it was likely to take many years to assess the full impacts.  The Panel agreed that it would welcome a report on mental health pathways for children and this could be considered for the work programme in future.  Member also discussed the performance relating to support for autistic children and the pathways for care leavers.  It was recognised that apprenticeship opportunities for care leavers was underdeveloped in Slough and work was just started to address the issue.

The ongoing workforce challenges were discussed and the Panel asked whether anything more could be done to recruit and retain social workers in Slough given the market conditions and strong competition from authorities in London.  Members were informed that the financial packages were now broadly on par with London and the most important factors were good management and caseloads both of which were key areas of the Improvement Plan.  The Trust continued to work hard on implementing its workforce strategy despite the challenges.

Speaking under Rule 30, Councillor Dhaliwal asked about the issue of unaccompanied asylum seeker children; foster care; and several workforce issues.  The Officer responded to the questions and in relation to foster care it was noted that there had been an increase in the number of placements and the service was performing well.

At the conclusion of the discussion the report was noted and it was agreed to receive an update in six months.

Resolved – That details of the report be noted and for the Panel to receive a  further update in six months.