Agenda item

Slough Children First Limited (SCF) Annual Report and Governance Review

Decision:

(a)  That SCF’s Annual Report be noted.

 

(b)  That the governance review of SCF be noted and in particular the recommended actions and recommend to the Audit and Corporate Governance Committee that it receives six monthly reports on progress against the governance review recommendations. 

 

(c)  Noted that People Scrutiny Panel was receiving a report recommending that it set up a task and finish group to review the Mutual Ventures report, Annual Review process and draft business plan to make recommendations to cabinet on approval of the business plan as part of the budget setting process.

Minutes:

The Cabinet considered a report that included the Slough Children First Annual Report and an update on a governance review of the company.  It was the first annual report since its governance arrangements changed from a standalone trust to a company wholly owned by the Council.

 

The Director of Operations at Slough Children First gave a presentation that summarised the progress and challenges of the past year as set out in the Annual Report.  The Cabinet noted the position regarding the various inspections carried out during the year; the rising demand for services; performance indicators; and the work to stabilise the workforce.  Good progress had been highlighted in the inspections of fostering and the Breakaway service, although significant areas of weakness had been identified in the SEND inspection as previously reported to Cabinet. 

 

The work to improve the governance arrangements of the company were discussed, including the work already undertaken which had identified a number of recommendations which it was proposed would form an action plan that was reported to the Audit & Corporate Governance Committee every 6 months.  SCF had developed a high level 7-year business plan for 2022-29 along with a series of business cases for areas such as early help, edge of care and workforce.  The Department for Education had commissioned Mutual Ventures to undertake a review of the business plan and it was proposed that this be presented to the People Scrutiny Panel as part of its review of the business plan in order to make recommendations to Cabinet.

 

Lead Members discussed the report in detail and asked about engagement with families and how the voice of the child was being heard; the appropriate role of the Lead Member for Children’s Service with the company; the effectiveness of the company board; and the workforce plans to tackle the long-standing recruitment difficulties in social care.  Officers responded to the points raised.  The financial position of the company was discussed and it was recognised that the development of a robust business plan was vital.

 

The Leader stated that the DfE Commissioner, Trevor Doughty, had left that role at the end of September.  He placed on record his thanks to Mr Doughty for his work in Slough and said the Cabinet looked forward to working with the new Commissioner, Paul Moffat.

 

The Leader also asked that the thanks of the Cabinet be passed to frontline staff for the support they were given to children in Slough.

 

Resolved –

 

(a)  That SCF’s Annual Report be noted.

 

(b)  That the governance review of SCF be noted and in particular the recommended actions and recommend to the Audit and Corporate Governance Committee that it receives six monthly reports on progress against the governance review recommendations. 

 

(c)  Noted that People Scrutiny Panel was receiving a report recommending that it set up a task and finish group to review the Mutual Ventures report, Annual Review process and draft business plan to make recommendations to cabinet on approval of the business plan as part of the budget setting process.

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