Agenda item

Independent Reviewing Officers Annual Report

Andy Smith, Head of Service Safeguarding, Audit and Inspection/Paul McIntyre, Safeguarding Manager

 

To receive and discuss the key findings in the annual report.

 

Minutes:

Paul McIntyre, Safeguarding Manager updated the Board on the key findings from the Independent Reviewing Service Annual Report 2018-2019 in the PowerPoint attached.

 

The report highlighted that although the number of children and young people looked after or subjected to a Child Protection Plan had increased by 7.5% during 2018/19, a very high proportion of these received a timely review within statutory timescales.  Almost all children and young people participated in their review either directly or indirectly.

 

The Board queried as to why only 59% of Personal Education Plans were up to date and Officers stated that the figures were not accurate on the system and should have been 76%.  There was now a revised template being used which would strengthen this delivery.  Questions included in the Personal Educational Plans had been revised to ensure they were fit for purpose and that schools could now access it and complete the plan along with the Social Workers.  Hopefully this would ensure that more plans were kept up to date.

 

Young people commented that they felt communication was lacking around Personal Education Plans and some indicated they had been waiting a month to receive theirs. 

 

Resolved:  Audrey Swann agreed to speak to the young people out of the meeting and pick the issue up around communication and waiting times.

 

Young people also questioned as to why only 93% of looked after children had a Personal Education Plan and it was explained that this would be to do with young people only just coming into care or maybe new to the county and the plan would be in progress however not completed.  The plans data changes every day as this was live information.

 

The Board were informed that every young person who had a Personal Education Plan should have a Life Story book and that this belonged to the young person.  How and when this information was received was up to the young person and where it was stored was their decision also.  Officers would support young people with this and negotiate with them the right time to access their Life Story book and offer support and guidance when in receipt of it.

 

With regards next steps and future objectives, it was recognised that there was more to be done to ensure that first line managers and Independent Reviewing Officers challenged and directed practice to achieve consistently good service and that they would continue to address this through joint training and development.  Children's Services was committed to developing a Family Safeguarding Model and this would change how the Independent Reviewing Officer Service delivered looked after children and child protection reviews, with an emphasis on working 'with' (as opposed to 'doing to') families to co-produce planned support.  A focus on achieving permanence and supporting this through Life Story Books would be a priority for looked after children.

 

Resolved:  That following on from the Annual Report and discussions around it that the Board have items at future meetings with regards to:

 

Health assessments

Personal Education Plans

Life Story Work

 

 

Supporting documents: