Agenda and minutes

County Councillors John Shedwick and Barrie Yates replaced County Councillors Peter Steen and David Smith respectively for this meeting.

Apologies were received from Mrs Janet Hamid, representing Parent Governors; Simon Smith, representing Roman Catholic Schools; and Oliver Moores, representing the Youth Council.

Members are asked to consider any Pecuniary and Non-Pecuniary Interests they may have to disclose to the meeting in relation to matters under consideration on the Agenda.

None were disclosed.

Resolved: The minutes from the meeting held on 2 September 2020 were confirmed as an accurate record.

The Chair welcomed Sharon Hubber, Director of Children's Social Care, to the meeting. A presentation updating the committee on the plans in place to manage the increase in children's social care referrals was delivered.

Members were informed that at the beginning of lockdown all social workers and family support workers were supported to work remotely and all offices were closed. Risk assessments were undertaken on every case and RAG rated. All face to face family time was suspended. Visiting guidance was produced for social workers. All schools were closed and all court cases were suspended.

Regarding children's homes, they had not closed during the pandemic. Volunteers from across the county council were trained to cover shifts if required. All visits to homes were suspended. Children were unable to be discharged meaning beds quickly became full. Courts were unable to discharge care orders.

In terms of the recovery plan for when lockdown finished, it was reported that the MASH was fully staffed to ensure the front door was able to meet the demand and staff would be deployed if necessary. Level 4 referrals were directed straight to Duty and Assessment allowing for work to be allocated immediately. Where it was safe, discharge of cases was taking place. It was noted that courts were now sitting full time and able to discharge cases. There was now a pathway in place to step up cases from Early Help and step down with no referral. School cluster links were to be contacted before a referral was made ensuring the team around the school was known and being used.

Referrals to MASH had increased following the opening of schools. Members were informed there was an increase in Elective Home Education and an increase in free school meals applications. Social workers and schools were clear there was a need to follow up children not attending school. The county council had fewer children in external provision but it's spend had risen. This was due to providers needing extra measures during the Covid-19 crisis. There was an increase in children entering the social care system that had not been known beforehand.

Comments and questions raised by the committee were as follows:

·  Concerns were raised over the backlog of court cases and the committee enquired was there any indication when the courts would catch up. Members were informed that technology has been put in place quickly to allow remote court hearings. Some cases were deferred due to some people not having the technology. Courts were now back functioning but it was taking longer than anticipated to catch up.

·  Members enquired if there had been any bereavements of parents or grandparents of the children who were in Lancashire's children's homes. The Children's Services Team had been keeping a close eye on this and there had been no bereavements. The team was looking after and protecting older foster carers so that they were not put under undue risk.

·  Regarding school cluster links and referrals there were concerns about children with SEN  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

The report presented provided information on the single combined work programme drafted for all of the Lancashire County Council scrutiny committees.

The topics included were identified at a work planning workshop for members of the Internal Scrutiny Committee held on 29 May 2020 and from a previous combined meeting of both Children's Services and Education Scrutiny Committees.

Members were informed that there would be an update on the recommendations of Schools Causing Concern Task Group for the February 2021 meeting.

At the April 2021 meeting there would be an update on the SEND Accelerated Progress Plan as well as an update on the Lancashire Breaktime.

For the November 2020 meeting on Digital Poverty and Lessons Learned, the committee requested invitations to go to headteachers to provide their views.

There was concern about the number of Afro-Caribbean and Black African pupils who were being excluded from schools. A request was made for this to be made part of the SEND review or alternative provision. In addition, the subject of 'A' level students and their exams in 2021 was raised.

The committee was informed that information on school closures could be found on C-First.

Resolved: That the work plan presented be noted.

An item of urgent business may only be considered under this heading where, by reason of special circumstances to be recorded in the Minutes, the Chair of the meeting is of the opinion that the item should be considered at the meeting as a matter of urgency.  Wherever possible, the Chief Executive should be given advance warning of any Member’s intention to raise a matter under this heading.

There were no items of Urgent Business.

The next meeting of the Education and Children's Services Scrutiny Committee will be held on Tuesday 10 November  2020 at 10.30am.

The next virtual meeting of the Education and Children's Services Scrutiny Committee would take place on Tuesday 10 November 2020 at 10.30am.