Agenda item

The Committee received a report of the Director of Nursing, North Durham and Durham Dales, Easington and Sedgefield Clinical Commissioning Groups that provided an overview of recommendations from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) review of health services for children and looked after and safeguarding in County Durham (for copy see file of Minutes).

The Director of Nursing informed the Committee that there had been a delay in the CQC publishing their report following the inspection in November 2016.  It had been received before the purdah periods in County Durham and this had been the first opportunity to share with Members.

She went on to advise that the inspection had looked at a number of issues and  highlighted the provider services reviewed and the long list of recommendations.  Each provider service produced action plans and the designated nurse for Safeguarding and Looked After Children then produced an overarching action plan in response to all of the recommendations.  Monitoring of the action plan would take place bi-monthly and there would be penalties imposed on providers should the actions not be implemented.

Councillor Charlton asked what the general waiting time was for CAMHS and was advised that a lot of work had been carried out around CAMHS and the information would be provided to her on waiting times after the meeting.

Further to a question raised by Councillor Smith, the Director of Nursing confirmed that there had been an issue with funding but a permanent paediatrician was now in post for Looked After Children.

Councillor Hopper asked if Lifeline had given any assurances that the recommendations had been taken on board.  The Director of Nursing confirmed that they had accepted the recommendations and it was up to each provider to make a suitable action plan.  This had happened and would be monitored and followed up in contractual meetings.

The Head of Early Help, Assessment & Safeguarding suggested that the report was shared with the Corporate Parenting Panel.

The Director of Nursing confirmed that this was discussed at the Local Safeguarding Children’s Board as it was an important inspection for them, further to a question from Councillor Smith.  The action plan was in place and they were waiting for the rebuild of the emergency department.  She confirmed that there were 3 nurses placed in the emergency department.  Councillor Smith further asked if this also covered Darlington and was assured that it did.  The Director of Nursing advised that there was a large observation area at Darlington for children attending the emergency department.

Mr Conlon asked the Director of Nursing to expand on recommendation 4.1 and she explained that if a young person presented with a parent someone would need to have the foresight to speak to the child directly and a prompt was in place for the professional should this need to happen.  Signs to look out for would include the child pulling away from the parent.

The Chairman thanked the Director of Nursing for her presentation and asked if she would come back at a later date to give an update on how the recommendations had been actioned.

Resolved:

That the report be noted.