Agenda item

The Committee received a report of the Chief Executive which presented an overview of progress towards delivery of the key priorities within the Council Plan 2023-27 in line with the Council’s corporate performance framework (for copy of report see file of minutes).

Stephen Tracey, Corporate Equalities and Strategy Manager was welcomed to the meeting to present the report. The Committee noted that demand for children’s social care remained high and an increasing number of young people were entering care with complex needs. In addition, the national transfer scheme had brought additional unaccompanied asylum seeking young people into the county. The Corporate Equalities and Strategy Manager referred to the substantial increase in requests for Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCP) for children with special educational needs and disabilities since 2019, which had led to backlogs for educational psychologist advice. An increase in agency and locum psychologists had seen some improvement in capacity and it was expected the data would reflect the improvement over the coming months.

The Chair thanked the officer for the report and invited comments and questions.

Councillor Hunt asked whether data was available relating to the number children entering care whose parents had substance addictions and, whether the service works with adult services and other interventions to support parents. The Corporate Equalities and Strategy Manager highlighted that care assessments take a whole family approach, child protection procedures require a multi-agency response and the early help model has a ‘Team Around the Family’ which brings together practitioners from various agencies to work holistically, with families.  He added that he would refer to the service for further information on the collaboration of services, to be brought to a future meeting.

Councillor Coult asked for more information on the re-referral rate. The Corporate Equalities and Strategy Manager clarified that re-referrals occur when a young person has been subject to a previous referral within a specified timescale. The figure for re-referrals was approximately 16-17% which compared to the national average of approximately 20%. 

Referring to elective home education, Councillor Coult raised concern at the increase and she enquired whether any key drivers had been identified for the increase. The Head of Education and Skills shared the concern and he pointed out that parents were not required to specify a reason why they were electing to home educate, however a number of factors had been identified including behavioural issues, permanent exclusions and relationship breakdown between parents and schools. The Head of Education commented that he would welcome more power for local authorities, within government guidance. On a positive note, an Academy trust was undertaking a pilot exercise to support a family who had removed their child from school.  Councillor Coult commented that she would be interested to have more information on the progress of the pilot, in the future. 

Councillor Crute spoke of the concerns previously expressed by the Committee with regard to the completion of EHCPs within 20 weeks. He referred to work done to examine social care caseloads and the establishment of a social work academy to build capacity and he added that, should there be an improvement in the completion time for EHCPs through increasing the provision of educational psychologists, he would like to see a similar approach, in order to sustain the improvement. The Corporate Equality and Strategy Manager pointed out that the shortage of educational psychologists was a national issue, however, the service was doing its best to maximise provision.

Councillor Crute welcomed the recent government increase in free child-care provision and he asked what action was being taken to ensure demand could be met. The Corporate Equalities and Strategy Manager confirmed that data relating to early years provision will be reported in future performance reports.

Councillor Crute then referred to a recent meeting of the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Management Board where concerns had been expressed at the figures for the healthy weight of children from the ages of 4 to 11 years.  Councillor Crute asked whether comparative data was available for school children in years 7 to 11 and he suggested that the issue of the healthy weight of children be an area focus for the Committee in the future workplan.  The Advanced Practitioner explained that she was not aware that the comparative data Councillor Crute requested was available, as the National Child Weight Measurement Programme reported only on the height and weight of children in primary schools, in reception year and year 6, however, she would make enquiries within the service.

Kirsty Wilkinson, Strategic Manager for Public Health agreed that the figures around childhood obesity in County Durham were a concern and more work was required to understand the drivers. She highlighted initiatives such as the ‘Moving Together’ strategy will encourage children and young people, amongst others, to move every day and ‘Active 30’ which supports schools to encourage every child to participate in 30 minutes of activity, each school day. 

The Strategic Manager also referred to work with maternity services to increase breast feeding and promote healthy weight in pregnancy in order to reduce the risk of obesity in childhood. She highlighted the correlation between deprivation and childhood obesity and the increasing availably of convenience foods which were high in fat, salt and sugar. The Committee noted that the Public Health team had a dedicated Advanced Practitioner for Healthy Weight, Dr Kelly Rose, who also chairs the Healthy Weight Alliance and the Chair offered to pass details of the work of Dr Rose to those members who would like further information.

Councillor Deinali spoke of recent media reports regarding the quality of school meals. She also commented on the number of parents providing packed lunches and she questioned whether that was due to the cost and / or quality of school meals. Councillor Deinali commented that processed foods were often more affordable than healthier foods and the impact that had

on the weight of children. She asked whether the issues would form part of a review into healthy weight. The Advanced Practitioner advised she would obtain further information on the issues raised.

Stephen Gwillym, Principal Overview and Scrutiny Officer referred to a similar discussion which took place at a recent meeting of the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Management Board and he informed members that, following that meeting, a letter was sent to the Corporate Director for Children and Young People’s Services raising concerns around the Fun and Food Programme and eligibility criteria, quality of school meals and healthy weight concerns. The response, when received, will be shared with both the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Management Board and Children and Young People’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Resolved:

The Children and Young People’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee noted the overall position and direction of travel in relation to quarter three performance and the actions being taken to address areas of challenge.