a) A brief introduction to the areas of work covered within the remit of this Overview and Scrutiny Committee from:
· Ruth Martin, Adults Safeguarding Team Manager
· Helen Riley, Deputy Chief Executive and Director for Families and Communities
b) Cabinet Member perspective on areas for possible future scrutiny
Minutes:
The Overview and Scrutiny Committee heard from Ruth Martin, Adult Safeguarding Team Manager, considering the role and responsibilities the Council had relating to adult safeguarding. Section 42 of the Care Act placed a responsibility on the Council around safeguarding adults, with a duty to care and support adults needs and to make enquires where concerns may exist around abuse and/or neglect, and to address these. The Act placed adult safeguarding on the same legal footing as children’s safeguarding. Whilst there would always be some adults who came under both adult safeguarding and social care they were different services, with adult social care under Section 75, managed by the Midlands Partnership Foundation Trust (MPFT), dealing with the more day to day adult social care services.
Members received details of the Adults Safeguarding Teams and the delivery of services. Adult safeguarding included work with anyone over 18 with care and support needs including learning and/or physical needs, poor mental health, and those vulnerable due to drug and alcohol misuse. Members noted that there was no eligibility criteria in respect of adult safeguarding, but rather accessed those adults who had care and support needs which prevented them protecting themselves from harm. This need had risen in Staffordshire over the last year, from 1000 per month last year to 1700 per month this year. There was a need to consider how this growth in referrals would be managed and a Transformation Project was currently underway to consider any changes that could improve service delivery and manage increased demand.
The Overview and Scrutiny Committee were pleased to note that adults safeguarding was well supported by partner agencies and colleagues. They noted the Adults Safeguarding Board Annual Report gave an overview of adult safeguarding across Staffordshire, with this report included annually on the work programme for scrutiny.
The Overview and Scrutiny Committee received a presentation from Helen Riley, Deputy Chief Executive and Director for Families and Communities. Statistics were shared highlighting that most Staffordshire children and young people had good lives. Children’s Services provided for those children and families who needed some support and ranged from earliest help low level support to statutory service provision. Members noted that Staffordshire Children’s Services had been the first to be rated “Good” by Ofsted in the West Midlands, and they were still a “Good” rated Authority.
Members received details of the range of services provided, including:
Previous scrutiny committees have received regular reports detailing the work undertaken to combat Children Sexual Exploitation (CSE). This work had evolved to include a broader look at Contextual Safeguarding, addressing harm that was outside the home including county lines, gangs as well as CSE. This new method had changed the approach to social work, addressing the different threats to children’s safeguarding that now existed.
The importance of the Corporate Parent role was stressed, and Members heard that services for children in care included: adoption; fostering; respite and kinship care; the virtual school and Corporate Parenting. Members heard that in some instances it was difficult to find foster placements, often for teenage young people with more complex needs. These children may therefore be placed in residential care. Staffordshire was looking to develop its own in-house residential care that would enable Staffordshire children to remain in Staffordshire and allow the LA to have more control over the placements. The first new home was opening in Stafford and would accommodate 3 to 4 young people. There was some discussion around the placement of homes and Members heard how important it was to enable children to reside in their county and be given the opportunity to live in a safe, nice environment, helping them to understand the value and responsibilities this gave.
Preventative Services worked in a range of ways to help support and prevent the breakdown of families and to keep children in their home where it was safe to do so. Preventative services included:
Details were shared of commissioning within Families and Communities for Children’s Services, such as: Healthy Child programme; reducing infant mortality; emotional and physical wellbeing; domestic abuse; early help and building resilient families; children with disabilities; children’s centres and family hubs and the vulnerable person resettlement scheme.
Members received details of the District Footprint and how services will work across districts from 1 October 2021.
Community Safety was an area within the remit of this O&S Committee and Members received details of the Safer Communities Team and their close working with the Police, Fire & Crime Commissioner, District and Borough Community Safety Partnerships, Police, Probation, Health and other community safety partners. Governance was ongoing in relation to future community safety structures. Members also received details of the Community Safety Agreement and the identified partnership priorities, which included domestic abuse, modern slavery, public place violence, contextual safeguarding, anti-social behaviour, fraud and community cohesion.
Regulatory services included the work of Trading Standards, which included the enforcement of 260+ pieces of legislation. Regulatory services also included safety of sports grounds and the Coroners Service in South Staffordshire.
A number of standing items were also highlighted that were considered annually on the work programme, including Safeguarding Children’s Board and complaints and representation annual reports.
The retention of social workers remained an issue and Members queried the success of a previous memorandum of understanding that had attempted to removed poaching staff between LAs. Sadly, this had not achieved its aim. Social worker vacancy rates in Staffordshire were currently at 8%, which was higher than their average 7%. However, when considered against some other authorities Staffordshire remained well placed, with the example given of other West Midlands LAs with significantly higher vacancy rates.
The destructive nature of low level neglect was highlighted. Long term low-level neglect had been instrumental in a tragic local incident in 2019. There was a need to understand better the impact of such long-term low level neglect and how to address these issues, considering how to work differently alongside the family to make improvements.
The MacAlister independent report published today on Children’s Services highlighting the importance of the restorative practice model. Staffordshire had introduced a restorative practice model 18 months ago. This model looked at “working with” rather “doing to” children and families and avoided over assessment. This approach required excellent risk management skills and appropriate supervision.
Members queried how to evaluate performance success within children’s services and heard that in the long term this would be evidenced by fewer children coming into care and more able to stay at home safely.
A significant issue for Shire Counties was ensuring consistency across service provision. The geographical spread of services presented real challenges for senior officers and their staff.
The Cabinet Member for Children and Young People reiterated the importance of the corporate parenting role all Members had. He reminded them that they had been invited to take part in Level 1 Safeguarding training and urged them to sign up to this training. He then shared the following areas for possible future scrutiny as follows:
The Chairman reminded Members that they are the designated crime and disorder panel.
RESOLVED – The detail shared by the Cabinet Member and Officers be used to prompt work programme planning.