Agenda and minutes

1.1  Apologies for absence were received from the following Members of the Commission:

?  Soraya Adejare (Councillor)

?  James Peters (Councillor)

?  Clare Potter (Councillor)

?  Liz Bosanquet (Co-optee)

?  Jane Heffernan (Co-optee)

?  Graham Hunter (Co-optee)

?  Jodine Clarke (Co-optee)

?  Maariyah Patel (Co-optee)

?  Aleigha Reeves (Co-optee)

There were no new or urgent items and the agenda was as published. 

Cllr Garasia declared that she worked at a youth club held in a local community centre.

4.1  The Chair welcomed Cllr Kennedy to the meeting.  The Commission had previously identified three areas on which to focus questions for this session which were:

·Children’s Centres and Nurseries;

·Making Hackney  a Child Friendly Borough;

·Troubled Families Programme.

Children’s Centres

4.2  The Cabinet Member reiterated the commitments made in the 2018 Hackney Labour Manifesto which indicated that the administration would continue to support a comprehensive network of Children’s Centres linked to other council services (e.g. health and family support). In this context, the Cabinet Member reassured the Commission that the current offer of Children’s Centres and nurseries was secure.

4.3  It was noted that Children’s Centres were organised on a hub and spoke model, in which there are 6 strategic Children’s Centre hubs that are networked to a number of other centres.  Children’s Centres offer a wide range of activities to assist the educational and welfare development of children and include a wide range of services including nursery provision, Stay and Play and crèche sessions. Children’s Centres also provide a wide range of classes for parents (e.g. parenting, ESOL, ICT and Maths) as well as many specialist education and welfare services (e.g. educational psychology) which are provided through local hubs.

4.4  The Cabinet Member noted that Children’s Centres had played an important role in helping to increase the proportion of children entering the school system that were assessed to have a good level of development (GLD).  In 2004, just 40% of children in Hackney were assessed to have a GLD on entering the school system whereas the current figures indicate that this has increased to around 70%; very close to the national average.

4.5   In terms of overall nursery provision in Hackney, it was noted that there were 14 nurseries run from local Children’s Centres, 88 located in PVI (private, voluntary and independent) sector settings and 17 play groups.  Whilst there had been a concern that the introduction of free 30 hour free childcare could impact on local capacity, the Cabinet Member reported that there was a net loss of just one setting (8 nurseries had closed, but 7 had opened) and that the occupancy rate was approximately  66% across all settings.

4.6  In relation to future service provision, the Cabinet Member noted that four budget task and finish groups had been established to examine an agreed priority area, one of which was to consider early years provision.  The task and finish group would be comprised of local (non-executive) councillors, include representation from the CYP Scrutiny Commission and be tasked to undertake a strategic financial assessment of early years services.  The task and finish group is expected to report in July 2019.

4.7  The Cabinet Member indicated that whilst the Council was committed to the Children’s Centre network, a cast iron guarantee could not be given maintaining the full establishment for three years (as questioned) as this would depend on future central government funding which was as yet unknown.  The Commission were also made aware that the Children Centre  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

5.1  The Children’s Social Care Annual Report is a standing item within the work programme of the Commission.  The full annual report is provided to the Commission in October/ November each year and a mid-year update given the following March.  In addition to a commentary on the report, the Commission had asked for additional information in respect of service pressures and the types of child abuse cases that are handled by the Children and Families Service (CFS).

5.2  It was noted that the report is in a new format, as it now also serves as part of the self-assessment process for the new Ofsted inspection regime.  The local authority is now required to complete an annual self-evaluation to reflect on its performance which is then submitted to Ofsted.  This self-evaluation would inform an inspection should one take place.

5.3  In terms of overall service performance for the CFS in 2017/18, a number of key issues were identified.  These were:

·  The number of referrals received by the service (4,563) increased 16% from 2016/17 figures and the rate of re-referrals also increased from 13.4% to 15.5% over the same period.  Although the current figure for re-referrals is below the national average,  the rate rise was of a concern to CFS and was being monitored closely;

·  The number of children on Child Protection Plans (CPP) has fallen significantly (down 39% from 2016/17).  In 2016/17 the number of children on CPPs rose sharply, and over the past year CFS has sought to understand what may lay behind this increase as the plans can be intrusive for families and the service does not want to include children on CPPs if the level of risk can be held on a Child in Need Plan.  As a result of this review, a number of gatekeeping initiatives have been implemented to ensure that children placed on a CPP are done so appropriately;

·  A modest increase (3%) in the number of looked after children (LAC) was recorded in the year to 2017/18 with 381 children in care at the end of March 2018.  The mid-year figure (to end September) shows a further modest increase to 383 children in the care of the local authority.  Whilst the number of 14-17 year olds entering care has fallen this year, this age cohort still represents 49% of those in care in Hackney.  These trends are repeated across London;

·  Placement stability is a key indicator of good outcomes for looked after children, so the service was pleased to record a substantial fall in the number of children that had three or more placements in 2017/18 (11%) when compared to 2016/17 (18%).  Long term placement stability among under 16’s however showed a decline (from 69% to 62%) and the CFS intends to investigate this further this year.

5.4  The report identified a number of key priorities for the CFS in the year ahead which were reiterated to the Commission, these included:

·  To continue to invest in the children’s social care workforce;

·  To maintain a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

The Commission agreed the minutes of the last meeting held on the 10^th October 2018.

7.1   The Members of the Commission noted the current work programme for the municipal year 2018/19.

7.2   The Commission noted that there was a joint meeting with Health in Hackney Scrutiny Commission on the 19^th November 2019 where the integrated commissioning of CYP and Maternity work-stream was being assessed.  It was also noted that childhood immunizations would also be considered at this meeting which would be of interest to members of the Commission.

7.3  In respect of the Commission’s review of exclusion outcomes, it was noted that two site visits had been arranged with New Regents College and The Garden School.  To improve accessibility of site visits, members noted that it would be helpful if future visits could be scheduled for later in the week (Thursdays/ Fridays). 

  Action: That members would be consulted on future availability on Thursdays and Fridays before Christmas to support site visits. Members would also be asked to suggest possible venues for site visits.

7.4  The Commission heard from representatives of Hackney Independent Forum for Parents on ways in which children who have been excluded or at risk of being excluded could be included and their parents within the review. 

Action: Chair and officer to meet with representatives Hackney Independent Forum for Parents to identify ways in to facilitate the involvement of parents and young people in the review.

To include updates on children and young people related issues from other scrutiny commissions

There was no other business for the Commission.

The meeting closed at 9.20pm