Agenda item

(a)  That the new Single Improvement Plan be endorsed; and

(b)  That the progress being made in improving the services provided be noted.

The Interim Director of Children’s Services introduced a report that updated Commissioners on the improvement activities in children’s services moving towards the establishment of the new children’s services organisation in autumn 2015.

A new Single Improvement Plan, replacing three separate and complex plans, had been developed for the period to December 2015 which set out the priorities for improving service delivery.  The plan included four key priorities and the Cabinet noted the progress that had been made in relation to these areas of recruitment and retention; quality assurance; quality of practice; and leadership and partnership.  The percentage of permanent staff had increased from 48% to 54% in the year to March 2015 and further targeted recruitment campaigns were planned.  Measures to support quality included a number of audit activities which had informed a detailed action plan to be delivered over the next three months.  Partnership arrangements had been reshaped and work was underway to establish a fully operational Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH).  Current performance and future priorities as detailed in sections 6 and 7 of the report were noted and the Cabinet was advised that the new Single Improvement Plan had provided a focus to the support and sustain continued improvement in services through to the transfer to the independent Children’s Services Organisation in the autumn.

The Cabinet welcomed the report and the progress being made in improving services.  The recruitment and payments to foster carers was highlighted as a long standing issue.  It was felt that the package of support was crucial and it was recognised that the Council needed to be more innovative in its approach to recruit and support foster carers.  In relation to staffing issues, it was recognised that there was challenges nationally in terms of recruiting and retained trained staff social care.  Key worker housing was raised and Slough had previously had schemes in place but take up had not been high and it was felt that provision could be revisited as part of the package to help make Slough an attractive option for staff.  Other issues discussed included the progress of establishing the MASH and work with key partners to improve services.

At the conclusion of the discussion, the Cabinet endorsed the new Single Improvement Plan and noted the progress of improvements to children’s services in Slough.

Resolved –

(a)  That the new Single Improvement Plan be endorsed; and

(b)  That the progress being made in improving the services provided be noted.