Agenda item

The report covered the key action entitled “ensure children and young people are supported to be safe, secure and successful” and outlined the relevant metrics. The number of children on protection plans was below national and local averages, with neglect being the main category. However, it should be noted that the number here was not a KPI as such, as being above or below the average could be justifiable (or in error) depending on the local situation.

The Early Help Strategy was designed to offer support as soon as an issue emerged. As part of this, the Early Help Board had held its inaugural meeting on 18^th September 2017, and had drafted the strategy as included in the agenda papers. A Task & Finish Group had also been set up to start on 10^th November 2017, which would work at an operational level on the strategy. This would help ensure that the early help offer would be relevant and clear for those involved.

The Local Area Collaboratives were created to bring key partners together. This included diverse bodies such as schools, police, the housing service, the voluntary sector and health professionals. By using these existing personnel and resources, solutions tailored to local and individual needs would be designed.

The Panel raised the following points in discussion:

·  Neglect was measured using a range of criteria used by the Child Protection Conference. Social workers would present a report, with other professionals then examining the issues raised. This would range from elementary checks such as whether the fridge contained food, to more nebulous discussions over the environment in which the child was being raised. The only areas being examined in such discussions were the parents, carers involved and care being paid to the child.

·  The Children and Adolescent Mental Health Service could often have long waiting times for its services. As a result, these would be circulated to members (although it should be borne in mind that CAMHS was a multi-faceted service and figures relating to it should be analysed with due care to this).

·  Slough’s percentage of children not in education, employment or training ran below national and local averages.

Resolved:

1.  That the Panel receive information regarding average waiting times for the CAMHS service.

2.  That the Panel receive a copy of the ‘Little Book of Sunshine’.

3.  That the Panel receive a definition of ‘rapid response’ in the context of Children’s Services.