Agenda item

The Chief Executive of Slough Children’s Services Trust introduced a report that summarised the impact of COVID-19 on their services to children and families in Slough.

The statutory responsibilities on children’s social care still applied during COVID-19 restrictions and the Trust had had to make significant adaptions to way it delivered services.  It had continued to operate a business as usual service and had not closed down any parts of its service.  Face to face visits had continued where possible, with garden or ‘virtual visits’ used where a child or family member had symptoms or was shielding.  However, whilst the Trust considered that the application of the new working arrangements had worked in terms of maintaining services, they had created additional work and pressures leading to capacity being stretched.  It was noted that there were changes to the type of contacts and referrals with domestic violence, substance misuse and mental health referrals up significantly on the same period last year.

There had been a short term reduction in the number of contacts to the Trust at the start of ‘lockdown’.  It was recognised that the medium and long term impacts were not yet fully clear, especially as the pandemic was ongoing, but it was anticipated that demand for services would rise significantly in the coming months post-lockdown.  Higher levels of unemployment and poverty were expected over time to further increase the demand for services.  There was considerable uncertainty about the future financial impacts but an analysis had been conducted which projected an increase in assessments and caseloads through the autumn with a potential £1.2m financial pressure.

The Government had made some additional funding available and the Council confirmed that it had earmarked some of the COVID grant to the Trust to support its services during this challenging period.  The Panel recognised that current and future financial pressures on the Trust would have an impact on the Council’s budget.  The Trust had been effected by staff shielding and self-isolating and 157 working days had been lost.  A Members asked about the financial impact of this and whether it had created a backlog of work.  It was responded that it had been a significant challenge with more work and less staff.  Members discussed a range of other issues including the impacts on SEN services and children’s mental health provision.

At the conclusion of the discussion the Panel acknowledged the work of the Trust and Council in seeking to continue to support vulnerable children during a very challenging period and agreed that the future service and financial impacts would need to carefully monitored.

Resolved –  That the report be noted.