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Public Document Pack MEETING: CABINET MEMBER - CHILDREN'S SERVICES DATE: Tuesday, 24th June, 2008 TIME: 9.30 am VENUE: Town Hall, Bootle Councillor DECISION MAKER: P Dowd SUBSTITUTE: Fairclough SPOKESPERSONS: M Fearn D Jones SUBSTITUTES: Blackburn Ibbs COMMITTEE OFFICER: Olaf Hansen Telephone: 0151 934 2067 Fax: 0151 934 2034 E-mail: [email protected] The Cabinet is responsible for making what are known as Key Decisions, which will be notified on the Forward Plan. Items marked with an * on the agenda involve Key Decisions A key decision, as defined in the Council’s Constitution, is: - ● any Executive decision that is not in the Annual Revenue Budget and Capital Programme approved by the Council and which requires a gross budget expenditure, saving or virement of more than £100,000 or more than 2% of a Departmental budget, whichever is the greater ● any Executive decision where the outcome will have a significant impact on a significant number of people living or working in two or more Wards If you have any special needs that may require arrangements to facilitate your attendance at this meeting, please contact the Committee Officer named above, who will endeavour to assist. 1 This page is intentionally left blank. 2 A G E N D A Items marked with an * involve key decisions Item Subject/Author(s) Wards Affected No. 1. Apologies for Absence 2. Declarations of Interest Members and Officers are requested to give notice of any personal or prejudicial interest and the nature of that interest, relating to any item on the agenda in accordance with the relevant Code of Conduct. 3. Minutes (Pages 5 - 8) Minutes of the meeting held on 3 June, 2008 4. Review of the Child Care and Social All Wards (Pages 9 - 18) Services Team Joint Report of the Strategic Director of Children’s Services and the Legal Director 5. Basic Need 2008/09: Additional Scheme Harington (Pages 19 - 22) Report of the Strategic Director of Children’s Services 6. Specialist School Status: Newfield School Manor (Pages 23 - 26) Report of the Strategic Director of Children’s Services 7. Recruitment of Qualified Social Workers. All Wards (Pages 27 - 32) Report of the Strategic Director of Children’s Services 8. Schools with International Links Interim All Wards (Pages 33 - 42) Report Report of the Strategic Director of Children’s Services 9. Sefton Local Safeguarding Children Board All Wards (Pages 43 - 50) (LSCB) Quarterly Reporting Report of the Strategic Director of Children’s Services 3 10. Six-monthly Performance Report for All Wards (Pages 51 - 56) Children's Services 2007/08 Report of the Strategic Director of Children’s Services 11. Handbook for Foster Carers All Wards (Pages 57 - 144) Report of the Strategic Director of Children’s Services 12. What Constitutes Good Progress for Pupils All Wards (Pages 145 - 148) with Special Educational Needs Report of the Strategic Director of Children’s Services 13. Exclusion of Press and Public To consider passing the following resolution: That, under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act, 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 8 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act. The Public Interest Test has been applied and favours exclusion of the information from the Press and Public. 14. Autism Support Services All Wards (Pages 149 - 152) Report of the Strategic Director of Children’s Services 4 Agenda Item 3 THE “CALL IN” PERIOD FOR THIS SET OF MINUTES ENDS AT 12 NOON ON WEDNESDAY 11 JUNE, 2008. CABINET MEMBER - CHILDREN'S SERVICES MEETING HELD AT THE TOWN HALL, BOOTLE ON TUESDAY, 3 JUNE 2008 PRESENT: Councillor Fairclough ALSO PRESENT: Councillors M Fearn and D Jones Mrs.S.Roberts – Parent Governor Representative Mr.R.Gregson – Sefton Governors’ Forum 1. APOLOGY FOR ABSENCE An apology for absence was received from Councillor P.Dowd. 2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST No declarations of interest were received. 3. MINUTES RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the meeting held on 6 May, 2008 be confirmed as a correct record. 4. NORTHWEST EMPLOYERS - EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY AWARDS Further to Minute No. 8 of the meeting of Cabinet Member Communities held on 21 May, 2008, the Cabinet Member considered the joint report of the Strategic Director of Children’s Services and the Sefton Equalities Partnership Director which informed of the three awards received from North West Employers and the Children’s Workforce Development Council for work in progressing Equality and Diversity. The report explained that the Council had made a commitment to progress through the five levels of the Local Government Equality Standard by March 2010 and that promoting equality of opportunity and diversity were key components of the Community Strategy as well as the Council's statutory duties. RESOLVED: That the achievements made by Sefton Equalities Partnership and Children’s Services in progressing equality and diversity to improve outcomes be noted. Page1 5 Agenda Item 3 CABINET MEMBER - CHILDREN'S SERVICES- TUESDAY, 3 JUNE 2008 5. BUILDING SCHOOLS FOR THE FUTURE: UPDATE The Cabinet Member considered the report of the Strategic Director of Children’s Service that provided an update regarding the consultation on the ‘Management of Building Schools for the Future (BSF) waves 7-15’ and sought approval for anticipated consultancy support. RESOLVED: That (1) the update and consultation on the Management of BSF waves 7- 15 be noted; (2) Mouchel be re-engaged to support Sefton in their resubmission of an expression of interest in BSF; and (3) the contract procedure rules be waived regarding the invitation to tender due to the special circumstances detailed in the report. 6. THE NATIONAL MINIMUM FOSTERING ALLOWANCE 2008-09 The Cabinet Member considered the report of the Strategic Director of Children’s Services that advised that the first national minimum allowance for foster carers was announced in July 2006, in order to enable fostering services to take account of the rates in planning their budgets for 2007-08. The report sought approval to adopt the new national foster care allowance for 2008/09, and requested the Children’s Services Department uplift all fostering allowances paid to Sefton foster carers to the recommended national minimum fostering allowances from 1 April 2008. RESOLVED: That (1) the new national minimum foster carer allowance for 2008-09 be adopted; and (2) all fostering allowances paid to Sefton foster carers be uplifted to the recommended national minimum fostering allowances from 1 st April 2008. 7. EXCLUSION OF PRESS AND PUBLIC RESOLVED: That, under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act, 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act. The Public Interest Test has been applied and favours exclusion of the information from the press and public. Page2 6 Agenda Item 3 CABINET MEMBER - CHILDREN'S SERVICES- TUESDAY, 3 JUNE 2008 8. RE-STRUCTURE OF CHILDREN'S SERVICE The Cabinet Member considered the report of the Strategic Director of Children’s Services that sought endorsement of Children’s Services Department proposals for re-structuring part of the service to implement the area delivery of professional services and cover major social care recruitment issues. The re-structuring would include short and long term solutions to weakness in social care from recent inspections. RESOLVED: That the proposed re-structuring of the Children’s Services Department, as detailed within the report, be approved. Page3 7 This page is intentionally left blank Page 8 Agenda Item 4 REPORT TO: Cabinet Member -Children’s Services Cabinet Member -Corporate Services DATE: 24 June 2008 25 June 2008 SUBJECT: Review of the Child Care and Social Services Team WARDS All AFFECTED: REPORT OF: Legal Director Children’s Services Director CONTACT C J Elwood Bryn Marsh OFFICER: 0151 934 2032 0151 934 3706 EXEMPT / No CONFIDENTIAL: PURPOSE / SUMMARY: To report to Members on the need for the provision of additional resources for the Child Care and Social Services Team based in the Legal Department, particularly given the introduction of the new Public Law Outline Protocol. REASON WHY DECISION REQUIRED: To ensure resources are in place to meet the demands on the Child Care and Social Services Team. RECOMMENDATION(S): (i) That two Legal Assistants on Scale 5/6 be appointed to assist in the Team KEY DECISION: No FORWARD PLAN: Not applicable IMPLEMENTATION DATE: Upon expiry of the call-in period for the minutes of these meetings. Page 9 Agenda Item 4 ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS: Not to appoint would result in severe difficulties for the Team and a diminution in the service to the Children’s Services Directorate. IMPLICATIONS : Budget / Policy Framework: Financial: 2006/ 2007/ 2008/ 2009/ 2007 2008 2009 2010 CAPITAL EXPENDITURE £ £ £ £ Gross Increase in Capital Expenditure Funded by: Sefton Capital Resources Specific Capital Resources REVENUE IMPLICATIONS Gross Increase in Revenue Expenditure Funded by: Sefton funded Resources 32,830 65,660 Funded from External Resources Does the External Funding have an expiry When? date? Y/N How will the service be funded post expiry? Legal: Not applicable Risk Assessment: Not applicable Asset Management: Not applicable Page 10 Agenda Item 4 CONSULTATION UNDERTAKEN / VIEWS Children’s Services Directorate CORPORATE OBJECTIVE MONITORING: Corporate Positive Neutral Negative Objective Impact Impact Impact 1 Creating a Learning Community √ 2 Creating Safe Communities √ 3 Jobs and Prosperity √ 4 Improving Health and Well-Being √ 5 Environmental Sustainability √ 6 Creating Inclusive Communities √ 7 Improving the Quality of Council √ Services and Strengthening local Democracy 8 Children and Young People √ LIST OF BACKGROUND PAPERS RELIED UPON IN THE PREPARATION OF THIS REPORT None Page 11 Agenda Item 4 BACKGROUND: 1.