Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed all in attendance to the November meeting of the Scrutiny Board (Children’s Services).

1  To highlight reports or appendices which officers have identified as containing exempt information, and where officers consider that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information, for the reasons outlined in the report.

2  To consider whether or not to accept the officers recommendation in respect of the above information.

3  If so, to formally pass the following resolution:-

  RESOLVED – That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following parts of the agenda designated as containing exempt information on the grounds that it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the press and public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information, as follows:-

Agenda item 8 – Appendix 2 of the Social Care Systems Review report attached to the Work Programme – Access to Information Procedure Rule 10.4 (3) – information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information). 

RESOLVED – That the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following parts of the agenda designated exempt on the grounds that it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information so designated as follows:

Appendix 2 of the Social Care Systems Review report attached to the Work Programme referred to in Minute No. 60 under the terms of Access to Information Procedure Rule 10.4 (3) – information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information) and on the grounds that if the information was disclosed it would, or would be likely to, prejudice the commercial interest of the Council in securing best value for money solutions in the future.

To identify items which have been admitted to the agenda by the Chair for consideration.

(The special circumstance shall be specified in the minutes.)

The Chair admitted to the agenda as supplementary information, notes of the working groups visits and meetings which had taken place as part of the Scrutiny Board’s inquiry on service redesign, to be considered as part of agenda item 7.  (Minute No. 59 refers)

To declare any personal/prejudicial interests for the purpose of Section 81(3) of the Local Government Act 2000 and paragraphs 8 to 12 of the Members’ Code of Conduct.

There were no declarations of interest.

Apologies for absence were submitted by Councillor Gettings and Co-opted Member, Ms C Foote.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 21^st October 2010.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 21^st October 2010 be confirmed as a correct record.

To receive and consider a report from the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development presenting evidence in line with Session 2 of the Board’s Inquiry into services for children with disabilities, special educational needs and additional health needs - Inquiry into Service Redesign.

Further to Minute No. 50 of the meeting held on 21^st October 2010, the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report which presented evidence in line with Session 2 of the Board’s Inquiry into Services for Children with Disabilities, Special Educational Needs and Additional Health Needs – Inquiry into Service Redesign.

The following information was appended to the report:

-  Service model for children under 5, and a further refinement of the model

-  Service model for children and young people from 5-14

-  Service model for children and young people from 14+

-  A paper in relation to funding for over 18s not in statutory education

-  Information relating to the provision of short breaks and respite provision

-  Scrutiny Inquiry Report – Transitional Arrangements for Disabled Young People into Adult Social Care – Scrutiny Board (Adult Social Care), May 2010

-  Recommendation Tracking – Progress Report – Scrutiny Board (Adult Social Care), September 2010.

The Chair welcomed to the meeting, the following Executive Member and officers:

-  Councillor Blake, Executive Member (Children’s Services)

-  Nigel Richardson, Director of Children’s Services

-  Barbara Newton, Strategic Leader, Performance, Children’s Services

-  Barbara Shaw, Interim Head of Disability Services, Children’s Services

-  Linda Randall, Team Manager, Adult Social Care.

Children’s Services and Adult Social Care Update

• Update on child and adolescent mental health – discussions had taken place around access to services and delivering a joined up approach.
• Confirmation that transition arrangements for young people (14-25) had transferred to Adult Social Care.
• Greater resources had been allocated as part of the revised transition arrangements – it was reported that 9 officers had been allocated to work across Leeds.

The Chair then invited questions and in brief summary, the key areas of discussion were:

• Concern around some of the definitions used in the service models and the need to ensure that specialist systems were in place, particularly in terms of addressing individual needs.
• Support for young people and families, including those that had not met the eligibility criteria for adult services.
• The role of the voluntary, community and faith sector.
• Helping parents to become more confident.
• The challenges of joint partnership working, especially in view of the proposed changes to health services and the role of GPs. 
• Concern around funding and staffing constraints in implementing the service models outlined in the report.  The Scrutiny Board was advised that the service models focussed primarily on improving the co-ordination of existing services.  The anticipated start date was April 2011.
• Consultation with parents and families through the work of the Family Hub – Members were informed that families were asked how they wished to access / receive information, e.g. via the internet, hard copy, etc.
• Clarification about the timetable for self directed support – it was reported that work was ongoing with Adult Social Care around development of the personalisation agenda linked to Children’s Services.

The Chair then invited feedback from Members who had attended the working group visits and in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 59.

To receive and consider a report from the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development outlining the Scrutiny Board’s work programme for the remainder of the current municipal year.

Appendix 2 of the Social Care Systems Review report is designated as exempt under Access to Information Procedure Rule 10.4(3).

A report was submitted by the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development which detailed the Scrutiny Board’s work programme for the remainder of the current municipal year.

Appended to the report was the current version of the Board’s work programme, an extract from the Forward Plan of Key Decisions for the period 1^st November 2010 to 28 February 2011, the minutes of the Executive Board meeting held on 13^th October 2010, and a report in relation to the Social Care Systems Review that was considered by the Executive Board in June 2010.

In brief summary, the main highlighted points were:

• The Director of Children’s Services provided an update on the recent proposal to proceed with a separate electronic information system for Adult Social Care and Children’s Services, as part of the Social Care System Review.  It was reported that this was based on national changes, a rapidly changing agenda and the need to develop a system that was fit for purpose.
• The Scrutiny Board agreed to establish a working group to track implementation of the new system.  The following Members volunteered to serve on the working group:

-  Councillor Chapman

-  Councillor Lamb

-  Councillor James Lewis.

It was also agreed to establish whether Councillor Gettings might be interested in serving on the working group.

•  The Scrutiny Board received and endorsed the notes of the Working Group to scope an inquiry on raising aspirations and combating child poverty.  It was agreed to finalise the draft terms of reference by e-mail.

RESOLVED – That subject to the comments raised at the meeting, the work programme be approved.

To note that the next meeting of the Scrutiny Board will be held on Thursday, 16^th December 2010 at 9.45 am with a pre meeting for Board Members at

9.15 am.

Thursday 16^th December 2010 at 9.45 am with a pre-meeting for Board Members at 9.15 am.

(The meeting concluded at 12.13 pm.)