Agenda item

To consider a report from the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development providing an overview of the evidence to be presented at Session 2 of the Cluster inquiry.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report providing an overview of the evidence to be presented at Session 2 of the Cluster inquiry.

The following information was appended to the report:

-  CYPP Key indicator dashboard – City Level April and September 2013

-  CYPP Key indicator dashboard – Cluster Level April and September 2013

-  Monthly Obsession tracker by Cluster

-  Number and rate of young people who are NEET by Cluster

-  Children and Young people are safe from harm – October 2013

-  Sharing best practice within and across clusters

-  Working together to safeguard children, supporting effective early intervention and prevention services in clusters

-  Challenges and socio-economic impacts by cluster

The following representatives were in attendance and responded to Members’ queries and comments:

-  Nigel Richardson, Director of Children’s Services

-  Ken Morton - HOS Young People and Skills

-  Jim Hopkinson - Head of Service Childrens Services Targeted Services

-  Martin Fleetwood – Chair of Schools Forum

-  Martin Stenton – Area Head of Targeted Services

-  Melanie Robinson – Targeted Service Leader

-  Simon Toyne  -  Targeted Service Leader

The key areas of discussion were:

• The data available to Clusters to inform priorities and highlight challenges
• Recent evidence from School inspections which refer to the value of cluster working.
• Progress of Clusters in tackling obsessions
• The challenges for Clusters with regard to partnership engagement, cross boundary working, performance, benchmarking and data comparison.
• Best practice models for Clusters and sub groups
• Mechanisms for monitoring investment and spending
• Case examples of partnership approaches to working with families and sharing best practice

RESOLVED –

The Scrutiny Board (Children and Families):

a)  Noted and considered the information contained and referenced in the report and presented verbally to the Board.

b)  In addition to session 3, requested a further working group session in February 2014 to reflect on evidence.