Agenda item

To consider a report by the Director of Children’s and Families which provides a summary from the Head of Service on the developments of the service since the last report to the Committee in July 2018.

(Report attached)

The Director of Children’s Services submitted a report and provided a summary of the developments within One Adoption West Yorkshire since the last report in July 2018, which included issues around:

·  Staffing & HR

·  Accommodation

·  Information Technology

·  Budget

·  Duty System

·  Partnership Working

·  Centre of Excellence Project (Separate agenda item)

·  Meetings with Medical Advisors

·  Virtual School Head (VSH)

·  Special Guardianship 

·  Performance Management (Separate agenda item)

·  Recruitment and Assessment

·  Adoption Support

·  Family Finding

·  Development and Service Development

Referring to staffing and HR, the Head of Service reported that Mary Brudenell, Service Manager had recently left the service, having emigrated to New Zealand. Although a positive move for Mary it was a loss to the service. A new Service Manager Michelle Rawlings had since been appointed.

Members noted that issues around information technology are progressing, the new adoption support workflow was being developed and was due to be finalised by the end of the year. Accessing local authority systems from a portal on the Leeds laptop remains an outstanding issue. This issue had been escalated within the local authorities in order for the work to be prioritised.

Members were informed that following the rollout of Enterprise Voice technology a revised Duty system came into effect on 2nd July 2018. This meant that duty was now rotated between the 3 main office bases in Bradford, Huddersfield and Leeds on a weekly basis. This had reduced the amount of time staff spend travelling to Kernel House and there had been no adverse impact upon the ability to take calls and respond effectively. The Head of Service said that the change has been viewed positively by staff and that the teams working within each office had more opportunities for networking and sharing knowledge and good practice as they come together more frequently. Members noted there had been ongoing issues within two local authorities about the capacity of medical advisors to undertake medical health assessments of children’s health needs in a timely manner. Members were informed this had led to some delays for children progressing care plans. The issue had been discussed by each local authority with commissioners in health seeking improvements to the service.

Councillor Forster said that delays in children’s medical checks was a concern. He asked if he could be supplied with further details with a view to taking up the matter directly with health partners.

Members noted a number of issues had arisen following the One Adoption West Yorkshire staff survey and event feedback – 2^nd October 2018, and queried if the issues raised had been addressed.

In responding the Head of Services said all the issues had been addressed, and it was the general view of staff that they felt that they had been listened to and matters addressed.

Members welcomed the offer/ delivery of training from One Adoption West Yorkshire to other Regional Adoption Agencies (RAA’s) across the country and requested if local Members could be informed when such events were going ahead.

The Head of Service confirmed that local Members would be notified accordingly.

Speaking in general about the operation One Adoption West Yorkshire, in particular the Management Board and the Joint Committee, Vicky Schofield (Service Director for Children’s Social Care at Wakefield) asked if she could be supplied with the structure/ Governance arrangements for both the Management Board and the Joint Committee.

In responding the Head of Services confirmed the requested information would be provided.

On a similar theme the Chair asked if the agendas and minutes for meeting of the Management Board could come to the Joint Committee as a matter of routine.

The Head of Service confirmed that the agenda and minutes of the Management Board would be included on the agenda for future meetings of the Joint Committee.

RESOLVED –

(i)  To note the continued progress of One Adoption West Yorkshire

(ii)  To support the progression of the arrangements

(iii)  That details around the delay in providing Children’s medical checks be provided to Councillor Forster with a view to taking up the matter directly with health partners.

(iv)  That structure/ Governance arrangements for both the Management Board and the Joint Committee be circulated to the Service Director for Children’s Social Care at Wakefield

(v)  That the agenda and minutes for meetings of the Management Board be included on the agenda for future meetings of the Joint Committee.