Agenda and minutes

Mr A Graham – Church Representative (Church of England)

Co-Opted Members (Non-Voting)

Ms H Bellamy – School Staff Representative

To consider any appeals in accordance with Procedure Rule 25* of the Access to Information Procedure Rules (in the event of an Appeal the press and public will be excluded).

(* In accordance with Procedure Rule 25, notice of an appeal must be received in writing by the Head of Governance Services at least 24 hours before the meeting).

There were no appeals.

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:

No exempt items have been identified.

There was no exempt information.

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

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

There were no late items of business.

To disclose or draw attention to any interests in accordance with Leeds City Council’s ‘Councillor Code of Conduct’.

There were no declarations of interest.

To receive any apologies for absence and notification of substitutes.

The Board received the following apologies:

Cllr Blackburn

Jackie Ward

Cllr Bowden, Cllr France-Mir attended as substitute

Anas Khitou

Tony Britten

Nick Tones

Cllr Downes

Laura Whitaker

Cllr Venner, Executive Board Member for Children’s Social Care and Health Partnerships

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 22 February 2024 .

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 22 February 2024, be approved as an accurate record.

To receive a report from the Director of Children and families setting out an update on implementation of the Macalister Review in Leeds, following consideration of these issues in September 2023.

The Board considered a report from the Director of Children and families providing an update on implementation of the Macalister Review in Leeds, following consideration of these issues in September 2023 which outlined the plans to implement the findings of the Review (known as this hereafter).

In attendance for this item were:

·  Cllr Jonathan Pryor, Executive Member for Economy, Culture, and Education

·  Julie Longworth, Director of Children and Families

·  Farrah Khan, Deputy Director Children and Families

By way of introduction the Director of Children and Families highlighted the further national developments through the publication of further statutory guidance from Government, which support the recommendations of the Review. Leeds has progressed a number of the recommendations in the Review despite there being delays to implementation at national level, a key driver behind this is a desire to develop and improve services and improve outcomes for children and young people in Leeds.

Following comments and questions from board members the following issues were discussed:

·  The Board asked about the pathfinder projects that Leeds hoped to be selected for in terms of any update on the success of those bids. In response the Board heard that Leeds had unfortunately not been selected as a pathfinder authority for the Family Network Pilot or the Families First for Children Pilot Phase 2. Despite this there is still a commitment to develop services in the city and behave as if it were a pathfinder authority particularly given that Leeds has already been shaping and developing its services in recent years in the way set out in the Review, for example in areas such as family help, trusting relationships, kinship care and family group conferencing. The Board were supportive of this approach and that Leeds is leading the way in many of these areas.

·  The Board were concerned about developing these services without the funding that might be associated with being a pathfinder authority particularly given the wider financial challenge being faced by the authority. The Board were informed that Leeds is committed to continuous service improvement so many of the developments are happening anyway and the multi-agency, partnership approach was also stressed as a way of maximising resources and developing new approaches such as family help. Working collaboratively with agencies across the city including the third sector was emphasised as a way in which the challenge of reduced funding could be faced and improved services delivered despite that challenge.

·  The Board wanted to know more about kinship care and welcomed the work already being done in this area, a key area of interest was comparison with other local authorities. In response the Board heard that Leeds has a greater proportion of children cared for by family or kin compared to other local authorities. This is driven by the commitment to think family and where possible and safe ensure that children and young people are looked after by family. It was also noted that the offer to special guardianship carers has recently been revised to ensure that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 89.

To consider a report from the Director of Children and Families setting out how recent changes to the asylum system have impacted children in Leeds, as a follow up item to a report on the same subject considered in September 2023.

The Board considered a report from the Director of Children and Families setting out how recent changes to the asylum system have impacted children in Leeds, as a follow up item to a report on the same subject considered in September 2023.

In attendance for this item were:

·  Councillor Jonathan Pryor, Executive Member for Economy, Culture, and Education

·  Julie Longworth, Director of Children & Families

·  Farrah Khan, Deputy Director Children and Families

·  Laura Mitchell-Ghafoor, Principal Legal Officer

Following Board members questions and comments the following issues were discussed:

·  Members asked about the impact of inaccurate age assessments in terms of children being placed in accommodation designed for adult asylum seekers and whether this placed them at risk of exploitation. By way of response the Board were informed that age assessments have been a problem in Leeds where unaccompanied asylum seeking children had been housed in adult accommodation. Around the Christmas period in 2023 this had been dealt with and more detailed assessments conducted.

·  In response to further questions on age assessments and their accuracy it was noted that the funding provided to the Council to support families and individuals in these circumstances was not sufficient to cover the costs. The Board noted that where an age assessment has been found to be inaccurate the children and young people involved are dealt with through the established children looked after approaches in Leeds. There is ongoing dialogue with Government around sufficiency of funding in these circumstances.

·  Members noted that age assessments of young people who present as unaccompanied asylum seekers is not likely to be straightforward.

·  The Board were also informed of the support being offered to young people who may be subject to uncertainty around their asylum status.

·  Members asked about processes in relation to families with no recourse to public funds. In response the Board heard about Section 17 provisions which means a panel is used to inform the support provided to families for housing and food and often working with the third sector provide wider support arrangements.

·  The Board wanted to know how much the total costs were for providing support to families with no recourse to public funds. The precise details were not available at the meeting but could form the basis of a further update to the Board in 2024/25. A further update on this providing more detail on data, scale and funding was supported by the Board to be considered as part of a watching brief approach to this issue in approximately 6 months’ time.

·  In response to a question from the Board it was noted that the issue with age assessments relates to children being assessed as being adults and does not reflect adults seeking asylum but trying to access children’s provision. The Council’s involvement in age assessments is based on a referral by other professionals where there is a view that an individual is a child and not an adult.

·  The Board sought assurance on the role of the Council in relation to asylum  ...  view the full minutes text for item 90.

To consider a report from the Head of Democratic Services that presents, for discussion, comment and agreement a draft inquiry report following the Board’s scrutiny inquiry into the provision of EHCP support in Leeds.

The Board considered a report from the Head of Democratic Services that presented, for discussion, comment and agreement a draft inquiry report following the Board’s scrutiny inquiry into the provision of EHCP support in Leeds.

In attendance for this item were:

·  Councillor Jonathan Pryor, Executive Member for Economy, Culture, and Education

·  Julie Longworth, Director of Children & Families

·  Dan Barton, Deputy Director – Learning

·  Phil Evans, Chief Officer Transformation and Partnerships

·  Rob Clayton, Principal Scrutiny Adviser

The Chair thanked Executive Board Members and officers for the transparent and open way in which this inquiry has been dealt with.

The Director of Children and Families set out that the directorate has recognised that improvements needed to be made on EHCP and SEND services more generally to deliver positive outcomes and to meet statutory requirements. Co-production was emphasised as a key element, working with children, families and other partners to improve services.

The Executive Board Member noted that challenges in this area and highlighted the national nature of some of the issues and the asks of Government that the Council has in terms of funding. However, it was also noted that there is a Leeds response and welcomed the input of scrutiny into that ongoing process.

Following questions and comments from board members the following discussion took place:

·  In relation to Recommendation 6 on tribunals members suggested that this could be clarified in terms of what the Board is seeking to achieve. This was agreed to, and that the scrutiny adviser will pick that up between now and the next meeting.

·  In response to a query around timescales for an EHCP and placements in an education setting the board were informed that it is a 20 week process from a request to assess and the issuing of an EHCP and that includes the naming of a placement in an education setting.

·  Members noted the shortage of placements as being part of the problem. That is one of the issues but also the level of demand and ability to process demand is also a key issue. In addition, the Board were also informed of possible ways that the capacity of education psychologists could be increased through work with higher education settings albeit there are challenges in developing that approach and it is in the early stages in terms of scoping the work.

·  The Board focussed on the 20 week timescale and asked if a specific recommendation could be included to reflect the views of the LPCF and their frustrations with timescales. The Board noted that the service is focussed on the 20 week timescale and that it is a key priority.

·  On the digital EHCPs recommendation it was explained that EHCPs are digitally stored but the proposal being considered by the service is around a multi-access digital platform that will enable access by parents, SENCOs and support staff. The Board noted that the key driver behind use of digital approaches would be increasing efficiency of processes and reducing bureaucracy.

·  Members noted the recommendation on  ...  view the full minutes text for item 91.

To consider the Scrutiny Board’s work schedule for the 2023/24 municipal year.

The Board considered the Scrutiny Board’s work programme for the 2023/24 municipal year.

In attendance for this item was:

Rob Clayton, Principal Scrutiny Adviser

The Principal Scrutiny Adviser provided the following updates:

·  That the next meeting is not at the usual time and is on a Thursday 18 April at 1.30PM with a pre-meet at 1.15PM

·  The planned item on the Youth Justice Plan which was due to come in April has been delayed and will now be considered early in the next municipal year.

·  To respond to comments on co-opted members a review report will be brought to the next meeting in April.

Resolved

The Board noted the Scrutiny Board’s work programme for the 2023/24 municipal year and the updates provided.

The next public meeting of the Board will take place on 18 April 2024 at 1.30pm. There will be a pre-meeting for all board members at 1.15pm.

The next meeting of the Children and Families Scrutiny Board is scheduled for Thursday 18 April 2024 at 1.30PM (pre-meeting for all Board Members at 1.15 pm).

Meeting Closed at 11.55AM