Agenda item - 2020/21 Families, Children and Learning performance report

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Agenda item

2020/21 Families, Children and Learning performance report

Report of the Executive Director Families Children & Learning (copy attached)

Minutes:

23.1    The Committee considered the report of the Executive Director Families Children & Learning which provided a summary of the performance of the directorate and an overview of business and improvements for the year ahead. The report was introduced by the Service Manager, Policy & Business Support and the Head of Safeguarding & Performance.

 

23.2    Cllr O’Quinn asked for more information on any impact the pandemic had had on adoption and special guardianship process. The Executive Director Families Children & Learning said that the Council had now moved to a regional agency and were now part of Adoption South East. There had been a reduction in the number of children being placed for adoption or subject to special guardianship orders, as the pandemic had affected court work which meant that there had been a delay in issuing court orders. The guidance was for care proceedings to be completed within 36 weeks and the Council were currently running at 66 weeks and was purely down to court availability. Cllr O’Quinn asked how many adoptions there were in Brighton & Hove last year, and was advised that that information wasn’t available at the meeting and would be provided later.

 

23.3    Ms D Boyd asked what percentage of those those who were home educated or were identified as NEET had SEN, whether the Council consulted with service users when providing RAG ratings, and why residential placements were so high. The Service Manager, Policy & Business Support said that they did not have the percentage of SEN young people but would provide after the meeting and would ensure that that information was included in future reports. With regard to RAG rating, the information used for this report was based on national criteria but different data was captured for each issue and they would look at that how could be provided in future reports. With regard to residential placements there had been a significant increase, with the placements being made for a number of reasons such as criminal or sexual exploitation, significant emotional health and wellbeing issues etc but there was also a national shortage of fostering placements.

 

23.4    Cllr Brown was concerned that there had been an increase in those being home educated and an increase in first time entrants to the youth justice system, but was pleased to note a reduction of the number of children in care, and asked why the music and arts service had a red RAG rating. The Assistant Director Education & Skills said the number of children being home educated, and the reasons for that, were closely monitored and said that other local authorities were also seeing an increase in numbers. With regard to music and arts, the red RAG was due to schools being closed and therefore not being able to use the Artsmark programme. The Executive Director Families Children referred to the increase in numbers to the youth justice system and said that overall the numbers were very low in the City but the increase was being addressed by the Adolescent Board which met

 

23.5    Cllr John noted the number of children being home educated and asked if many chose that option if they weren’t allocated a preferred school, and was advised that there were a number of reasons for home education but some children were home educated whilst waiting for a place to become available at certain schools. Cllr Nield asked if a breakdown of the number of children being home educated and the reasons for it, and was advised that would be provided after the meeting. Cllr Hamilton noted that there had been a large increase in the number of children being home educated over the last two years and would also be interested in knowing the reasons why. The lawyer advised that the statutory framework for home education was limited, and the Council relied on parents sharing the reasons why and so any statistics may not be accurate.

 

23.6    Cllr Lloyd noted that emotional health had an amber RAG rating and asked what steps were being taken to address that. The Executive Director Families Children & Learning advised that the pandemic had impacted on provision, but the Foundations for Our Future was now being implemented and the school’s Wellbeing Service were looking at ways to support young people.

 

23.7    RESOLVED: That the Committee –

 

 

(i)             Noted the current performance of the directorate;

 

(ii)            Noted the business and improvement plans for the year ahead.

 

 

Supporting documents:

 


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