People Scrutiny Committee - Work Programme

Current Scrutiny Reviews

 

 

Title of Review

Detail

Proposed Completion Date

School Exclusions

The Committee agreed in March 2020 to undertake a Scrutiny Review of issues related to school exclusions. The Committee agreed the Terms of Reference proposed by the Scoping Board and appointed a Review Board to undertake the review:

·         Membership of the Review Board: Cllrs Field, Liddiard, Loe and Mr Matthew Jones (Parent Governor Representative) (Chair) and Mrs Nicola Boulter (Parent Governor Representative). 

·         In light of the COVID-19 pandemic and its effect on the availability of schools to contribute to further work on this review, it has been paused with the intention to recommence it at a suitable future date

 

 

 

Review currently on hold due to pressures arising from COVID-19

 

Capacity to restart to be reviewed November 2020

 

 

 

Initial Scoping Reviews

Subject area for initial scoping

Detail

Proposed Dates

Loneliness/resilience

 

The Committee agreed in November 2019 to conduct an initial scoping exercise into issues relating to how the Council can incorporate addressing loneliness into its existing work, particularly the community resilience workstream.  A briefing on the implications of the national Loneliness Strategy was circulated to the committee in April 2019

·         Membership of the Initial Scoping Board:  Cllrs Clark, Galley, Ungar and Whetstone.  The Committee agreed Councillor Ungar would act as Chair for the scoping exercise.

·         The Scoping Board will consider the subject of loneliness and resilience for both older people and children and young people. 

·         In light of the impact of COVID-19 on the Public Health Team’s ability to support the review, the Committee agreed to defer meeting until January 2021.

 

Scoping meeting to be arranged for January 2021.

 

 

Suggested Potential Future Scrutiny Review Topics

Suggested Topic

Detail

Developing Care Markets/Bedded Care Strategy

 

 

Following an initial scoping exercise of issues relating to the developing care market and the Council’s bedded care strategy, the Committee agreed on 14 November 2019 to postpone further scrutiny activity on this area for 18 months (to mid-2021).  This will allow the Adult Social Care department to continue to develop its workstreams in relation to this area of work.

Elective Home Education

 

The Committee has noted issues relating to an increase in the numbers of children being home educated and that home education could increase further in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.   The Committee was informed that a relevant Private Member’s Bill has not yet completed its progress through Parliament.   The expectation is that national guidance will follow in due course (although there is not a clear date for this). The Committee therefore agreed to revisit this subject once the Government has published its guidance.

COVID-19 response and implications

A range of topics related to COVID-19 have been suggested for future scrutiny by Committee Members, including:

·         Public Health role – e.g. planning, resources, working with others.

·         The work of care staff during the pandemic and impact on recruitment and retention, including use of agency staff and experiences of BAME care workers.

·         Support to care homes, including health service input.

·         The experience of carers during the pandemic.

·         The impact of Covid-19 on Departments and the services they provide.

 

The Committee will consider whether to undertake work on these topics at the appropriate time   when capacity allows.  

Scrutiny Reference Groups

 

 

Reference Group Title

Subject area

Meeting Dates

Health and Social Care Integration Programme (HASCIP) Reference Group

The Committee agreed to establish a Reference Group to monitor progress of the East Sussex Health and Social Care Integration Programme (HASCIP) and identify areas for future scrutiny. It will review HASCIP progress reports provided to the Health and Wellbeing Board (HWB) and meet on an ad hoc basis as required to consider issues arising in more detail.  

The Reference Group last met on 28 October 2020.

Membership of the group: Cllrs Ungar (lead), Davies, Webb, Ensor and Clark.

Next meeting:

 

To be confirmed.

 

Relevant Health and Wellbeing Board reports to be circulated to the group as they become available

Strategic Commissioning Review of Early Help Scrutiny Reference Group

The purpose of this Reference Group is to provide scrutiny input into the Children’s Services Department review of Early Help services. 

 

It was agreed by the Committee on 25 June 2018 that following Members would sit on this group: Cllrs Davies, Galley, Field and Whetstone.

 

The Reference Group requested an opportunity to review progress with the implementation of the revised Early Help strategy in spring 2021, but as some changes were postponed this may be subject to review.

Next meeting:

 

Further meeting TBC if appropriate

 

 

 

 

Educational Attainment and Performance Scrutiny Reference Group

Reference Group established in light of discontinuation of the Education Performance Panel. It was agreed by the Committee on 25 June 2018 that this group would meet once per annum to review data on educational attainment in East Sussex and related issues.

 

The disruption to school exams and attendance caused by the pandemic means that relevant performance figures will not be available in January 2021 as planned.  With that in mind, the Committee welcomed the Director of Children’s Services offer of a briefing session on the work being undertaken by the Standards and Learning Effectiveness Service (SLES) to help prepare for the anticipated exams that will take place in summer 2021. 

 

Membership: Cllrs Davies, Field, Galley and Cllr Whetstone and Matthew Jones and Nicola Boulter (Parent Governor Representatives).

Next meeting:

8 February 2021

Reconciling Policy, Performance and Resources (RPPR)

 

RPPR Board meeting to agree detailed comments and any recommendations on the emerging portfolio plans and savings proposals to be put to Cabinet on behalf of the scrutiny committee.    

Next meeting:

17 December 2020

Reports for Information

 

 

Subject Area

Detail

Proposed Date

Schools Coping with Change Scrutiny Review

Final brief update on issues covered by the Review to be requested for circulation by email.  

Late 2020

Scrutiny Review of the Changing Care Market: Information and Signposting

Confirmation to be requested by email that the planned changes to the website, recommended by the Review Board, have been made.

 

Late 2020

Scrutiny Review of the Changing Care Market: Adult social care workforce

 

Update to be requested by email in relation to the Review Board’s recommendations where possible, including the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on recruitment and retention.

 

 

 

 

Late 2020

Training and Development

 

 

 

Title of Training/Briefing

Detail

Proposed Date

Briefing on ASC Green Paper

To gain a better understanding of the potential implications of the Government’s Green Paper/Adult Social Care reforms once published.

 

Dependent on publication by Government

Future Committee Agenda Items

 

Author

11 March 2021

 

 

Reconciling Policy, Performance and Resources (RPPR) 2021/22

To provide the Committee with an opportunity to review its input into the RPPR process for 2021/22.

Becky Shaw, Chief Executive

East Sussex Safeguarding Children Partnership (ESSCP) - Annual Report

Presentation of the annual report of the East Sussex Safeguarding Children Partnership.

Independent Chair, East Sussex Safeguarding Children Partnership

Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education (SACRE) Annual Report

To update the Committee on the work of SACRE, with the report to include a further update on secondary school performance in relation to the requirements of the National Curriculum and Religious Education.  

Roy Galley, Chairman of SACRE / Stuart Gallimore, Director of Children’s Services

Scrutiny Review of the Changing Care Market: Adult social care workforce

 

Proposed date for 12-month monitoring report on progress with the Review’s recommendations.

Keith Hinkley, Director of Adult Social Care and Health

Scrutiny Review of Support for Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children

12-month monitoring report on progress with the Scrutiny Review’s recommendations.

Stuart Gallimore, Director of Children’s Services

Committee Work Programme

To manage the committee’s programme of work including matters relating to ongoing reviews, initial scoping reviews, future scrutiny topics, reference groups, training and development matters and reports for information.

 

 

Senior Democratic Services Adviser

17 June 2021

 

 

Annual Review of Safer Communities

Performance, Priorities and Issues

To update the Committee on performance in relation to Safer Communities in

2020/21 and the priorities and issues for 2021/22 that will be highlighted in the Partnership Business Plan.

Tom Hook, Assistant Director - Planning, Performance and Engagement

 

Committee Work Programme

To manage the committee’s programme of work including matters relating to ongoing reviews, initial scoping reviews, future scrutiny topics, reference groups, training and development matters and reports for information.

Senior Democratic Services Adviser

16 September 2021

 

 

Reconciling Policy, Performance and Resources (RPPR) 2022/23

The Committee will begin the process of examining the Departmental Portfolio Plans and budget for the 2021/22 financial year. 

Becky Shaw, Chief Executive

Committee Work Programme

To manage the committee’s programme of work including matters relating to ongoing reviews, initial scoping reviews, future scrutiny topics, reference groups, training and development matters and reports for information.

Senior Democratic Services Adviser

Safeguarding Adults Board - Annual Report

 

The Safeguarding Adults Board (SAB) Annual Report outlines the safeguarding activity and performance in East Sussex during the previous financial year, as well as some of the main developments in place to prevent abuse from occurring.

Chair, Safeguarding Adults Board

18 November 2021

 

 

Reconciling Policy, Performance and Resources (RPPR) 2022/23

The Committee will continue the process of examining the Departmental Portfolio Plans and budget for the 2022/23 financial year. 

Becky Shaw, Chief Executive

Committee Work Programme

To manage the committee’s programme of work including matters relating to ongoing reviews, initial scoping reviews, future scrutiny topics, reference groups, training and development matters and reports for information.

Senior Democratic Services Adviser