People Scrutiny Committee - Work Programme

Current Scrutiny Reviews

 

 

Title of Review

Detail

Proposed Completion Date

School Exclusions

The Committee has accepted the recommendation of the second Scoping Board that the Committee proceed with a review of this area, focusing on role the of the Council in reducing the levels of school exclusion in East Sussex, with a particular regard to vulnerable children and young people. The review will consider preventative strategies, the role of early help, appropriate responses to a child at risk of exclusion, the role of governors and clarity of messaging.

 

Membership of the Review Board: Councillors Adeniji (Chair), Field, Howell, Maples and Nicola Boulter, Parent Governor Representative and John Hayling, Parent Governor Representative.

 

November 2023

 

 

 

Initial Scoping Reviews

Subject area for initial scoping

Detail

Proposed Dates

School Attendance

The Committee heard at their 2021 work planning awayday that overall school absence and persistent absence rates across East Sussex are high, when compared to national and statistical neighbours; and that East Sussex has a significant number of children and young people deemed too ill to attend school due to anxiety and poor mental health, and increasing levels of Emotionally-Based School Avoidance.

 

A scoping board meeting was held on 10 March 2022 and the Board agreed that although the subject was appropriate for a Scrutiny Review, as so much of the current situation regarding school absence rates in East Sussex was related to the ongoing impact of, and disruption from, the coronavirus pandemic, it was too early for the Committee to undertake a scrutiny review of school attendance.

 

The Board therefore agreed that the review should commence in 2023 when we expect to have a clearer sense of the long-term impact of COVID on school absences. A further short scoping board meeting will be held in December 2023 to build on issues discussed at the 2022 scoping board and draft Terms of Reference for this review.

 

Membership of the Scoping Board: Cllrs di Cara, Field and Howell and Nicola Boulter, (Parent Governor Representative).

 

To be confirmed following a further short scoping board in December 2023.

Suggested Potential Future Scrutiny Review Topics

Suggested Topic

Detail

 

 

 

Scrutiny Reference Groups

 

Reference Group Title

Subject area

Meeting Dates

Prevention in Children’s Services

 

The committee agreed in March 2023 to convert a planned scrutiny Review on prevention in Children’s Services into a Reference Group in order to provide regular and timely input into key projects and programmes which are under development and progressing at pace. The group is considering work to develop preventative approaches including Family Hubs and the Family Safeguarding model, providing ongoing scrutiny challenge.

This Reference Group met in June 2023 and a further meeting is planned for December 2023.

At its 2023 awayday, the Committee also expressed an interest in exploring the provision of youth services in East Sussex through this Reference Group.

 

Membership of the Reference Group: Councillors Adeniji, Field, Howell (Chair) and John Hayling, Parent Governor Representative.

Next meeting:

15 December 2023

CQC Assessment Framework

The Committee agreed at its 2023 awayday to establish a Reference Group to support ASCH with the upcoming CQC inspection and LGA peer review. The Reference Group will consider the work of the Department to prepare for these and will consider recommendations and findings once published.

 

The first meeting is planned for December 2023.

 

Membership of the Reference Group: TBC

13 December 2023

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 and identify areas for future scrutiny. It will review HASCIP progress reports provided to the Health and Wellbeing Board and meet on an ad hoc basis as required to consider issues arising in more detail.  

 

The group last met on 01 June 2023 to consider and comment on key elements of the Sussex Integrated Care Strategy Action Plan ahead of it being considered by the Lead Member for Strategic Management and Economic Development (LMSMED). The Group welcomed the plan and submitted comments to be considered with the report to LMSEMD.

 

 

Membership of the group: Councillors Clark, di Cara, Geary (Chair), Ungar and Webb.

 

Next meeting:

January 2024

 

 

Educational Attainment and Performance Scrutiny Reference Group

The Committee agreed in June 2018 to establish a Reference Group to focus on reviewing data on educational attainment in East Sussex and related issues. The group meets on an annual basis.

The Group met on the 7 March 2023 to review the attainment data is for the 2021/22 academic year.

 

Membership of the group: Councillors Adeniji, Field (Chair) and Howell and Nicola Boulter, Parent Governor Representative.

 

Next meeting:

March 2024  

Adult Social Care reforms Reference Group

The Committee agreed at its 2022 work planning awayday to establish a Reference Group to consider the impact and implementation of the national Adult Social Care reforms. Implementation of the reforms was subsequently delayed in the 2022 Autumn Statement from October 2023 to October 2025 and the first meeting of the Group will take place closer to implementation.

 

Membership of the group: Councillors di Cara, Geary and Ungar. 

 

First meeting: closer to implementation of the reforms in Oct 2025

Reconciling Policy, Performance and Resources (RPPR) Board

 

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

 

Next meeting:

15 December 2023  

Reports for Information

 

 

Subject Area

Detail

Proposed Date

 

 

 

 

 

Training and Development

 

 

 

Title of Training/Briefing

Detail

Proposed Date

Suicide Prevention Strategy

The Committee agreed at its 2023 awayday to receive a briefing on the national and local Suicide Prevention Strategies.

 

 

TBC (Spring 2024)

 

Future Committee Agenda Items

Author

11 March 2024

 

Loneliness Stewardship Group

 

The Committee agreed at its December 2022 meeting to request an update on progress with partnership work to address loneliness, particularly on the work of the Stewardship Group established following the conclusion of the ‘Community Wellbeing: Connected People and Places’ Project.

 

At its 2023 awayday, the Committee agreed to use this item to receive more information about how the work of this group cuts across the work of People and Place, in particular the links between local safety concerns and residents’ ability to engage with the community.

Assistant Director – Planning, Performance and Engagement

Use of Digital and Technology in Adult Social Care and Health Scrutiny Review

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

Director of Adult Social Care and Health

 

Youth Employability Service contract

A report on the new Youth Employability Service contract, which commenced in October 2023, and its impact on young people, including vulnerable groups.

Director of Children’s Services

Committee Work Programme

 

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

 

Senior Policy and Scrutiny Adviser

Reconciling Policy, Performance and Resources (RPPR)

To provide the Committee with an opportunity to review its input into the RPPR process for 2023/24 financial year.

 

Chief Executive

11 July 2024

 

Equality and Inclusion in Adult Social Care and Health Scrutiny Review

6 month monitoring report on progress with the Review’s recommendations.

Director of Adult Social Care and Health

Children’s Services work with IMPOWER

The Committee agreed at its 2023 awayday to request an update on the Department’s work with consultants IMPOWER to review and develop cost effective and outcome focused children’s care arrangements, including the long term use of foster carers in the county.

Director of Children’s Services

Committee Work Programme

 

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

 

Senior Policy and Scrutiny Adviser

Reconciling Policy, Performance and Resources (RPPR)

 

To commence the Committee’s involvement with the RPPR process for 2025/26 financial year by reviewing the information in the Quarter 4 (end of year 2023/24) Council Monitoring report and the State of the County report.

 

Chief Executive

24 September 2024

 

Committee Work Programme

 

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

 

Senior Policy and Scrutiny Adviser

Reconciling Policy, Performance and Resources (RPPR)

 

To continue the Committee’s work on the RPPR process for 2025/26 financial year.

Chief Executive

School Exclusions Scrutiny Review

6 month monitoring report on progress with the Review’s recommendations.

Director of Children’s Services

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

Annual Review of Safer Communities

To update the Committee on performance in relation to Safer Communities in 2023/24 and the priorities and issues for 2024/25 that will be highlighted in the Partnership Business Plan.

Assistant Director - Planning, Performance and Engagement

 

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

19 November 2024

 

Transition in services

To provide the Committee with clarification on the process of transitioning between Children’s Services and ASCH.

Director of Children’s Services and the Director of Adult Social Care and Health

Committee Work Programme

 

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

 

Senior Policy and Scrutiny Adviser

Reconciling Policy, Performance and Resources (RPPR)

To continue the Committee’s work on the RPPR process for 2025/26 financial year.

Chief Executive