|
Current Scrutiny Reviews |
|
|
|
Detail |
Proposed Completion Date |
|
|
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.
A further 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 (Chair) and Nicola Boulter, Parent Governor Representative. |
To be confirmed following a further short scoping board in December 2023.
|
|
Initial Scoping Reviews |
||
|
Subject area for initial scoping |
Detail |
Proposed Dates |
|
|
|
|
|
Suggested Potential Future Scrutiny Review Topics |
||
|
Suggested Topic |
Detail |
|
|
Elective Home Education |
The Committee heard at their 2021 work planning awayday that issues relating to the increase in the numbers of children being electively home educated (EHE) remain a concern for the Children’s Services Department and expressed an interest in scrutinising the work the Department is doing in response.
The Committee received additional updates on the local situation, as well as national updates, at their November 2022 and November 2023 meetings, including information at the November 2023 meeting on a DFE Consultation that has opened on revised home education guidance for Local Authorities to provide more clarity about ‘suitable education’ and support to be provided for home educators. In the absence of legislation for a statutory register, the guidance proposes Local Authorities set up a voluntary registration scheme for parents who home educate.
The Committee agreed at the November 2023 meeting to retain this as a potential area for review but will await further information from the DfE consultation. |
|
|
|
||
|
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 project 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 under the remit of this Reference Group.
Membership of the Reference Group: Councillors Adeniji, Field, Howell, and John Hayling, Parent Governor Representative (Chair). |
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.
Membership of the Reference Group: Councillors di Cara, Geary, Howell and Ungar. |
13 Dec 23 |
|
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.
Membership of the group: Councillors Clark, di Cara, Geary (Chair), Ungar and Webb. |
Next meeting: 08 February 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: 27 March 2024 |
|
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 |
|
|
|
|
|
Subject Area |
Detail |
Proposed Date |
|
The Committee agreed at its November 2023 meeting to receive an update on the current Early Help Reforms and proposals for wrap around care. |
TBC |
|
|
|
|
|
|
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 Strategy.
|
January 2024
|
|
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 remit 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 |
|
SEND pressures |
To provide the Committee with an opportunity to discuss current SEND pressures and identify if further scrutiny engagement is needed. |
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 2024/25 financial year by reviewing the information in the Quarter 4 (end of year) (2022/23) 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 2024/25 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.
This report will include a progress update on the work of multi-agency exploitation coordinators as requested at the March 2022 Committee. |
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 2024/25 financial year. |
Chief Executive
|