Agenda and minutes

11.       Resolved to agree as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 28 July 2017.  

12.1     Apologies were received from Councillors Charles Clark and Kathryn Field.

Disclosure by all members present of personal interests in matters on the agenda, the nature of any interest and whether the member regards the interest as prejudicial under the terms of the Code of Conduct.

13.       There were no disclosures of interests.

Notification of items which the Chair considers to be urgent and proposes to take at the end of the appropriate part of the agenda. Any members who wish to raise urgent items are asked, wherever possible, to notify the Chair before the start of the meeting. In so doing, they must state the special circumstances which they consider justify the matter being considered urgently.

14.1     No urgent items were considered.

To consider excluding the public and press from the meeting for the next two agenda items on the grounds that if the public and press were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information as specified in Category 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended), namely information relating to any individual.

15.1     The Panel agreed to exclude the press and public for the next two agenda items on the basis that if they were present there would be disclosure to them of information considered to be exempt by virtue of Category 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended), namely information relating to any individual.

16.1     The Panel considered reports received from Ofsted on the following services:

            a) Lansdowne Secure Unit

b) Brodrick House

c) Acorns at Dorset Road

16.2     The Panel discussed the positive outcomes of the Ofsted reports, in particular Brodrick House which received an overall rating of outstanding. The Panel praised the hard work of the staff, and thanked them for their dedication and professionalism.

16.3     The Panel also discussed the outstanding repairs needed at Acorns, Dorset Road and agreed to write a formal letter to Property Services asking for these, and any other residential care home repairs, to be prioritised.

16.4     RESOLVED to:

1) note the contents of the Ofsted reports; and

2) agree that the Panel will send a letter to property services requesting that the residential home repairs be prioritised. 

17.1     The Panel considered Regulation 44 Reports for the period August 2017 to September 2017 for the following Children’s Homes:

(a) Acorns at Dorset Road

(b) Brodrick House

(c) Hazel Lodge

(d) Homefield Cottage

(e) Lansdowne Secure Unit

(f) The Bungalow

17.2     Each Registered Homes Manager gave an oral update on activity at the home covering the period since the last Panel meeting.

17.3     The Panel commended the hard work of the staff at each of the homes and agreed to send a formal letter on behalf of all Corporate Parents to show their thanks when a home receives a good outcome.

17.4     RESOLVED to:

1)    note the contents of the reports; and

2)    agree that the Panel will send a letter of thanks to the staff working within the residential homes.

Report by the Director of Children’s Services

18.1     The Panel considered a report by the Director of Children’s Services which provided an update on the annual performance of the Looked After Children’s service for 2016-17. It was explained that the national figures for 2017 had not yet been published. Sally Carnie, Joint Head of LAC Services, highlighted in particular the LAC trend data and the number of children entering and leaving care for the period 2016-17. The Panel were advised that the LAC data only ever provides a snapshot of the number of children moving in and out of the system at a fixed date each month/year. The level of activity which sits below this figure is greater than the snapshot figure. 

18.2     The Panel were further informed of the challenges faced regarding placement capacity both within East Sussex and nationally; the positive progress being made within the residential care services; and the care leavers service and ESCCs response to the ‘Keep on Caring’ Government strategy for care leavers. The Panel were advised that an improvement plan for the Care Leaver’s service is in place for 2017/18.

18.3     The Panel commended the hard work of the service and gave thanks to Officers.

18.4     RESOLVED to note the report.

Report by Director of Children's Services.

19.1     The Panel considered a report by the Director of Children’s Services which provided an update on Looked After Children (LAC) statistics.

19.2     The Panel were informed by Liz Rugg, Assistant Director, Early Help and Social Care on the slight rise in the number of East Sussex LAC since the last quarter; and the consequent increased pressures on foster placements.

19.3     The Panel were advised that the transfer of Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking young people via the national dispersal scheme has currently been paused due to the current inability to allocate them to social work staff. It is hoped that this can resume with the new intake of social workers.

19.3     RESOLVED to note the report.