Agenda a Chofnodion

Derbyn unrhyw ymddiheuriadau am absenoldeb gan Aelodau'r Pwyllgor Craffu – Plant a Phobl Ifainc

Apologies for absence were received from County Borough Councillors J Brencher and W Jones.

Derbyn datganiadau o fuddiannau personol gan Gynghorwyr, yn unol â gofynion Côd Ymddygiad y Cyngor.

Nodwch:

1.    Mae gofyn i Aelodau ddatgan rhif a phwnc yr agendwm mae eu buddiant yn ymwneud ag ef a mynegi natur y buddiant personol hwnnw; a

2.   Lle bo Aelodau'n ymneilltuo o'r cyfarfod o ganlyniad i ddatgelu buddiant sy'n rhagfarnu, rhaid iddyn nhw roi gwybod i'r Cadeirydd pan fyddan nhw'n gadael.

In accordance with the Council’s Code of Conduct, there were no declarations made pertaining to the agenda.

Derbyn y newyddion diweddaraf mewn perthynas ag ymateb y Gwasanaethau i Blant i effaith barhaus y pandemig, gwaith adfer a chynlluniau wrth gefn.

The Director of Children’s Services presented Members of the Children & Young People Scrutiny Committee an updating report which focused on the Children’s Services response to the continuing impact of the pandemic along with recovery and contingency planning.

As Member would recall at the Children & Young People Scrutiny Meeting held on the 9^th September children’s Services provided an overview in relation to the functioning of the services during the Covid 19 Pandemic and the developing Recovery Plan.

The Director of Children’s Services continued to explain that since the last meeting of the Children & Young People Scrutiny Committee the Service has moved from contingency planning mode to that of a business critical one in preparation for the national Fire Break following the First Minister’s announcement on the 19^th October 2020.

Members were presented with an overview of the Children’s Service recovery planning in line with the national framework for children’s services recovery plans. The Director of Children’s Services provided Members with a table which highlighted the actions taken by the service to date which includes the following:

1.    Develop a fit for purpose agile/ home working framework for Children’s Services, which supports both physical and emotional wellbeing of staff and optimises our work with families;

2.    Building upon business critical and emergency functions currently being delivered, develop a safe sustainable service delivery model to provide Children’s Services statutory responsibilities that will meet WG guidance;

3.    Ensure staffing capacity in Intensive Intervention is sufficient to meet need;

4.    Ensure vulnerable children have access to education and emergency childcare provision, working in partnership with education;

5.    Ensure robust safeguarding arrangements working with partners in Cwm Taf Morgannwg Safeguarding Board.

6.    Ensure the Youth Offending Service undertakes its duties and delivers its core functions: and

7.    Youth Engagement and Participation Service (YEPS) continue to offer virtual open access activities and plan for re-introduction of face to face provision and provide virtual information advice and guidance to vulnerable young people using WICID TV and You Tube.

The Director of Children’s Services continued and informed the Committee that a contingency plan was considered and finalised in September 2020 and the results of which seen the service prioritise business critical services, it was also explained that in preparation for the Firebreak period the service is re-categorising all cases by risk and need under the R.A.G system whilst maintaining critical services which include:

·         Access to Services and Family support;

·         Safeguarding Duties;

·         Children Looked After; and

·         Youth Offending Service (YOS).

 Members were reminded that at a previous meeting there was a request for more outcome based evidence within reports, the Director explained that performance data had been included with the report which highlighted a comparison between Quarter 2 - 2019 Performance and Quarter 2 -2020 Performance data. There were three areas that the Director of Children’s Services wish to highlight, these being the number of adoption placements which had remained the same as the previous year the Officer explained that this was pleasing to see especially during these  ...  view the full Cofnodion text for item 21.

Rhoi cyfle i Aelodau glywed y newyddion diweddaraf mewn perthynas â deilliannau Arolygiad Arolygiaeth Gofal Cymru ac adolygu'r gwaith a gyflawnwyd ar y cyd â'r Gwasanaethau i Blant yn ystod y flwyddyn ddiwethaf yn ogystal â'r camau gweithredu wedi'u cyflawni hyd yn hyn.

The Director of Children’s Service along with the Service Development Manager Children’s Services presented a report to update Members on the Outcomes of the Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW) inspection. Members were also presented with actions taken during the last year and to date.

The Officers explained that Children’s Services received CIW Report on the provision of early help care and support and  transition for disabled children and their families in RCT in March 2020.

Members acknowledged that the report identified a number of strengths and a number of areas for improvement. Members were also reminded that in December 2019 the Disabled Children’s Service Review report was presented to Committee and Work was already underway to change the delivery model for disabled children prior to the inspection.

It was highlighted further areas for improvement were identified and these have been incorporated into the Disabled Children’s Services Remodelling Implementation Plan. With regards to the 16+ Teams Members were provided with areas for improvement which were:

·         Improving the outcome focused approach, ensuring that young people’s wishes and feelings are evident in pathway planning;

·         Ensuring Pathways Plans are reviewed in a timelier manner and involve updates from relevant agencies;

·         Improving quality assurance

·         Ensuring young people have an active offer of a service in Welsh.

The Director of Children’s Services explained that as a service we have developed actions plans for both Disabled Children’s Service and 16+ Team which incorporates the areas for improvement identified by CIW.

It was also brought to Members attention that due to the unprecedented circumstances relating to Covid 19 changes were made to working arrangements and four critical areas of work were identified to focus on. This has meant that all development and improvement activity was placed on hold and Quality Assurance monitoring was reduced to two key indicators;

·         Communication and support for staff;

·         Quality of work.

Members were informed that a recovery plan has been developed and that services are starting to return whilst ensuring there is minimum risk of infection.

The Committee were provided with a list of priorities with the action plan that are now being undertaken.  The Director concluded her report by emphasising that there is a strong commitment with RCT to support the Disabled Children’s Services and 16+ Teams to implement positive change.

The Chair thanked the officers for the report and before opening up the meeting for Members questions and observation explained that as part of the process was interviewed by the CIW and stated that after reading the report I found it was a sobering experience.

A Member requested that a detailed report with outcomes against the action plan be presented to the Committee in six month so that a better understanding of the progress made could be considered.

Another Member agreed and commented that to have sight of the action plan would be beneficial to see if the service was going in the right direction. He also wanted clarity on the disability register and the status of its functioning. Officers explained the  ...  view the full Cofnodion text for item 22.

Adlewyrchu ar y cyfarfod a'r camau gweithredu i'w dwyn ymlaen.

The Chair confirmed the next meeting is on the 18^th November and proceed to close the meeting.