Agenda and draft minutes

The Chair took the opportunity to welcome Members into the Committee Meeting, with a particular welcome to Co-opted Members, Mr M Veale and Ms R Lydon.

Apologies of absence were received from County Borough Councillor and Chairperson, S Rees-Owen. Vice Chair, County Borough Councillor J Edwards took the Chair for the meeting.

To receive disclosures of personal interest from Members in accordance with the Code of Conduct

Note:

1.     Members are requested to identify the item number and subject matter that their interest relates to and signify the nature of the personal interest: and

2.   Where Members withdraw from a meeting as a consequence of the disclosure of a prejudicial interest they must notify the Chairman when they leave.

In accordance with the Councils Code of Conduct the following declaration of personal interest was made:

Co-Opted Member Mr M Veale – Personal interest as he sits on the Audit Committee for Hafod Housing Association.

To receive the minutes of the previous meeting of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee held on

It was RESOLVED to approve the minutes of the 16^th February 2022 as an accurate reflection of the meeting.

Information is provided in respect of relevant consultations for consideration by the Committee.

The Scrutiny Officer advised Members of the consultations open should they wish to make a contribution individually or as a committee.

The Head of Community Wellbeing and Resilience presented the report to Members on the performance of the Resilient Families Service during the financial years 2019-20, 2020-21 and 2021-22 to date.

Members were directed to section 4 of the report; It was advised that the Resilient Families Programme was established in Rhondda Cynon Taf (RCT) on the 1^st January 2018; the programme was aimed to deliver timely and effective services to vulnerable families across RCT, and demonstrate the Councils commitments to the wider early intervention and prevention agenda embedded in the principles of the Social Services and Wellbeing (Wales) Act 2014, and the Wellbeing of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015. 

The Resilient Families Service (RFS) adopts a collaborative and integrated approach in co-ordinating the contribution of a wide range of partners in delivering the right support at the right time to the right families and ensuring that families remain central to delivering any services. The service delivery model employs a strength based, relational approach to working with families that offers practical support to remove barriers to positive change. The Head of Community Wellbeing and Resilience advised Members that the Service adopts a proactive approach in assessing and improving the level of resilience families and how to deal with challenging matters. The Service sits within the Children’s Services structure and is Social Worker led, comprising of seven core teams which contribute to the delivery model. As part of RFS family assessment process, families within the programme go through a 7-step process until a case is closed once families have established resilience.

The Head of Community Wellbeing and Resilience directed Members to section 5 of the report, which details the effects of Covid-19 towards the Service. Members were informed that the Pandemic resulted in increased pressure for family support, demand for services and the need for innovative delivery of these services.

Members were advised that during the Pandemic RFS continued undertaking face to face contact with families on safeguarding grounds, however, the vast majority of services delivered had to be amended quickly into hybrid working in order to provide families with support despite national restrictions. Due the increased demand during the Pandemic, the Head of Community Wellbeing and Resilience informed Members that 12 new staff members were employed in order to cope with demand. The additional posts were significant in RFS to ensure support was provided directly to families and ensuring that despite increases in demand there are no waiting lists for families in accessing RFS support. 

The Head of Community Wellbeing and Resilience guided Members through section 6 of the report which highlighted the performance of RFS since operating in 2018. Members were informed that since the establishment of the Service, RFS has had contact with over 7000 families in RCT. The table within the report provided a breakdown on the performance of the Service from 2018-2022 to date.

As part of section 7 of the report, this provided an overview of the service development priorities for 2022-23; It was advised  ...  view the full minutes text for item 26.

The Head of Service Transformation presented the report to Members which provided a summary of the annual school admissions process.  Members were reminded that a report was provided for the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee on the 26^th of February 2020, which detailed the Council’s school admissions process. This report provides an update on developments within school admissions in the last 12 months and application date for the forthcoming 2022/2023 admissions year.

Following the report, a Member raised a query based on table 4.2, it was asked, for children who do not take up their offer, how the school admissions team monitor children to make sure they are in the system.

The Head of Service Transformation advised Members that the team utilise robust systems to ensure children are not missing education. It was advised that when children are born, checks are undertaken during the Autumn term on how many children should be applying to ensure all children take up a place. Overall, the team track over 40,000 children attendance.

A Member queried from the 159 children who were awarded an offer but did not take up, where did they go. It was advised that parents apply for different places in different areas in case their children are not accepted within their first choice in RCT. It was advised that some schools process their own application as a result the team work closely with faith schools in order to track children attendance. 

A Member asked whether there is a school in RCT which is constantly oversubscribed and whether since the advert of the 21^st Century has the school admissions team noticed a decline in patterns of admissions.  The Head of Service Transformation reassured Members that no child is refused a place in their catchment school. It was also advised that there has not been an increase since the 21^st Century advertisement.

The Chair thanked the Officer for the extensive report which provided informative data.

RESOLVED: Members noted the contents of the report

The Head of Attendance and Wellbeing Service presented the report to Members with provided an update on the Council’s progress of tackling period poverty within schools across Rhondda Cynon Taf (RCT) and to look at the way forward.

Members were reminded of a notice of motion which was brought to the Council in July 2017 seeking that the Council research the availability of free sanitary products, such as tampons, and towels, in all secondary schools in the County as an acknowledgement that they are as essential as toilet paper for personal hygiene of female pupils. The Council supported the move in 2018, which required all schools in RCT with pupils aged 9 and above to provide free sanitary products for female learners to access independently.

In the current financial year, the grant funding for Period Dignity in Schools has been combined with the Period Dignity in Communities for the first time with Local Authorities (LA) being able to determine themselves how much spend is allocated to each area.  Of the total £203,701, £42,000 was allocated to the community element of the grant which is controlled by Community Services and the remaining £161,701 was allocated to schools.

The current grant conditions stipulate that a ‘minimum of 50% of the total amount spent on period products must be used to purchase eco-friendly period products.

Since the last review, the Welsh Government Programme for Government 2021-2026 priorities embedding period dignity in schools as well as expanding free period product provision in communities and the private sector. It was advised that the team have formed part of the Welsh Government Roundtable Discussions and the Information and Good Practice Sharing Sessions to highlight the work that RCT has undertaken, and continue to undertake, within this area. 

The Head of Attendance and Wellbeing Service advised Members that RCT are involved in the mapping of period products availability across Wales via NHS Wales Mislif/Bloody Brilliant resource tool. This has been updated with the 113 schools who distribute free period products as well as the 34 community groups/third sector/ LA buildings which those on low income including young people can also access for products. The Head of Attendance and Wellbeing Service confirmed to Members that the service should launch in the new financial year and will be enhanced with education resources.

A Member commended the Officers for their commitment and work towards the project in ensuring dignity of girls across RCT is upheld.  The Member advised that upon a visit to a school it was suggested that the project was a great initiative however posed concerns such as the lack of flexibility and storage spaces for bulk period products. The Members advised of the importance of empowering schools to utilise the products in the best way through educational training. The Member reinforced the importance of listening to pupil voices in order to widen the scope of all schools. The Member asked, based on the new curriculum how it’s been engaged into the new national curriculum.

The Head of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 28.

To consider any items, which the Chairman, by reason of special circumstances, is of the opinion should be considered at the meeting as a matter of urgency

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