To scrutinise performance at quarter 2 and identify issues that may require further investigation by an overview and scrutiny committee. (Report to Follow).

Contact: Tanya Miles - Executive Director for People

Tanya Miles, Executive Director for People introduced the Performance Monitoring Report Quarter 2 which gave an update on areas of demand activity and performance across the People Directorate.

Natalie McFall, Assistant Director - Adult Social Care and Housing highlighted the key points of the report in relation to Adult Social Care which included different ways of working, the work on reducing in waiting lists, the increase in hospital discharge referrals and how the demographic data was being used to predict the need for the future.

Members were advised that in the information on page 7 there was an error in the report and the percentage of cases that were currently open to Adult Social Care should have shown that 62% were aged 65 and over and the 38% instead related to those aged 18 – 64.

Laura Tyler, Assistant Director Joint Commissioning provided further detail in relation to commissioning including the use of technology to support people at home, the increase in the complexity of people’s needs, the work into capacity issues and how to support the workforce. 

Members were advised that:

·       The information in the report which stated there was no one on the mental health team’s waiting list referred to the community mental health team.

·       More work was needed in relation to pulling together the data in relation to the 0 – 25 pathway to highlight future need.

·       There were still challenges in relation to the retention of staff in the domiciliary care sector and there was a need to future proof this.

·       The high cost of children’s care home placements was acknowledged, and it was noted that alternative options to these placements were being investigated.

Sonya Miller, Assistant Director Children’s Social Care & Safeguarding provided further detail in relation to Children’s Social Care and Safeguarding which included the increase in Children Looked After (CLA), the shift in referrals of abuse and neglect cases and the increase in early help.

Members were advised that:

·       The increase in the CLA data for 0 – 4 year olds was due to a combination of factors including the impact of covid and the reduced support provided during this time.

·       Families wishing to foster can be supported in regard to finding suitable accommodation if they did not at present have the space to accommodate a child.

·       The increased incentives for foster carers had been very successful especially for existing carers but there was a still a challenge nationally to recruit foster carers.

·       The referrals by geography data which indicated an increase of need in the north of the county was due to a variety of reasons.

David Shaw, Assistant Director Education & Achievement noted the key points in relation to education which included the significant growth in Education Health Care Plans (EHCP) referrals  between January – October 2023 and in particular the increase in parental requests for EHCPs.

Members were advised that:

·         If a parental referral for an EHCPs was received information would be requested from the school setting to obtain a full view of the child.

·         The SEND action plan had been submitted to the Department for Education and the feedback had been circulated to members but would be shared again.

·         Last year potential funding had been missed from the Supporting Families programme but to date there had already been 148 claims made this year which related to £118,000 of funding.

Officers were thanked for their report.

RECOMMENDED:

That members be provided with a briefing on Early Help Transformation programme and a six month update in regard to the SEND action plan.