Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillor Jeny Snell (substituted by Cllr Henry Hobhouse), Ruth Hobbs (Co-opted member) and Cllr Peter Clayton and Jo Simons (co-opted member) joined the meeting online.  

Apologies were received from Cllr Jeny Snell (substituted by Cllr Henry Hobhouse), and Ruth Hobbs (co-opted member). Cllr Peter Clayton and Jo Simons (co-opted member) joined the meeting online.

To receive and note any declarations of interests in respect of any matters included on the agenda for consideration at this meeting.

(The other registrable interests of Councillors of Somerset Council, arising from membership of City, Town or Parish Councils and other Local Authorities will automatically be recorded in the minutes: City, Town & Parish Twin Hatters - Somerset Councillors 2023 )

There were no new declarations of interest received.

There were no new declarations of interest received.

To approve the minutes from the meeting held on Wednesday 10 January 2024.

Resolved that the minutes of the Scrutiny Committee - Childrens and Families held on Wednesday 10 January 2024 be confirmed as a correct record.

Resolved that the minutes of the Scrutiny Committee - Childrens and Families held on Wednesday 10 January 2024 be confirmed as a correct record.

The Chair to advise the Committee of any items on which members of the public have requested to speak and advise those members of the public present of the details of the Council’s public participation scheme.

For those members of the public who have submitted any questions or statements, please note, a three minute time limit applies to each speaker and you will be asked to speak before Councillors debate the issue.

We are now live webcasting most of our committee meetings and you are welcome to view and listen to the discussion. The link to each webcast will be available on the meeting webpage, please see ‘details on how to join the meeting online’ document.

There were no questions asked, statements made, or petitions presented. 

To receive an update from the Service Manager, Governance Scrutiny. To assist the discussion, the following documents are attached:-

(a)  The Committee’s work programme

(b)  The Committee’s outcome tracker

Please use the following links to view the latest Somerset Council Forward Plans and Executive Forward Plan of planned key decisions that have been published on the Council’s website:

Somerset Council Forward Plans

Somerset Council Executive Forward Plan

The Committee noted the current work plan, outcome tracker and Executive Forward Plan.

The Chair invited comments and questions on the current work plan and outcome tracker for the Committee. One member asked out the process for ensuring that all questions and information's requests from members of the committee are responded to appropriately and in a timely manner.

The Chair advised that generally the Committee’s outcome tracker serves this purpose, and that while every effort is made to capture and respond to all questions and requests for information both in and out of Committee meetings i.e. email enquiries etc. members may follow up on any unresolved issues up with an email directly to him to follow up.

The Committee noted the current work plan, outcome tracker and Executive Forward Plan.

To consider PowerPoint presentation.

The focus of the item is on the Somerset system wide support for children and young people who self-injure and follows on from the item considered by the Committee at the meeting in July 2023.  The item will be led by the Council’s Strategic Manager, Public Health, Patsy Temple, together with colleagues from CAMHS, ICB, Nik Harwood (Young Somerset) and front line practitioner representation from jigsaw project (Targeted Youth Support) and hospital psychiatric liaison team.

Notes:

Members of the Scrutiny Committee – Adults and Health are welcome to attend the meeting for this agenda item.

The Chair will allow 45 minutes for this agenda item.

The Committee received a presentation on children’s mental health and wellbeing in Somerset, the focus of the item was on the Somerset system wide support for children and young people who self-injure.

The Chair thanked the presenters for the excellent presentation.

(Members of Scrutiny Committee – Adults & Health had been invited to join the meeting for this agenda item).

The Chair welcomed the follow to the meeting for this agenda item:

·         Patsy Temple, Public Health Consultant at Somerset Council

·         Claudine Brown, Head of CAHMS and Paediatric Services in Somerset

·         Nick Harwood, Chief Executive of Young Somerset

·         Tracey Robinson, Team Leader at The Jigsaw Project Young Somerset

The Committee received a detailed presentation which provided an update on Somerset system-wide support for children and young people who self-injure. This followed on from the presentation to the meeting in June 2023 and demonstrates how a multi-agency system approach will deliver the best outcomes for children and young people in Somerset. The presentation provided information and data around hospital admissions, the number of mental assessments being carried out among children and young people in Somerset, results from surveys and engagement projects, details around the services that are being provided by all the agencies involved, and the Public Health training offer.

The Committee were advised that, reassuringly, in terms of young people requiring mental health/emotional wellbeing intervention in Somerset, there has been a downturn in the numbers.

The presentation also included a list of recent improvements in Childrens Mental Health Services in Somerset, with a special focus on a targeted youth support project for children and young people that have been admitted to hospital due to mental health difficulties or low emotional wellbeing named The Jigsaw Project. Members heard about a day in the life of a Jigsaw Support worker and the story of Poppy and her family who needed support from the Jigsaw Project following a hospital admission.

The Committee asked a number of questions and made a number of comments which were responded to at the meeting, as follows:      

·         A Cllr asked the committee and officers to consider what ‘timely’ means.

·         A Cllr commended the work of officers and remarked that it was the best presentation he has seen.

·         A Cllr felt the presentation was about reactive support and asked for more information about the way this Council proactively supports children and families in the community i.e. through outreach in schools.

The Chair thanked officers for the presentation and the Committee noted the update.

To consider PowerPoint presentation.

As background the Committee will find it helpful to refer to the following, considered by the Executive at its meeting on 6 March 2023 - Children, Families & Education Services – month 10 position

Note – the Chair will allow 20 minutes for this agenda item.

The Committee received and noted the presentation on 2023/24 Children’s Services budget monitoring position – month 10. This focussed on – external placements, residential placements, Homes & Horizons, fieldwork spend, 23/24 DSG budget monitoring (High Needs, home to school transport and SEND transport).

The Committee received a presentation from the Council’s Head of Business Partnering, Christian Evans on the 2023/24 Children’s Services month 10 budget monitoring position. The presentation focussed on external placements monitoring and forecasting, CLA key cost drivers and the 23/24 DSG budget monitoring (High Needs, home to school transport and SEND transport).

The Committee asked a number of questions and made a number of comments regarding the budget monitoring data which were responded to at the meeting, as follows:      

·         A Cllr felt the visual representation of the data could be improved.

·         There were several queries regarding the data around placements and SEND and the Head of Business Partnering advised that these would be taken to the relevant service managers for response following the meeting.

·         A Cllr sought clarity on the difference between unregulated and unregistered provision and the Executive Director of Children, Families and Education explained the differences and also advised about the campaign to increase foster care placements would help meet the target for registered placements.

The Chair thanked officers for the presentation and the Committee noted the update on the budget position.

To consider PowerPoint presentation.

Notes:

The Chair will allow 40 minutes for this agenda item.

As background to the item and to assist the Committee, some further information about the DMP was circulated on 5 March 2024.

The Committee received a presentation on the refreshed DSG Deficit Management Plan (DMP)., outlining the actions to mitigate overspending and the DMP. The DMP has the following new elements – tackling design issues, devolving decision-making, universality, building consensus. The presentation also outlined the key risks and opportunities and next steps.

At the end of the discussion, The Service Director Education, Partnerships and Skills suggested that a member training session on the DSG and Deficit Management Plan could be arranged, and the Chair thanked her and asked members to consider this.

The Committee noted the ongoing work and the DMP.

The Committee received a presentation from Jo Currie, Service Manager Schools Finance and Amelia Walker, Service Director Education, Partnerships and Skills on the High Needs Block & SEND Deficit Management Plan.

The Committee heard that the Designated Schools Grant (DSG) Deficit Management Plan (DMP) has four new elements to mitigate overspending, and the presentation sets out the rationale behind the proposed changes in approach to tackling overspending on DSG blocks, which is a national issue, and the mitigations in place before the statutory override ends on 31^st March 2026.

The Committee were advised that the DMP will take a huge amount of work, and the next steps include stakeholder workshops to look at rethinking and redesigning structures, funding, processes and governance.

The Committee asked a number of questions and made a number of comments which were responded to at the meeting, as follows: 

·         The Chair asked about how the DSG ‘sits’ in relation to EHCP plans. The Service Director explained the funding arrangements and how the money is dispersed to schools.

·         A Cllr felt that EHCP's are not always the only solution.

·         A Cllr asked about how confident are we that such reforms will not impact the service in a negative way?

·         Members requested more information on supported internships and the Service Director advised that the service would be able to facilitate a briefing session for members.

·         A Cllr asked about what guidance and support can the Council seek when developing the DSG DMP? It was explained that there is guidance and support provided by the DfE and also the plan has gone to CIPFA for advice and feedback.

At the end of the discussion, Amelia Walker, Service Director Education, Partnerships and Skills said that she is happy to arrange a member training session on the Designated Schools Grant Deficit Management Plan.

The Chair thanked officers for the informative presentation and the supporting documentation that had been shared with members and the committee noted the ongoing work of the DSG Deficit Management Plan.

To consider PowerPoint presentation.

Note – the Chair will allow 20 minutes for this agenda item.

The Committee received a presentation on understanding Elective Home Education – the purpose of the item was to education / inform members on issues around elective home education (EHE) and covered - the legal framework, the Council approach and responsibilities, data, provided information on the partnership working in the Frome area, changes in legislation and guidance in the pipeline.

This includes a mandatory register of children not in school, guidance on what is a ‘suitable education’, including focus on literacy and maths, guidance about support available to EHE families and guidance to support more consistent approach across LAs to school attendance orders.

The Commitete welcomed and noted the presentation.

The Committee received a presentation from Dr Rob Hart, Service Director for Inclusion and Julia Ridge, Strategic Manager Head of Vulnerable Learners who provided an introduction and overview of Elective Home Education (EHE).

The presentation set out the Council’s approach and responsibilities to EHE children and their families, the current data set for EHE in Somerset and specifically Frome as an ‘area in focus’ due to its high number EHE children, and the changes to government guidance and legislation in the pipeline including mandatory registers of children not in school, guidance around what is considered to be a ‘suitable education’, more support for EHE families and guidance on Local Authority schools attendance orders.      

The Committee asked a number of questions and made a number of comments which were responded to at the meeting, as follows:

·         A Cllr said they had visited a local EHE alternative education setting and was concerned that the children in that setting felt that ‘the Council does not care.’

·         A Cllr queried whether EHE settings have any relationship with Ofsted and was advised that Ofsted do not regulate EHE settings directly.

·         A Cllr queried whether the Council monitors attendance of EHE children or is a parent free to take their child out of education, for holidays etc, as often as they choose; whether parents can access the National Curriculum; in its EHE regulatory role, does the Council require proof that those children that are electively home educated receive ‘a suitable level of socialisation.’ In response, the Service Director Inclusion said that the Council does not monitor the attendance of EHE children in the same way that it does for children who are in education settings – however in its role the Council does look for assurance that the education being offered to EHE children is ‘full time and suitable.’ In terms of supporting EHE settings with national curriculum resources, reference was made to Bridgwater College Academy - Get Ahead Programme and Oak National Academy (thenational.academy).

·         A Cllr queried if there is a potential for flexi schooling, so that families can ‘touch base’ with schools for support and was advised that the Mainstream Plus offer is helping schools to respond to a wider range of needs in communities.

·         A Cllr asked about what has been learnt from the ‘area in focus’ study on Frome and was advised that one of the key findings was about the need for the Council to do more around Public Health and ensuring EHE children have been offered all relevant vaccinations.

·         A Cllr asked about what data we have around EHE children going into Higher Education and was advised that there is currently no data on this.

·         A Cllr asked about the drivers for parents/carers choosing to home educate, and to what extent this choice is down to preference, rather than necessity. The Service Director Inclusion agreed that there are number of reasons for parents/carers choosing to home educate, and that in some cases this choice is also driven by ‘off rolling’  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

To receive update from the Chair of the Panel, Cllr Evie Potts-Jones.

Note – the Chair will allow 10 minutes for this agenda item.

The Committee received an update from the Chair of the Education Standards Panel Cllr Evie Potts-Jones on the work of the Panel and the issues covered at recent meetings.

Cllr Potts-Jones invited all members of the committee to attend the meetings of this sub-committee and advised that the next meeting is scheduled for the 25th March 2024.  

Cllr Evie Potts-Jones provided a verbal update on the work of the Education Standards Panel and issues covered at recent meetings.

Cllr Potts-Jones advised that the Panel had considered data in terms of benchmarking against other areas and to gain a snapshot of trusts across the county. Cllr Potts-Jones shared the headline data from Early Years through Key Stage 4, highlighting weaknesses in Early Years Education Standards in Somerset. The Panel had considered the reasons for this, such as fractured contact with health visitors, and noted that the Best Start in Life steering group would be best placed to tackle this.

Cllr Potts-Jones concluded that the work of the Panel is ongoing and that it will continue to review the data around education settings and maintain engagement with leaders. She invited all members of the Committee to attend the meetings of the Panel and advised that the next meeting was scheduled for the 25 March 2024.

The Chair thanked Cllr Potts-Jones and the members of the Panel and invited all members of the committee to be involved in the work and attend the meetings.

To receive report back from members of the Committee on the strands in the Children’s Services Transformation Priorities / Areas:

·    Education for Life – Jo Simons

·    CLA Transformation - Cllr Evie Potts, Cllr Martin Lovell

·    SEND Strategy – Cllr Simon Carswell, Cllr Frances Nicholson

·    Connect Somerset - Tobie Osmond, Ruth Hobbs

Note – the Chair will allow 20 minutes for this agenda item.

Further to the meeting in December 2023, received report back from Committee members on the following strands in the Children’s Services Transformation Priorities / Areas.

·      Education for Life – Jo Simons

·      CLA Transformation – Cllr Evie Potts-Jones, Cllr Martin Lovell

·      SEND Strategy – Cllr Simon Carswell, Cllr Frances Nicholson

·      Connect Somerset – Tobie Osmond, Ruth Hobbs

The Chair thanked members and officers for their ongoing work and the committee noted the update.

The Committee received the following verbal updates on the Children’s Services Transformation priorities / areas, as follows: -  

Connect Somerset

Tobie Osmond (co-opted member) provided the update on Connect Somerset, which was designed help people feel more connected to their schools, communities and vital services. He advised that comms is going very well, with the Connect Somerset network reaching wide audiences which are continuing to grow, and that workforce development had been a success with 12 Connect Somerset Champions now working in strategically placed posts across Somerset provided targeted support to those in need.

Children Looked After (CLA) Transformation

Cllr Martin Lovell updated on some of the actions that had been identified through the 7 transformation priorities including increasing foster homes for children with a foster care recruitment programme, a new 16+ service, a purchase order pilot for external placements, and the implementation of the Mockingbird model, and advised that a Sufficency strategy had just been published and the Homes and Horizons programme is ongoing.

Special Educational Needs & Disabilities (SEND) Strategy

Cllr Frances Nicholson summarised that the SEND strategy’s primary focus is working together with mainstream schools to ensure every child with SEND is supported, as early as possible, so that all families can access the right support at the right time.

Education for Life Strategy

Jo Simons (co-opted member) advised that through a huge amount of data analysis the Education for Life Strategy has identified 5 priorities, with its focus on building strong foundations for children's education in Somerset.

The Chair thanked members for their ongoing work and the Committee noted the updates.

This is a standing agenda item and will provide details of information sent to Committee members in between meetings, that cover the Committee’s policy areas.

(a) Delivering Better Value – Newton Report – circulated on 3 January 2024

(b)Short break provision – action plan – circulated on 21 February 2024

If Committee members have any questions or comments on the information, please contact the Committee Administrator on democraticservicesteam@somerset.gov.uk in the first instance and before the date of the meeting.

The Committee noted the following items for information:

(a)  Delivering Better Value – Newton Report – circulated on 3 January 2024

(b)  Short break provision – action plan – circulated on 21 February 2024

The Committee noted the following items for information:

(a)  Delivering Better Value – Newton Report – circulated on 3 January 2024

(b)  Short break provision – action plan – circulated on 21 February 2024

(There is a useful ‘glossary of terms’ document for the Committee, which is available on the website on the following link – Glossary of Terms ).