Agenda and minutes

Venue: Hendon Town Hall, The Burroughs, London NW4 4BQ. View directions

Contact: Salar Rida 020 8359 7113 Email: Salar.Rida@Barnet.gov.uk 

Items
No. Item

1.

Minutes of the last Meeting pdf icon PDF 75 KB

Minutes:

Resolved:

 

That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 13 March 2019 be agreed as a correct record.

2.

Absence of Members

Minutes:

An apology of absence was received from Councillor Reuben Thompstone, substitute Member Councillor Saira Don was in attendance in place of him.    An apology of absence was also received from Councillor Val Duschinsky. 

3.

Declarations of Members Disclosable Pecuniary Interests and Non-Pecuniary Interests

Minutes:

None.

4.

Report of the Monitoring Officer (if Any)

Minutes:

None.

5.

Public Questions and Comments (if Any)

Minutes:

The Committee noted receipt of a request for Mr Jonathan Josephs to make a public committee.   However, he was not in attendance. 

 

6.

Members' Items (if Any)

Minutes:

None.

7.

Update report on the progress of Barnet Children's Services Improvement Action Plan and other CES Committee Priorities pdf icon PDF 466 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Executive Director for Children & Young People, Mr Chris Munday introduced the report.  He reminded Members of the OFSTED inspection that was undertaken during April and May 2017.  Mr Munday outlined the work that had taken place via the OFSTED improvement plan, he stated that the landscape had much improved during the last two years.   Members noted the OFSTED improvement action plan and the timeline of the OFSTED inspection that was currently underway.

 

Members of the Committee were requested to consider the report and the appendices.  The Committee therefore had the opportunity to ask questions.  The Assistant Director for Strategy and Partnerships, Mr Ben Thomas was welcomed to the meeting to assist in answering question from Members that related to the UNICEF programme. 

 

During the consideration of the item a number of points were raised in respect to the OFSTED inspection.  In responses to this the Executive Director for Children & Young People was able to provide a clear outline of the inspection that was underway.   In doing so he stated that the report in 2017 was damming and as a result significant work had been delivered.  He informed the Committee of the positive transition of services that had taken place during this time.   He stated that Officers across the directorate had taken greater responsibility to improve during the delivery of the OFSTED improvement plan that had created a positive working environment.

 

 

During the lengthy debate Members provided scrutiny on the report and therefore asked a range of questions that were duly responded to by the Executive Director for Children & Young People.   These themes related to the following and were therefore noted by the Committee:

-       Members sought clarification on some of the performance data information that was displayed in the report and the appendices.   

-       Recruitment of Officers was raised, including training that was required depending on the role completed.  Members were informed that mandatory training for Officers took place, for example GDPR training.

-       What the process is for the OFSTED inspection was discussed, including, work relating to social care recordings and how this is monitored depending on cases.

-       Members questioned how the recommendations in the 2017 OFSTED report had been developed, monitored and also how this has been reflected upon by the Council.

-       Members made comments on the Young People’s Perception Survey and how that will be delivered.

-       The process of dental checks was also raised by Members and how this is performed regularly alongside the potential of gum checks.

-       It was understood that an audit process was in place that took place alongside risk assignment that enables improvement of performance, standards and expectations.

-        Members asked how they could be assured whether drift and delay was tackled in the performance data.

 

 

Having considered the report, the Committee:

 

Resolved:

-       That the Committee noted the progress of the Barnet Children's Services Improvement Action Plan as set out in paragraphs 1.10 – 1.48

-       That the Committee noted and scrutinised the performance information provided in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

8.

Annual Report on the work of the UK Youth Parliament members, Barnet Youth Assembly and other Youth Voice fora pdf icon PDF 282 KB

Minutes:

The Chairman welcomed UK Youth Parliament Members to the meeting and Voice of Child Coordinator, Mrs Kerry Hodges.  She introduced the report and provided a summary of the report which the Committee noted.   She stated that the Youth Assembly programme would take effect from November 2019 and would be delivered in partnership with the Council’s Governance Service.   

 

The Committee heard verbal representation form UK Youth Parliament Members in respect to their campaigns:

-       Reducing Tuition Fees and Reducing Financial Barriers to Higher Education

-       Promoting Mental Health awareness and signposting young people to seek Mental Health support

-       London Youth Assembly

 

The Committee Members were given the opportunity to ask questions to the UK Youth Parliament Members which were responded to. The Executive Director for Children & Young People made comments regarding access to CAMHS in Schools.  He noted that it provided lots of different services and stated that a referral process was required in order for students to gain access to CAMHS in Schools.

 

The Chairman thanked the students on behalf of the Committee for their attendance and presentations.

 

Having considered the report, the Committee:

 

Resolved:

 

-       That the Committee noted the reported and the presentations of the impact of the campaigns of the UK Youth Parliament Members

-       That the Committee supported the proposed changes to the Barnet Youth Assembly as proposed in paragraphs 1.5.6 and 1.5.7. with a more detailed proposal to come to the Committee in November 2019

-       That the Committee noted and scrutinised progress against 2018/19 corporate plan priorities, including a detailed summary of the Family Friendly Barnet progress provided in Appendix 2.

 

9.

Multi-Agency Safeguarding Arrangements pdf icon PDF 179 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chairman encouraged the Independent Chairman of the Barnet Children’s Safeguarding Board, Mrs Fiona Bateman and the Assistant Director for Education, Strategy and Partnerships, Mr Ben Thomas to answer questions from Members of the Committee. 

 

In answering various questions, Mrs Bateman expanded on the Multi-Agency Safeguarding arrangements, as set out in appendix A. Committee members noted the funding approach and compared that to the equal responsibility range and therefore Members Questioned this.

 

 

Having considered the report, the Committee:

 

Resolved:

 

-       That the Committee approved the Barnet Multi-Agency Safeguarding Arrangements as set out in Appendix A for publication on the Barnet   Safeguarding Children Partnership website before 29th June 2019.

-       That the Committee agreed to delegated authority to the Executive Director for Children and Young People to make further amendments to the Barnet Multi-Agency Safeguarding arrangements, including agreeing the financial contributions, following discussion with the statutory partners and the Chairman of the Committee.

 

10.

Family Services Annual Complaints and Compliments Report 2018/19 pdf icon PDF 169 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Executive Director for Children & Young People, Mr Chris Munday introduced the report and stated that the report underpinned a statuary reporting process.    In answering the questions of Members, Mr Munday described the challenges that were illustrated in the report and the appendices.

 

Having considered the report, the Committee:

 

That the Children, Education and Safeguarding Committee noted the report and Appendices A and B.

 

11.

Committee Work Programme pdf icon PDF 205 KB

Minutes:

The Committee considered the work programme and therefore Members discussed holding an additional meeting however it was felt this was not required as there was no business demand.

 

Resolved:

That the Committee noted the Work Programme.

 

12.

Any other Item(s) that the Chairman decides are Urgent (if Any)

Minutes:

None.

 

 

The Committee Chairman stated that this meeting was the last in the municipal year and therefore he gave thanks to The Executive Director for Children & Young People and his team for all their work, he also thanked the Governance Service for their stewardship, especially Mr Salar Rida.   The Chairman thanked all Committee Members for their work throughout the year.   Vice-Chairman Councillor Rohit Grover thanked the Chairman for the way in which he had lead the Committee through-out the year.