Self Evaluation of the Child & Family Services

Overview & Scrutiny Board

Cllr Mark Child

Cllr Paxton Hood-WilliamsO&S Improvement Session: 10th December 2009

Aims of this Presentation

• To share progress • To share what we have learnt• To share the self evaluation• To inform a possible roll out of the new approaches

The story so far

Established April 09Expectations:• Strengthen Scrutiny for Child & Family Services• Meet as frequently as required• A more effective critical friend challenge to the executive• A constructive relationship between the Board and the

Cabinet Member for Social Services• Focus on monitoring performance, testing CFS

improvement actions and undertaking additional project and development work

• Pioneer new approaches to Scrutiny

Our Agreed Aim

To provide ‘critical friend’ challenge to the Executive (and decision-makers) in respect of children’s social services by undertaking a range of overview & scrutiny activities to ensure that improvement in the care of vulnerable children is delivered, sustained and embedded

Activity

• 11 Board Meetings held since 20th April• 3 Task & Finish Groups established (20+ meetings)• 77% Board Member Attendance• 4 Meetings – Cabinet Member present• 15 external participants

Workplan to Date….lots

• Key Findings and Priorities for Action (from CSSIW Inspection Report – November 2007)

• CSSIW Inspection Report – March 2009

• Statements from Deputy Minister for Social Services – 3rd March & 24th March

• The Authority’s response to the Deputy Minister.

• Child and Family Services Strategic Delivery Plan (incl. Action Plan) for 2009/10

• Child & Family Services Performance Reports

• Corporate Approach to Child & Family Services - Evidence from the Chief Executive & Corporate Director (Education)

• Evidence from Key Members - Cabinet Member for Social Services and Leader of the Council

• Local Safeguarding Children Board - Evidence from Key Partners

• Safeguarding Arrangements within the City and County of Swansea

• Children & Young People Plan and input in to the recent review

• Evidence from Children's Charities• Evidence from Disability Groups• Letters from Cabinet Member for

Social Services responding to Chair’s Letters

• Detailed Examination of Workforce, Family Support Services, and Initial & Core Assessments

External Input

• Very positive feedback from the Intervention Board• John Wrangham - Be aware of what the inspectors ask:

• How did this service get to this point without scrutiny being aware or raising concerns?

• Can we be confident that scrutiny will provide an adequate check and robust challenge in future?

• Are processes, resources and facilities there to protect children adequately?

Self EvaluationWhat Has Worked Well?

• Chair’s Letters• Questioning strategies • Performance monitoring• Focusing the work plan • Task & finish groups• Engaging with front line staff

Chairs letters

• Regular• Agreed• Conversation• Reported at Council• Need to monitor longer term

Questioning Strategy

• E-mail• Pre meeting

» why are we asking qs» What qs are we asking» Whose asking them» What answers do we want

• Post meeting» How did that go» Questions asked, answered, did we like the answers

Performance monitoring

• What are important ones• Focus on a few• What is information behind them• Get them on time and regularly• Use Pre & Post to review• Get them e-mailed and Q on line

Focusing the work plan

• A working document• Prioritise

» what is most important, why» What can be done, when

• Be precise in defining subject• Limit length of investigation

Task & finish groupsEngaging with front line staff

• Appropriate no of councillor• Remit know• Resources allocated• Let them do it• Become know to staff• Confidence• Whistle blowing• Real picture

What Have Been the Benefits?

• Members have been galvanised • Members feel they are doing “real” scrutiny and making

a difference• Engendered genuine team working and cross-party

consensus• Knowledge of members of CFS has increased

significantly• Productive and challenging relationship with the Cabinet

Member through letters and visibility at Council. • Effective performance monitoring

Quotes From Board Members

• High level of attendance: “shows how people feel about it”

• Chairs letters: “We are starting to develop a conversation”

• Performance monitoring: “Actually, I think we have done an incredibly good job”

• Workplan: “By and large we have focused on what we needed to focus on”

• Engaging with Frontline Staff: “It’s been good to talk to people actually doing the job”

Quotes From Board Members

• “It’s important to focus on the fact that this is a good process not just about good individuals”

• “All of the parts make a good team”• “It takes time but only because we are now more

forensic”• “Sometime the professionals are too close – we can step

back and look at it from outside”

How Can We Improve?

• Engage with children• Follow up on actions agreed with the Cabinet Member• Consider Co-option to widen the knowledge of the board• Be a more effective ‘critical friend’...... • Increase the public’s awareness of us• Look beyond Swansea

Self Evaluation of the Child & Family Services

Overview & Scrutiny Board

Cllr Mark Child

Cllr Paxton Hood-WilliamsO&S Improvement Session: 10th December 2009