Archived decisions

p F. Allgood

p C. Bailey

p D. Blampied

Mrs E.M. Byrom

p B.D. Dash

p P. Edgar

p K. Evans

a Mrs J.K. Frankum

p K. Gill

a G.M. Hockley

p R.J. Kimber

p Mrs P.G. Peskett

p S.H. Reid

a J.K. West

a P.A. West

a S. Wheale

ACTION

97

APOLOGIES

Apologies were received from Councillor D.A. Kirk - Executive Lead Member for Children's Services (Education) and from Councillors Mrs. J.K. Frankum; G.M. Hockley; J.K. West; P.A. West and S. Wheale.

98

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Members were mindful that, where they believed they had a personal or personal prejudicial interest in any matter to be considered at the meeting, they should, normally at the time of the debate, declare their interest and, having regard to the circumstances described in paragraphs 9, 10, 11 and 12 of the County Council's Code of Conduct, consider whether to leave the meeting whilst the matter was discussed, save for exercising any right to speak in accordance with paragraph 12 of the Code.

99

MINUTES

The Minutes of the Committee held on 23 April 2008 were signed as a correct record.

Matters arising thereon:

Minute 90 - Local Area Agreement (LAA) from 2008/09

It was reported that the wording queried on this matter at the last meeting was indeed consistent with the national indicator set. However, it was noted that the Officer concerned would take the query forward in relation to the Corporate Business Plan.

Minute 90 - Access to Mainstream Leisure Facilities for Young People with learning difficulties and/or disabilities.

It was noted that this was to be identified as an action point in the Young Carers' Strategy to be presented to the Executive Member for Children and Families. The Committee were thanked for bringing this to officers' attention as a key issue to address.

Felicity Roe

(Children's Services Department)

Pam Robinson

(Children's Services Department )

100

CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS

The Chairman welcomed a small group of children from Norman Gate Special School, Andover who were representatives on their School Council and wished to observe part of the meeting. Also, it was noted that Michael White had recently been re-elected as a parent governor representative from the primary school sector to serve on the Committee.

Members were sad to learn that Gerry Price Area Director for Children's Services (New Forest Office) had suffered a heart attack and the Chairman undertook to send the Committee's best wishes for his early recovery. The Chairman reported upon a recent prize giving event which she had attended at Sir George Staunton Country Park, Havant. The prizes were awarded to children in care who had achieved and made progress beyond expectations. The Chairman also reported on her attendance at a Locality Team Meeting in Rushmoor at which case studies had been discussed. The Chairman encouraged other Members to visit their local teams to learn more about this valuable work.

In response to a Member's request, the Chairman invited the Director of Children's Services to give a verbal report on the claw-back process through Schools Forum in relation to schools with excessive uncommitted balances. It was noted that school balances in Hampshire had increased again during 2007/08 and now total nearly £47m. The Director explained the measures being taken in response to this which included a small number of schools being affected by the claw back process.

101

REVIEW OF RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF TEACHERS AND HEADTEACHERS

The Committee considered a scoping report by the Scrutiny Officer (Item 13 in the Minute Book) to review the issues surrounding the recruitment and retention of teachers and headteachers in Hampshire Schools. The item was part of the Committee's 2008 Work Programme and arose from a national focus on this matter and in particular the rising trend of teachers leaving the profession and seeking to understand the reasons for this or for them pursuing alternative careers. It was reported that Councillor Mrs. J.K. Frankum from the Labour Group was to be involved in this review and that the Leader of the Council would appoint the Conservative Members. The Liberal Democrat Group were invited to let the Scrutiny Officer know their Members in due course.

There followed a detailed discussion on the report. The Scrutiny Officer noted each of the points raised and as a result it was agreed to also incorporate as part of the scrutiny work special schools; training and development of NQTs; customer involvement in future leaders; teaching and managing a career path; establishing the teachers' perspective and an investigation of the particular problems associated with the Basingstoke and Deane areas of the County.

A related matter about schools of the future was raised and the Chairman felt it would be of interest to County Councillors to invite John Clarke, Deputy Director of Children's Services, to give his presentation about `Schools In The 21^st Century' to a future County Council Members' Briefing Session.

Emma Gordon (Chief Executive's Department)

David Hinxman (Chief Executive's Department)

102

NEW SERVICE DELIVERY MODEL FOR SERVICES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE ACROSS HAMPSHIRE

The Director of Children's Services gave a verbal update. This included details of the overall and local structures, the current staffing situation and related I.T. developments. The Committee welcomed the progress to date and in particular the steps being taken to integrate the new Service. Members also commended the briefing sessions being given to the Hampshire Action Teams. It was noted that a further report on this item would be made to a future meeting of the Committee.

Felicity Roe (Children's Services Department)

103

OUTCOME OF OFSTED INSPECTIONS - HAMPSHIRE RESIDENTIAL SERVICES

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Children's Services (Item 7 in the Minute Book) summarising the outcome from the Ofsted Inspections for Hampshire Children's Residential Provision in 2007/08. The report included reference to the themes resulting from the requirements and recommendations which had been identified.

In discussion a number of points were clarified and the Committee welcomed the report and in particular the speed with which some responses and subsequent actions had been proposed when individual homes had requirements imposed or good practice recommendations had been shared.

104

AIMING HIGH FOR DISABLED CHILDREN - PROGRESS REVIEW

The Committee received the report of the Director of Children's Services (Item 8 in the Minute Book) about the requirements to develop a broader range of service to support parents and carers. It also summarised the results of a recent consultation and the steps being taken to develop a commissioning strategy to be reported to the Executive Member for Children and Families in October 2008 so as to enable tendering for some additional service developments towards the end of 2008/09.

There followed a detailed discussion on the report which dealt with progress to date on this, a key issue identified by the Committee for ongoing monitoring throughout 2008 as part of their Work Programme. Members were pleased that many of the issues identified by the Committee at their Short Breaks Workshop on 10 March 2008 (Minute 105 below refers) were currently being addressed and looked forward to receiving further reports on this topic, prior to concluding their monitoring in Spring 2009.

Colin Hardy (Children's Services Department)

105

SCRUTINY OF SHORT BREAKS, PALLIATIVE CARE AND CARER SERVICES FOR CHILDREN WITH SEVERE DISABILITIES

The Committee considered the report by the Scrutiny Officer (Item 12 in the Minute Book) on the feedback from the Winchester Guildhall Event on Short Breaks held on 10 March 2008.

The Committee thanked the Scrutiny Officer for the helpful and informative report which highlighted, among another things, the key issues requiring attention nationally. It was noted that these include a lack of information about service available to families; duplication in assessments and services; complications in accessing services and high thresholds for social care support. In discussion, Members raised a number of individual points which included reference to Annex A of the report and to existing weaknesses identified following feedback from the discussion groups on 10 March about the provision and management of short break services. Whilst the Committee felt there were a few things that required more attention, they recognised that it was work in progress and would therefore require more time to develop. The intention was for any key recommendations to be made in April 2009, when the Committee had monitored the development of short break services over a twelve month period.

RESOLVED:

(a) That the Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee clarifies with the Hampshire Primary Care Trust how decisions regarding the spending on non-ring fenced money from Government targeted at supporting short break services will be made locally.

(b) That the Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee investigates what benefits could be achieved through the Hampshire Primary Care Trust's signing of the Every Disabled Child Matters Charter.

(c) That the Executive Member for Children and Families clarifies how the performance of the County Council and its partners in developing short breaks can be evidenced and monitored in Hampshire.

Emma Gordon (Chief Executive's Department)

106

EARLY EDUCATION AND CHILD CARE UNIT SUFFICIENCY ASSESSMENT

The Committee considered the Executive Summary of the Hampshire Childcare Sufficiency Assessment (Item 9 in the Minute Book).

The Director of Children's Services introduced this item and summarised the key points. It was noted that the assessment was intended to measure the childcare market and to test whether the supply and childcare places are sufficient to meet the demand from parents in each locality.

Members welcomed the report and praised the work of the Early Education and Childcare Unit. The Committee wished to receive a further report on this item in twelve months time and asked that this include an update on extending the flexible entitlement to early education after the introduction of new legislation relating to this area.

Tracey Sanders (Children's Services Department)

107

KINSHIP CARE PROJECT IN HAMPSHIRE

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Children's Services (Item 10 in the Minute Book) concerning the progress of and outcomes for the Kingship Care Project in Hampshire between November 2002 and April 2008.

In discussion, it was highlighted that at present kinship carers, unlike foster carers, were not eligible to free access to recreation and heritage facilities in Hampshire. Members did not feel that this was correct and asked the Director of Children's Services to take this matter forward with the Director of Recreation and Heritage for further explanation.

RESOLVED:

Gill Horrobin

(Children's Services Department)

(a) That the progress which Children's Services is making in developing the Kinship Care Service in Hampshire and the profile that this Service receives nationally be noted.

(b) That the Committee ask the Director of Children's Services to prepare a report about the valuable work undertaken by kinship carers and which seeks to review, with the Director of Recreation and Heritage the current availability of free access to recreation and heritage facilities in Hampshire for foster carers and the potential for extending that to Kinship Care.

Gill Horrobin

(Children's Services Department)

108

DEVELOPMENT OF AND DELIVERY OF A CORPORATE PLEDGE FOR CHILDREN IN CARE

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Children's Services (Item 11 in the Minute Book) on the implementation of the Pledge for Children in Care.

In discussion Members welcomed the progress to date. It was confirmed that as previously, those members of the Committee who were core members of the Corporate Parenting Group would be invited to the next meeting in September as a matter of course. The Director of Children's Services agreed to arrange this and to prepare for the Committee briefing notes about the interim restructuring of the social care side of Children and Families and about post custody support. It was agreed to provide this to Members as part of a future Information dispatch.

Kate Hart and Gill Horrobin

(Children's Services Department)

109

ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME

Members received the list of topics identified by the Committee for scrutiny in their 2008/09 work programme.

Emma Gordon (Chief Executive's Department)

110

YOUNG CARERS' STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN

Members' supported the Chairman's proposal for the Committee to receive a report on the outcome of the twelve week consultation to gain the views of appropriate agencies and young people and their families about the draft Young Carers' Strategy and Action Plan.

Vanessa Courtney

(Children's Services Department)