Issue - meetings

A report from the Executive Director – People is attached. (Key decision – reference number 5014)

(Report No.129)

(7.40 – 7.45 pm)

Councillor Rick Jewell (Cabinet Member for Children’s Services) introduced the report of the Executive Director – People (No.129) addressing children’s social care demand and pressures.

NOTED

1.    Following the inspection by Ofsted in March 2019, the Council had continued to work to strengthen and improve service provision, and Cabinet agreed in July 2019 to invest £375k to deliver on the Ofsted improvement plan.

2.    Children’s social care continued to see an increase in demand, and extra investment was sought to create a new social work team to bring caseloads down to under the Pan London standards. Seven new social workers would be recruited.

3.    Children’s social care was a priority for the Council. There continued to be pressures, and the needs had to be responded to. In particular the increase in demand due to the increase in unaccompanied asylum-seeking children and the national transfer scheme not working was highlighted, along with exploitation of children and levels of domestic abuse. The presence of a consistent professional was important, as was quality and retention of social workers.

4.    Enfield had received an Ofsted rating of good in every category for the first time ever in 2019, and should always be aiming for a good rating.

Alternative Options Considered: 

The Council had recently commissioned a social care agency to deliver some children in need services to meet statutory duties within set timescales however maintaining agency staff was not cost effective in the long term. The investment requested from Cabinet would increase permanent recruitment, strengthen further the stability of the workforce and reduce staff turnover.

DECISION:  The Cabinet agreed to note the good work of frontline staff and the rise in practice improvement against a backdrop of increasing caseloads. To ensure caseloads were at a reasonable level and that practice improvements were sustained, Cabinet agreed to invest in a new social work team in the child protection service and approve a further:

•  £125k investment this year would be funded through risk reserves while the permanent investment of £365k in 2020/21 would be managed through the medium-term financial plan process.

Reason: 

An annual conversation was planned with Ofsted for November 2019 to track progress following the full inspection (March 2019). This was likely to be followed in quick succession by a 2-day focussed visit. Through additional investment, the service would be able to maintain reasonable caseloads, firm up the strong foundations in social care and further hone our trajectory of continuous improvement, ensuring that Enfield Council delivers a high quality, safe service to children and families that meets regulatory expectations.

(Key decision – reference number 5014)