Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed attendees to the meeting.  Apologies for absence were received from Simon Goulden and Tony Murphy and for lateness from Councillor Keazor.

Members of the Council are invited to identify any disclosable pecuniary, other pecuniary or non-pecuniary interests relevant to items on the agenda.

No declarations of interest were put forward.

To receive an update on the work of the Fostering and Adoption Service.

Linda Hughes (Head of Service for LAC) and Debbie Michael (Adoption Manager, LAC) updated the Committee on the work of the Fostering and Adoption services during 2015 to 2016. 

The Fostering service was initially discussed and the following was highlighted:

• In 2015/16 Enfield recruited 17 mainstream foster carers, one of the highest in the North London Adoption & Fostering Consortium.
• It is important to continue recruitment of foster carers because a number of them leave each year. There are various reasons why this happens and an analysis was carried out last year to determine the reasons behind the figures.  It should be remembered that many are getting older in the borough and therefore wish to retire from the service.
• There are a number of reasons for carers leaving include moving house and quite a high number decide to adopt the child they have cared for.
• Hackney and Haringey have piloted a scheme to outsource the recruitment of foster carers. However they have now decided to bring back the service ‘in house’ because of problems experienced.
• Vacancies in 20 of Enfield’s fostering households are currently unavailable and this is the case for a number of reasons. It may be because one child in the placement may be particularly challenging or unable to live with other children.  Also some temporary ‘family and friends’ foster carers may be waiting for specific children to be placed while a further assessment is underway.
• A supervising social worker provides regular supervision for foster carers and training is always available for them.

The following questions were raised:

Q) Are problems in the recruitment of foster carers now more of a cause for concern than previously?

A) Our leaving rate is about average, if foster carers announce their intention to leave we would meet to arrange for a ‘planned transition’.  For children with challenging behaviour it may be possible to reduce the allocated time with foster carers to provide them with respite care.

Q) It is stated in the report at para 3.3 that we have 131 Enfield fostering households, does this include the ‘family and friends foster carers?

A) No, this does not include ‘family and friends foster carers?

Q) What would happen in the case of a carer being subject to a ‘standard of care’ investigation?

A) If there is a complaint about a standard of care this would be investigated and whilst this was ongoing a child would not be placed with the carer, however if this was a case where a child was arriving at school in an unkempt way, then we may not consider it necessary to remove the child while an investigation was ongoing.  However if there was a more serious allegation then the child would be removed during the investigation. 

Q) Is there an age bracket for fostering?

A) No, some older children respond better to older foster carers.

Q) Do foster carers experience particular problems?

A) There are sometimes problems for carers where young people may have difficult behaviours – for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 305.

To review elements of the Q2 Corporate Performance Report.

The Chair introduced this item and said that it was important for Members to be able to examine the Corporate Performance Report and raise issues with officers. However, as questions were likely to be wide ranging it was thought issues should be raised at this meeting and actions/ answers would be given at a special meeting to be held before the end of this financial year or as post meeting notes in the minutes.

Joanne Stacey (Performance Manager Chief Executives Office) introduced the Q2 Corporate Performance Report and the following issues/ questions were raised by Members on performance indicators (in italics) shown.

(a)Housing and Homelessness

Number of households living in temporary accommodation

Reference was made to the amount the local authority is prepared to pay landlords. It was asked if this was likely to increase availability.

Joanne Stacey understood that there is an agreement between London boroughs on an upper threshold to prevent rents from spiralling out of control. She said two members of her team were working on this issue to look at where problems may lie – they were looking at emergency accommodation, Housing Associations and co-ordinating data.

Councillor Keazor asked if there would be problems in balancing this budget at the end of the financial year?  Action: Sally McTernan to provide information at additional meeting of OSC

Overall satisfaction with repairs service provided by Council Homes

Councillor Smith said that given the problems experienced with contractors this year, the high satisfaction rates given for this indicator does not seem to reflect our findings with the service?

Joanne Stacey said the user survey satisfaction figures were compiled from letter/ telephone responses. Post Meeting note – This point will be explored  by the Housing Repairs Workstream.

(b)Adult Social Care

Delayed transfers of care (patients) per 100,000 population

Cllr Abdullahi said it would be useful to have an indicator to show targets for people waiting to be assessed for care package.

It was commented that it would be useful to see actual numbers rather than as a % of the population. Members would like to see Bindi Nagra at the special meeting of OSC to discuss these issues further.

Cllr Laban referred to comments in the notes given that two hospital groups meet regularly to review delays and the reasons behind them. She would like to know how effective this meeting is? Action: Bindi Nagra to provide information at additional meeting of OSC

No of adults receiving secondary mental health services in employment

This data includes patients that are detained in the regional medium secure unit (Forensic) based at the Chase Farm site.  Although highlighted with 3 x’s,  at this stage in the annual monitoring programme it is understood that this indicator is not an issue for immediate concern.  However it continues to be closely monitored at department level.

New admissions to Residential and Nursing Care and, as shown per 100,000 population (2 indicators)

These figures show red alert – further analysis is to be explored.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 306.

To receive for noting only

  (i).        Final Overview & Scrutiny Report

 (ii).        Enfield Safeguarding Children Board Annual Report 2015/16

Members noted the report which had been submitted to Council on

9 November 2016.   Councillor Smith asked if future details for the Safeguarding Children Board could follow a similar format to that of the Safeguarding Adults Annual Report.

Reference was made to the section on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) which had been discussed at a previous meeting of Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 14 July 2016. This item had been presented by Dr Allison Duggal who had now left the service. Members were concerned that this position had not been filled.  Members also asked for clarification on whether any prosecutions had been made regarding FGM since the meeting.  It had been noted at that time there had been only one failed prosecution case.

AGREED

Overview & Scrutiny Committee noted the report and the progress being made to safeguard children and young people, and the Enfield Safeguarding Children Board Annual Report.

To receive for noting only

  (i).        Safeguarding Adults Cover Report

 (ii).        Safeguarding Adults Annual Report 2015/16

Members noted the report which had been submitted to Council on

9 November 2016. 

AGREED

Overview & Scrutiny Committee noted the progress being made in protecting vulnerable adults in the Borough as set out in the annual report of the Safeguarding Adults Board.

To note the Work Programme.

The Work Programme was noted.  It was thought at the next business meeting of Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 23 February 2017consideration should be given to looking at potential workstreams for the forthcoming year. 

The date of the next business meeting is 23 February 2017.

Provisional Call –In dates

·         16 February 2017

·         8 March 2017

·         21 March 2017

·         12 April 2017

Business Meeting – 23 February 2017, 27 April 2017.

Provisional Call-In dates

• 16 February 2017
• 8 March 2017
• 21 March 2017
• 12 April 2017

Waste, Recycling & Cleanliness

Recycling Contamination Rates;

Response;

Table below shows current rates for 2016/17, remedial action being taken includes

·         Borough wide and specific communications programme being delivered

·         Revised policy and enforcement approach has been agreed and being implemented

·         Appropriate enforcement action is being taken to reduce rejected loads and non-recyclable elements