Agenda item

To receive a report from the Director of Schools and Children’s Services presenting the Enfield Ofsted Improvement Plan following the inspection in Enfield from 20 January to 11 February 2015.     (Report No.5)

(Non key)

Members are asked to note that Cabinet are due to consider the report on 17^th June 2015.  As part of this process it has been recommended that the report also be referred on to Council for information.  The decision made by Cabinet on 17^th June 2015 will be reported to Council on the amendment sheet tabled at the meeting.

Councillor Orhan moved and Councillor Uzoanya seconded the report from the Director of Schools and Children’s Services (No.5) presenting the outcome of an OFSTED inspection of services within Enfield for children in need of help and protection, children looked after and care leavers along with the effectiveness of the Local Safeguarding Children Board undertaken in January/February 2015.  The report also highlighted the key actions identified within the OFSTED Improvement Plan as an outcome of the inspection.

NOTED

1.      Cabinet (17^th June 2015) had agreed the recommendations in the report along with its referral onto Council for noting and information.

2.      The background to the inspection process undertaken, as detailed in section 3 of the report.

3.      The Inspectors had found that the Local Authority led effective services which had resulted in an overall judgement that children’s services in Enfield were Good.  In addition the Inspectors judged the Enfield Safeguarding Children Board (ESCB) as Good based around the arrangements in place to evaluate the effectiveness of what was done by the Authority and ESCB partners to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.

4.      Nationally less than 25% of Authorities had received an overall judgement of Good with Enfield, at the time, being the only London Authority to have achieved the rating.

5.      The thanks expressed by members across the Council for the hard work of those staff involved in the delivery of these services given the challenges faced.  The Cabinet Member, supported by colleagues across the Council, also took the opportunity, at what was to be his final Council meeting, to recognise and thank Andrew Fraser as Director of Schools & Children’s Services for his dedication, knowledge and skill in leading the service.

6.      Notwithstanding the judgement received, the inspection had identified 15 recommendations designed to further improve services to vulnerable children and these had formed the basis of the OFSTED Improvement Plan.  11 of these related to children’s services and 4 to the effectiveness of the ESCB.  Each recommendation had clear actions and lead officers identified as responsible for their delivery with progress to be monitored and overseen by the ESCB, Lead Cabinet Member, Director and Overview & Scrutiny Committee.

7.      Whilst also welcoming the outcome of the inspection, the Opposition Group highlighted a need to ensure that focus was maintained on the direct outcomes arising from the actions identified in response to the recommendations within the OFSTED Improvement Plan.

8.      The strong political commitment identified by the Cabinet Member towards children’s services in Enfield and innovative nature of actions already being delivered or identified in response to the recommendations within the OFSTED Improvement Plan.  At the same time Members advised they had recognised the need to avoid complacency and to ensure that ongoing and future challenges (including issues around the calculation of funding support) were addressed, with the example provided of the establishment of the cross party Task Group on Child Sexual Exploitation as one such initiative.  The work of the Children in Care Council (KRATOS) was also highlighted as a key area of support.

The recommendations in the report were agreed unanimously, without further debate or a vote.

AGREED, following referral of the report by Cabinet on 17th June 2015, to note:

(1)     The following documents attached to the report:

(a)     Enfield Improvement Plan;

(b)     Inspection of services for children in need of help and protection, children looked after and care leavers and Review of the effectiveness of the Local Safeguarding Children Board; and

(c)     Annual Report of the Independent Reviewing Officer – 2014/15.

(2)     The cross part support expressed for the work being undertaken by the Schools and Children’s Services Department and the Enfield Safeguarding Board to implement and achieve the actions relating to the 15 recommendations outlined in the Improvement Plan.

(3)     The specific recommendations within the plan to improve the oversight and scrutiny functions of Senior Managers, the Enfield Safeguarding Children Board and elected members.