Agenda item

10.55

Jim Leivers (Director, Children, Education and Families) and Lucy Butler (Deputy Director, Children's Social Care & Early Intervention Service) will present a paper on the work and performance of the MASH.

The Committee is RECOMMENDED to consider the issues outlined in this paper and make any comments to Cabinet on the next steps.

Lucy Butler (Deputy Director, Children's Social Care & Early Intervention Service) presented a paper on the work and performance of the MASH. John Capps, an operational manager for the Thames Valley Police and Lara Patel, Social Care Manager Central were in attendance.

Charlie Payne highlighted concerns in the report and spoke in support of children’s centres which complemented the work of the MASH and provided vital support to mothers and families. In responses to questions she referred to the additional funding agreed by full Council but expressed concern that gaps would remain in the service provided in areas such as Wantage and Chalgrove. She added that she had been told that social worker caseloads would double if Children's Centres closed.

Lucy Butler presented the findings of the recent inspection and work that had already been underway to find a new model. She undertook to bring further details of the new model to Committee when available.

During discussion the Performance Scrutiny Committee:

1)          Queried the effectiveness of the referral process and commented on issues related to the inappropriate referral of cases that should be dealt with at an early stage without the need for MASH involvement. The Committee heard that the threshold of needs matrix was being reviewed to make it easier to understand and would be rolled out to professional across the County.

2)          Explored the role of the Locality and Support Teams in the new model in providing early support to vulnerable families.

3)          Noted that it had been in place for 18 months and had had some success. What was important was to focus on those areas requiring improvement. The Committee was advised that a project group had been formed to learn lessons from the review and experience and it would develop an action plan.

4)          Explored the issue around supervision of social workers and were assured that it was an area where officers were always looking to improve.

5)          Expressed concern at the level of case work carried by social workers. The figure of 65 cases was not one that had been reported to the Committee previously. Lucy Butler explained that the one high figure of 65 related to multiple cases within a smaller number of families. They were aware of the caseloads increasing and it was one aspect that the new model was designed to address. A Member suggested that a paper setting out the costs relating to social worker caseload be brought back to this Committee.

6)          Raised concerns in relation to domestic violence cases and queried how many cases had been prosecuted without the need for the victim having to do that. Figures were to be provided.  The Committee heard that a piece of work was being carried out looking to make triage work within the MASH more effective to address concerns that linkages were made based on serendipity rather than process.

7)          Commended the work being done on child sexual exploitation.

Following discussion the Committee endorsed the approach and looked forward to ensuring that the new model was fit for purpose of keeping children safe. The Committee welcomed the opportunity to comment on the new model at the earliest opportunity.