Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillor Steve Harrod (Councillor Patrick Greene substituting) and Councillor Stewart Lilly  (Councillor Sandy Lovatt substituting).

Councillor Liz Brighouse declared an interest through her association with Windale Primary School.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 5 November 2015 (PSC3a) and the minutes of the meeting held on 17 December 2015 ((PSC3b) to be circulated separately)).

The Minutes of the meeting held on 5 November 2016 were approved and signed.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 17 December 2015 were received.

1045

Chief Policy Officer, Maggie Scott, will present a paper outlining the Council’s performance for the second quarter of 2015/16. Director of Children, Education and Families, Jim Leivers will be present to allow for a focused performance discussion on key areas of concern.

Chief Policy Officer, Maggie Scott, presented a paper outlining the Council’s performance for the second quarter of 2015/16. Director of Children, Education and Families, Jim Leivers attended, with Rebecca Matthews, Interim Deputy Director, Education & Learning, to allow for a focused performance discussion on key areas of concern.

During discussion the following points were made together with a number of specific requests for additional information and/or further consideration.

Adult Social Care

During discussion concern was expressed over reablement and delayed transfers of care (paragraphs 8 and 9) with reassurance sought that the actions would have a sustained effect. In noting that there had been a focus on these issues at the previous meeting the Chairman commented that there was a review of indicators underway to increase the effectiveness and focus of the Committee. Members sought an explanation of the reasons behind the increase of self-funders in care homes?

Environment & Economy

During discussion a member highlighted that contrary to information in the media recycling in at least two of the District Council areas was among the best in the country. Maggie Scott noted that the indicators were the Council’s own and although marked amber they were only 1% off and it was a positive story. It was agreed that, as part of the next focus on Environment and Economy, the reasons behind the fall in recycling and whether it is linked to the incinerator and the impact of new EU Guidance be picked up.

The Committee recognised the great success of the Frideswide Square scheme.

Public Health

In response to a query on why the data in relation to users leaving drug treatment successfully was still based on the old provider when the new provider took over in April 2015, the Committee was advised that the new service was still being embedded. The service would be part of the next Public Health focus by the Committee.

Trading Standards

Following a query from a member, Maggie Scott agreed to arrange a briefing note on how the Doorstep Crime Unit’s savings were calculated.

Children, Education & Families

Councillor Liz Brighouse declared an interest through her association with Windale Primary School.

There was lengthy discussion of the performance figures with the following matters highlighted:

1)              Councillor Godden queried why figures were not available for indicator 23 and Jim Leivers undertook to respond to members directly on this query.

2)              Asked about the Council’s responsibilities in respect of failing Academy schools Rebecca Matthews confirmed it was not the Council’s responsibility if an Academy failed. However the Council did have an overall responsibility to children in Oxfordshire so would offer support. She detailed where the failing schools had accessed support through the Council but commented that what was important was that they accessed support from whatever source. Jim Leivers added that he was aware of issues and had raised them directly with the Regional Schools commissioner.

3)              Referring to the figures around students getting 5 A-C GCSEs a member(paragraph 20) a member highlighted the importance of having some  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4/16

1000

Maggie Scott, Chief Policy Officer will attend to present a paper on developing the draft Corporate Plan.

Performance Scrutiny are asked to comment on the draft and structure of the new Plan, considering in particular the overall message, priorities, and focus.

Maggie Scott, Chief Policy Officer presented a paper on developing the draft Corporate Plan and Performance Scrutiny Committee were asked to comment on the draft and structure of the new Plan, considering in particular the overall message, priorities, and focus.

Members made detailed comments on the draft Corporate Plan which it was agreed would be included within the draft considered by Cabinet at their meeting on 26 January 2016.

1000

Lorna Baxter, Chief Finance Officer, will present savings proposed for Capital and Treasury Management. Comments will be fed back to Cabinet in order that they can take the comments into consideration in proposing their budget and Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) at the end of January 2016. Council will meet to agree the budget and MTFP in February 2016.

The Performance Scrutiny Committee is invited to consider and comment on the Provisional Local Government Finance Settlement briefing, highways asset management programme and capital proposals for 2016/17 – 2019/20, and the draft Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Annual Investment Strategy for 2016/17.

Lorna Baxter, Chief Finance Officer, presented savings proposed for Capital and Treasury Management.

The Performance Scrutiny Committee considered the Provisional Local Government Finance Settlement briefing, highways asset management programme and capital proposals for 2016/17 – 2019/20, and the draft Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Annual Investment Strategy for 2016/17.

During discussion the following points were made:

1)              Referring to the Provisional Local Government Finance Settlement the Committee noted that that their meeting in December was ahead of the settlement, which had changed the financial position considerably. There was discussion of the change in the formula and the timing of it and Committee supported the Cabinet making the strongest possible response.

2)              A member whilst supporting the loan to King Alfred School expressed concern about the repayment from the disposal of East Site in and the risk of a free school being developed. Officers indicated that they wer looking at this and the terms had not yet been finalised.  

3)              There was an explanation of how the  self-assessed incentive fund would operate and that the aim was a drive to become more efficient.

1130

Kate Terroni, Deputy Director Joint Commissioning will present a report updating Performance Scrutiny Committee on progress towards implementing the Oxfordshire Adult Social Care Workforce Strategy and outlining the strategy's proposed delivery plan including governance arrangements.

Performance Scrutiny is recommended to comment on the contents of this report, including the proposed indicators.

Kate Terroni, Deputy Director Joint Commissioning presented a report updating Performance Scrutiny Committee on progress towards implementing the Oxfordshire Adult Social Care Workforce Strategy and outlining the strategy's proposed delivery plan including governance arrangements.

During discussion members generally expressed support for the Strategy but stressed that the transition to fewer contractors would be difficult and sought assurance on how the process was to be managed. The Committee was advised that the move would be gradual.

Responding to further questions Kate Terroni confirmed that there would be targeted work with schools and she referred to the temporary one year post to lead on workforce capacity projects. Asked about the expected impact on vacancies Kate Terroni advised that a small reduction in turnover would have an impact on the numbers recruited.  The intention was that the locality based approach would increase productivity as there would be less travelling between clients. During discussion members raised the possible role of colleges in providing students doing childcare development courses. Although there was a need to focus on recruiting and retaining good carers there was a role for temporary workers if they had the right skills. Asked about how the quality of carers was assessed Kate Terroni referred to the Customer Standards that were now being used in contract management and it was suggested that they could be more widely published.

1155

The OSAB is required to report annually on the work of the Board and of its partners, assessing the position of the partnerships in relation to the safeguarding adults at risk within Oxfordshire. Sarah Mitchell, Independent Chair, OSAB will attend.

Members of the Performance Scrutiny Committee are recommended to:

·       Note that the adult safeguarding partnership is working across Oxfordshire but there are severe pressure points in relation to the increased complexity of cases and activity in the system.

·       Consider the implications for the partnership in relation to increasingly fewer resources being made available due to budgetary considerations. 

The Committee had before them the annual report of the OSAB on the work of the Board and of its partners, assessing the position of the partnerships in relation to the safeguarding adults at risk within Oxfordshire. Sarah Mitchell, Independent Chair, OSAB was in attendance for this item and presented the contents of the report.

During discussion Members raised the following matters:

1)              A member queried what was happening in relation to an adult MASH, and highlighting that referrals came through many routes. Seona Douglas, Deputy Director Adult Social Care advised that the MASH was being looked at.

2)              Members commented on neglect in a person’s own home as the major problem and queried the nature of that, how it was identified and if it was self-inflicted when it was considered abuse. Seona Douglas explained that it was about being quite assertive about engaging and informing people. Often people knew when things were not right. There was a line between poor practice and abuse and poor practice could become abuse.

3)              Concern was raised about the care pathway for vulnerable people being cared for in their own home. They might only see their carer and if carers did not turn up this could lead to numerous interventions from the ambulance service. The Committee queried how they could challenge to be assured that the right interventions were in place to prevent abuse. How could they challenge the role of the ambulance service, managers and carers. Sarah Mitchell responded to the concerns raised, outlining what was being done and their future focus.

4)              A member commended the report and welcomed the introduction of corporate relatives.

5)              A member queried whether there was a link between abuse and the inability of people to use personal budgets. Sarah Mitchell agreed that there was an issue around the reduction in service and partners including district councils were working to identify what was the safety net and how were agencies working together. However there was no evidence that personal budgets had led to more safeguarding alerts.

6)              Responding to concerns around accountability and governance with regard to the relationship between the Board and the Council Sarah Mitchell explained that her responsibility was to the Head of Paid Service and the organisation had oversight of the Board. She was independent as she was not employed on a day to day basis. She met with her peers across the country. In addition she was accountable to the NHS and CCG and able to challenge all partners equally

The Performance Scrutiny Committee:

·       Noted that the adult safeguarding partnership is working across Oxfordshire but there are severe pressure points in relation to the increased complexity of cases and activity in the system;

·       Considered the implications for the partnership in relation to increasingly fewer resources being made available due to budgetary considerations. 

1230

The attached annual report from the Oxfordshire Safeguarding Children Board provides an independent analysis of the safeguarding services provided to the County’s children over 2014/15, and outlines the challenges ahead over the next year. Tan Lea, Strategic Safeguarding Partnerships Manager will attend.

Members of the Performance Scrutiny Panel are recommended to:

·       Note that the child protection partnership is working effectively across Oxfordshire but there are severe pressure points in relation to the increased complexity of cases and activity in the system

·       Consider the implications for the partnership in relation to the deficits in appropriate provision for those children that require access to CAHMS provision

The Committee considered the annual report from the Oxfordshire Safeguarding Children Board providing an independent analysis of the safeguarding services provided to the County’s children over 2014/15, and outlining the challenges ahead over the next year. Tan Lea, Strategic Safeguarding Partnerships Manager attended to present the report.

In considering the report members highlighted the following:

1)              With regard to mental health needs a higher proportion of children were waiting longer for appropriate support. Tan Lea confirmed there was concern over the increased waiting list and outlined what was being done including the setting up of a Transformation Board.

2)              The figures relating to missing children had gone up and in noting that better processes were now in place a member queried when the results of the changes would be known. Tan Lea commented that children missing from home could be an indicator of child sexual exploitation. The return interviews were carried out by a number of agencies including the Police. The Missing children’s panel met regularly and the latest figures were expected to the end of June meeting. It was suggested that that information be added to the item on Multi Agency Safeguarding Hubs at a future meeting.

3)              Details were requested from a member who had heard that there was to be new money for CAHMs. Councillor Gray, Chairman of the Education Scrutiny Committee advised that that Committee had requested an item on CAHMs later in the year.

4)              There was some discussion of parental mental health and what was done to ensure that this information was captured with regard to dependent children. Tan Lea advised that there was work to develop a joint database for adult and children’s services as part of the significant cultural change to a whole family approach.

5)              A member questioned if there was a way to track if school nurses were making a difference in being able to pick up cases of self-harming. Tan Lea advised that they intended to look at all pathways to this information.

Performance Scrutiny Committee:

·                 noted that the child protection partnership is working effectively across Oxfordshire but there are severe pressure points in relation to the increased complexity of cases and activity in the system; and

·                 Considered the implications for the partnership in relation to the deficits in appropriate provision for those children that require access to CAHMS provision.

Councillor Brighouse referred to the additional meeting scheduled for 18 February 2016. In addition to the item on Children’s Services she had received a request to include an item on a decision made by officers from Environment & Economy in relation to a pipeline from the John Radcliffe Hospital to the Churchill Hospital.