Agenda and draft minutes

Venue: The Way Youth Zone,School Street, Little Brickklin Street, WV3 0SF

Contact: Earl Piggott-Smith  Tel: 01902 551251 or Email: earl.piggott-smith@wolverhampton.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies

Minutes:

Apologies were received from the following member(s) of the panel:

 

Cllr Christopher Haynes

Cllr Paula Brookfield

Cllr Arun Photay

2.

Declarations of interest

Minutes:

No declarations of interest were made relative to the under consideration at the meeting.

3.

Minutes of the previous meeting ( 25.11.15) pdf icon PDF 81 KB

[To approve the minutes of the previous meeting as a correct record]

Minutes:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 25.11.15, subject to the agreed changes, be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

 

4.

Matters arising

[To consider any matters arising from the minutes]

Minutes:

Minute 6 – Children’s Service Re-Design

 

The panel discussed if there were any further details about the future ownership of the proposed site for an outreach based at Valley Park Campus.  The panel were advised that the plan is to remove all services from the site as it will change ownership. The site will be managed by an Academy from August 2016.

 

 

 

5.

Safeguarding Children's Board Annual: Report and Executive Summary 2014 - 2015 pdf icon PDF 244 KB

[Alan Coe, Chair of the Wolverhampton Safeguarding Children Board, to present annual safeguarding report]

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Alan Coe, Independent Chair of the Wolverhampton Safeguarding Children Board, presented the main findings of the 2014-15 annual report. Independent Chair explained that the report was a final version and not a draft version as shown on the papers.

 

Independent Chair gave a short introduction to the essential responsibilities of the Council and other partners to protect the interests of children and young people in Wolverhampton.  Independent Chair gave a brief outline of his work history and role in supporting the work of the Board to meet its responsibilities.

 

Wolverhampton Safeguarding Children Board is required under statute to produce an annual report detailing the work done and the progress against key priorities. Independent Chair commented on the relationship with schools where the Council has influence but not control due to changes in their governance and management arrangements.

 

Independent Chair commented that the Council has power through the licensing of premises and buildings to safeguard children and the work is much broader than being the responsibility of social care.

 

Independent Chair briefed the panel on the sections of the report which make reference to future risks and priorities. Independent Chair highlighted the relationship with GPs and schools, who are relatively independent, with their own governance presents a challenge in how best to engage them in the work of safeguarding.

 

Independent Chair commented on success in achieving 100 per cent return from schools in Wolverhampton. This figure compares to 20 per cent in the previous year. WSCB is offering safeguarding training and support to schools. However, the Independent Chair commented on the challenge in engaging with more GPs and this work was not easy.

 

Independent Chair commented on the challenge also presented by the growth of different faith groups across the city.  Independent Chair explained that there are 80 different denominations and that WSCB cannot make demands that they meet safeguarding standards. Work is being done to build relationships with different faith groups.

 

The panel queried evidence presented to the on-going review of child sexual exploitation  and the issues of female genital mutilation and the concerns that some GPs were fully engaged in reporting cases to the necessary bodies.

 

The panel queried the progress in getting known faith groups to complete a safeguarding return. The members of the Child Sexual Exploitation Review who are also members of the panel were advised that the response had been poor. Independent Chair explained that the situation is improving but it will need on-going work to build relationships with representatives of different faith groups. Independent Chair explained the work being done with GPs to raise awareness of the issue of female genital mutilation. 

Wolverhampton CCG has been asked by the Board to present a report on the work done to raise awareness of their responsibilities under legislation to report concerns to the Board.  The report will include details of the number of cases and reassurance that GPs are taking the necessary action.

 

Independent Chair explained that he is contracted to work 30 days a year on  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

6.

Draft Joint Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Strategy pdf icon PDF 205 KB

[Kathy Roper, Head of Commissioning - All Age Disability & Mental Health, to present a report Draft Joint Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Strategy is a high level document that outlines Wolverhampton’s response to the SEND reforms as outlined in the Children’s Young Peoples and Families Act 2014]

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Kathy Roper, Head of Commissioning - All Age Disability, gave a short overview of the aims of the strategy and invited panel comments on the proposals as part of the consultation process. Head of Commissioning explained the strategy aims to build on current good practice in supporting children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities.

 

The panel thanked Head of Commissioning for presenting the report. The panel commented that the document does not give a lot of details about transport for schools and the support available. Head of Commissioning explained the option for people to use personal budgets to meet their transport needs as an alternative to the direct provision of special services. Head of Commissioning explained that strategy aims to be less paternalistic and give people more choice about how they use their money.

 

The panel discussed the support available to people across the autistic spectrum and reports of the difficulty they experienced to get the help needed. Head of Commissioning commented on the recently drafted Autism Strategy which includes guidelines on diagnosis and assessment and the responsibilities of different agencies. The panel commented on the level of provision available when diagnosis has been completed. Head of Commissioning explained that the review has 23 recommendations and accepted the need to improve the current offer to better meet the needs of people with disabilities.

 

Head of Commissioning commented on the practical inclusion agenda to support children to receive education in mainstream settings.

 

The panel thanked Head of Commissioning for the report.

 

Resolved:

 

The panel comments on the Joint Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Strategy to be included as an appendix to the report presented to Cabinet when the consultation ends.

 

 

 

The meeting closed at 19:23