Minutes:
1. Mr Love provided his Cabinet Member verbal update as follows:
· Following the 12 month review visit by the Department for Education and the National Health Service, the Council’s Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Statutory Improvement Notice was lifted last month by the Minister for Children and Families.
· The performance of SEND services continued to improve and would remain a top priority.
· Mr Love visited the Queen Elizabeth Grammar School for their A Level results day. He saw the investment that had gone into the School and heard about their fundraising activities.
· Ms Hamilton, in her role as Deputy Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, visited Northfleet Technology Collage for their GCSE results day. She was particularly impressed with the School’s nature reserve and science garden.
· Mr Love visited Westcourt Primary School on 13 August when a Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) programme was taking place. He attended alongside Steven Morgan MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education), and Dr Lauren Sullivan MP.
2. Further to questions and comments from Members, it was noted that:
· £2million had been invested in SEND staffing as part of the last budget. The capacity within the teams would be kept under close review.
· The Chairman offered to speak to the Chair of the Scrutiny Committee about their review and analysis of the SEND service.
· Historically there have been a high number of Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCP) issued in Kent. Work would continue to ensure that the SEND Code of Practice was followed robustly to ensure that resources go to those most in need.
3. Mrs Chandler provided her Cabinet Member verbal update as follows:
· From October 2024 there would be a pilot of the lead professional role. It would take place for six months in several districts across the County. The lead professional role would allow social work assistants to have casework allocated to them that was commensurate with their skills and experience. There would be an evaluation at the end of the pilot and the Committee would receive an update on the findings
· Over the summer period staff had contributed their views to the redesign of the Adolescent and Youth Justice Service. The findings were condensed into several proposals which would be discussed at the Divisional Management Team meetings over the next few weeks.
· From September 2024, Early Help workers would co-deliver parenting support interventions with colleagues in family hubs. This would help to ensure families only had to tell their stories once in order to receive timely and targeted parenting support. Thanks were offered to all those working in the family hubs for the support they offered to thousands of children over the summer holidays.
· Frontline, a charity commissioned by DfE to introduce social workers into the workforce, would implement four hubs during September. They would support 20 students to become social workers by September 2025.
· Adult Social Services were preparing for a Care Quality Commission inspection of the 18-25 SIP service. It was scheduled for the week commencing 30 September.
· Two additional reception centres for Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children were scheduled to come online during September. Thanks were offered to all the staff who worked with the children at the centres.
· Mrs Chandler had been very inspired by the aspirations of the young people when she attended the Virtual Scholls Kent Post 16 Awards Celebration, held at Marleybrook House in Canterbury.
· Mrs Chander attended an activity day for Children in Care at Wingham Wildlife Park on 19 August, the day was enjoyed by everyone.
4. The verbal updates were noted.