To discuss and note the contents of the report.

Members were reminded that the report related to the period April-June 2021. The first part of the report appendix gave performance data relevant to all of the Overview and Scrutiny Panels.

Hilary Hall highlighted the aspects of the report relevant to adult services. Regarding care package reviews it was noted that this had fallen behind schedule due to an increase in demand for services, particularly for front door services, and this had had an impact on the capacity to meet the target. Reviews had therefore needed to be reprioritised based on need. Reablement was also below target by half a percentage point, often due to the complexities of the cases. Regarding satisfaction levels for adult safeguarding, the Panel was told this was partially due to an error in the way the data had been recorded. Once it had been corrected the indicator rating had improved. Hilary Hall summarised that the majority of the indicators had an amber rating but said they were within tolerance and there were good reasons why they had such a rating.

Responding to a question from Councillor da Costa, Hilary Hall said there was no additional funding as a specific result of Covid, but there had been funding available to assist with discharges from hospital.

Lin Ferguson spoke to the Panel regarding the key performance indicators relating to children’s services. She noted there had been a downturn in the percentage of babies receiving their six week review since the last report, but it was still comfortably within target. Regarding re-referrals to social care, although the figure was within target Lin Ferguson stated this showed that cases may not have been properly resolved the first time around. However it followed a trend across the south east and Lin Ferguson said it could be partially attributable to Covid19, as lockdowns were testing families’ resilience and they needed additional support as a result. This would be something that would be closely monitored. The Panel was told there were no current child protection plans lasting for more than two years, and 37 had closed in the last year. It was acknowledged that a plan lasting for more than two years would raise questions over its efficiency. Lin Ferguson said she chaired a ‘windows into practice’ panel and this would looks into any child protection plan ten months or above. It was noted that education health and care plan assessments being completed within the requisite 20 weeks was slightly off target, although Lin Ferguson said this did not represent cause for concern.

Regarding health visits for babies, Lin Ferguson said most families preferred these to be done face to face but the option was still there for them to be done virtually. She said it was important for this option to be made available. Councillor Tisi questioned the effectiveness of a virtual assessment of a newborn baby.

Responding to a question from Councillor da Costa, Lin Ferguson confirmed that a family had the choice of opting out of engaging with healthcare services. However services had to be confident the reasons put forward by the family for disengagement were adequate. Councillor da Costa stated her belief that retaining the option of virtual meetings was important if it helped to encourage families to engage with services.

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That the Panel noted the report and:

i) Noted the 2021/22 Adults, Children and Health Overview and Scrutiny Panel Q1 Data & Performance Report in Appendix A.

ii) Requested relevant Cabinet Members, Directors and Heads of Service to maintain focus on improving performance.