Agenda item

Agenda item

Children's Services Audit Recommendations

The report of the Strategic Director of Children’s Services is enclosed.

Minutes:

The Committee considered the report of the Strategic Director of Children’s Services which provided an update on outstanding recommendations from an audit of the Foster Carers Framework and Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub. The report also provided a management update to confirm the actions being taken to address risks identified from the audits.

 

In the absence of the Director of Children’s Services, the Deputy Strategic Director Children’s Services introduced the report and responded to questions from Committee Members.

 

A member referred to Paragraph 3.10 and the use of dip sampling on referrals that progress to a Strategy Discussion and questioned if the process was a sustainable in providing a level of assurance when personnel were not available.

 

It was reported that the circumstances relating to the dip sampling not taking place in July related to staff resources and had been resolved following the appointment to post of Head of Complex Safeguarding. The review of referral cases was undertaken one month after the referral takes place.

 

A member commented on the involvement of Internal Audit on the contents of the report and it was explained that Internal Audit would discuss the content prior to submission to the Committee for proof of evidence on actions. The quarterly assurance report to the meeting of the Committee in November would provide the independent opinion of Internal Audit with a further update in January 2019.

 

A member referred to the Foster Care Contract and a net overpayment of £186 and asked for confirmation on the level of over and under payment involving providers. Officers were also asked to explain the monitoring process involved in visits (announced and unannounced) to children’s/ establishments homes for risk evaluations and provider monitoring, and to clarify the length on the timeliness of referrals to ensure children are kept safe.

 

It was reported that identifying the £186 overpayment was provided as an assurance on the success of the system of monitoring payments, however the detail of the investigation of the financial processes would need to be provided separately. Visits made to children’s establishments is the responsibility of Ofsted as the regulator to provide that assurance. It was reported that the Council will have discussions with contract providers to ensure the standards of provision specified are being provided for the children concerned. The report sets out a framework for the allocation of resources to carry out visits and checks and this will include unannounced visits to any establishment brought into question regarding expected standards. The issue of contacts and referrals was explained and Members were informed that once a contact is received a decision is made based on the evidence and circumstances provided on whether it is necessary to escalate to a referral. Once the referral is confirmed, action will be taken based on professional judgement of the information and intelligence available.

 

The Committee agreed that it was satisfied with the assurance provided by the review of effectiveness and management of improvement actions provided within the report it had considered.

 

Decision

 

To note the report submitted and the assurance provided.

Supporting documents: