Agenda item

(To Follow)

 

Recommendation: That the Panel considers the content of the draft Final Report and agrees conclusions and recommendations for submission to the Executive.

The Panel was asked to consider the Draft Final Report on its review ‘Locality Working from a Children’s Services Perspective, a copy of which was circulated prior to the meeting.

 

In relation to the report, the following queries were raised:-

 

·        Page 6, paragraph 35 – it was queried how many residents had completed the surveys referred to.  The Head of Stronger Communities advised that several surveys were conducted at different points in time and that numbers would vary, however, this information could be provided to the Panel.

 

·        Page 10, paragraph 58 – reference was made to the views of early help practitioners that there were not enough workers to meet demand and it was queried whether that was still the case.  The Executive Director stated she was mindful of limitations on staff but did not feel that demand had risen to increase caseloads excessively.

 

·        Page 11, paragraph 62 – reference was made to the statement that based on the information provided to the Panel, it appeared that early help was not as successful in Newport as it was in North Ormesby.  The Executive Director advised that at the time the information was provided to the Panel it was correct, however, things had moved on since November and she was not aware of this level of disparity now.

 

Proposed conclusions were circulated to Members prior to the meeting and were agreed as follows:-

 

a)     The Panel feels that, despite some delays mainly due to the pandemic, the locality working pilot programmes in Newport and North Ormesby are working well and are making good progress.

 

b)     It notes that the locality model has had a positive impact in both areas, including:-

 

·        a reduction in anti-social behaviour and crime.

·        a significant increase in the number of residents who report feeling safer, both during the day and at night.

·        an increase in the number of people who state they intend to continue living in the area for longer

·        Noticeable improvements in the physical environment.

 

c)      During its review, the Panel spoke to a wide range of services and organisations involved in locality working.  It appears that the concept of locality working is having a positive impact in general and more specifically on children and families living in the localities.  The majority of partners feel that the multi-agency approach is beneficial and has improved working relationships and dialogue between partners and the community resulting in positive outcomes.  However, the Panel found some instances where partners are less aware of the locality model and did not have full awareness of all the partners involved.  For example, a mixed report from primary schools in the areas – with Newport reporting a positive impact through locality working - particularly in relation to Early Help and Neighbourhood Safety – and North Ormesby reporting a lack of awareness of the model.  The Panel has since received reassurance from the Director of Children’s Services that awareness of the model in North Ormesby has been improved.

 

d)     Both Newport and North Ormesby have some of the highest rates in Middlesbrough for self-harm and drug and alcohol related hospital admissions and ambulance pick-ups, high levels of racially motivated crime, violent crime and anti-social behaviour. All of these issues can impact on the health and wellbeing of children, young people and their families.  Whilst, the Panel acknowledges that Public Health colleagues form part of the locality model and play a vital role, it feels stronger links need to be made with the Primary Care Network (particularly local GP surgeries in the areas) and acute health services such as mental health providers, midwife and health visiting services, to ensure two-way communication of information.

 

e)     The Panel is encouraged to hear all of the positive work ongoing within both localities and welcomes the involvement of external voluntary and community organisations and feels that they should be kept fully informed and invited to appropriate locality meetings within the areas.  All partners should ensure that the right support is available to those who need it, without duplication.

 

f)       The Panel welcomes the concept of locality based working and supports its continuation within Newport and North Ormesby and is supportive of the locality working model being rolled out to other areas of the town where it is identified there is a priority need based on analysis of demand and community consultation.

 

g)     There are good governance structures in place with regular operational and strategic level meetings to discuss issues and progress which are well attended by relevant representatives and actioned appropriately.

 

h)     A range of relevant Action Plans have been established in both localities, including for Children’s Services, and these are monitored appropriately.  Each Action Plan has smart targets linked to the Performance Management Framework indicators which are used to monitor impact and progress on a regular basis. 

 

i)       The Panel recognises that the needs of each locality are, and will be, different and that this may result in involvement of various different organisations to suit the needs of each particular locality, however, it considers that all statutory partners are constant and have a vital role to play in any locality and should be fully involved in any locality working programmes.

 

j)       With specific regard to Children’s Services, the Panel feels reassured that Social Worker capacity has been increased via the establishment of a single team of Social Workers who will be allocated cases from the two localities.

 

k)      Whilst Early Help Practitioners are positive about locality working and feel that the concept works, they have stated they do not feel there are sufficient numbers of Practitioners assigned to the localities to cope with demand.

 

l)       The Panel notes that between June 2020 and September 2021, Early Help work in North Ormesby increased significantly and this is to be welcomed as it means more families are being helped at an earlier stage - before statutory interventions are required.  During the same period, Children in Need cases reduced significantly, Child Protection cases have increased slightly, as have the number of Children Looked After, but are relatively stable.  In Newport, in June 2020 levels of Early Help support were quite high, reducing slightly by September 2021, showing Early Help is relatively stable in Newport.  Between June 2020 and September 2021, the numbers of Children in Need remain quite high and there was a 5% increase in the numbers of children becoming looked after.  Based on the information provided to the Panel, this suggests that Early Help is working well across both localities but in terms of children’s social care, this appears to be working more successfully in North Ormesby.

 

m)    In terms of school readiness, impact data provided to the Panel shows that, through a multi-agency approach, the number of families reached has significantly increased from 2020 to 2021 across all three children’s centres accessible to families within Newport and North Ormesby.

 

The Panel discussed the proposed recommendations which had also been circulated to Members prior to the meeting.  An amendment was suggested to recommendation c) and it was agreed that the final wording would be circulated to Panel Members for final comment.   Subsequently, the following recommendations were agreed for inclusion in the Final Report:-

a)     The Panel supports the continuation of Locality Working in both Newport and North Ormesby and further supports the roll-out of the model to other areas of the town based on priority need, to be determined through demand analysis, community surveys and led by the evaluation report for consideration by the Executive.

 

b)     In supporting the Locality Working model in Middlesbrough, the Panel recommends that discussions with senior managers and directors of finance within all public sector partner organisations takes place with a view to appropriately and proportionately funding each locality working area to ensure sufficient staffing allocations to meet demand.  The Panel would further recommend that appropriate core structures are in place within the locality teams to ensure that Neighbourhood Managers are fully supported and deputised for during periods of absence/holidays.

 

c)      The Panel acknowledges the high numbers of early help cases in both Newport and North Ormesby and notes the views of the Early Help Practitioners that they feel there are not enough practitioners to meet demand.  The Panel therefore recommends that, subject to further analysis, consideration be given to the number of Early Help workers allocated to each area.

 

d)     The Panel notes the impact data in respect of Children’s Social Care Services within the localities and that the number of children looked after remains high.  The Panel acknowledges that, whilst social workers have been in place for some time in the locality areas, they have only fairly recently been moved into one team to ensure consistency of approach and management oversight. The Panel, therefore, recommends that impact continues to be monitored and reported to the Panel in six months’ time.

 

e)     That Early Help Practitioners and the Social Workers be introduced to appropriate staff within each of the areas’ schools to build up relationships and discuss children/families requiring support through regular dialogue and that the work of the locality teams is promoted and regularly discussed with school leadership teams.

 

f)       That school readiness and children’s centre registrations continue to be monitored and promoted in a range of languages to maximise reach and take up of nursery places to ensure that children are ready for school to optimise their learning potential.

 

g)     That relevant community and voluntary organisations, including schools, are equally involved in the locality teams and that appropriate information sharing takes place to ensure:

 

i)       That access to a ‘signposting directory’ of all services and organisations available to support families within the localities is available to all partners via the Neighbourhood Manager/a designated co-ordinator.

ii)      That programmes of activities and events designed to support children and families are planned, discussed and co-ordinated in advance between partners within the localities to avoid unnecessary duplication and ensure those who need help and support receive it.  (For example, that the Holiday Activity Fund (HAF) provision is co-ordinated in conjunction with Feast of Fun activity to maximise appropriate take-up and avoid duplication).

 

h)     That stronger links are made, through Public Health colleagues if and where appropriate, between primary care and acute care providers including GPs, mental health provision, midwife and health visiting services with improved referral pathways to Early Help and Children’s Social Care Services where appropriate.

 

i)       Ensure that all partners are familiar with Middlesbrough’s threshold of need document when making referrals to children’s social care to improve the quality of referrals and ensure that the correct level of support can be determined and provided as quickly as possible and that the document be readily accessible via the Neighbourhood Manager/designated Co-ordinator.

 

j)       The Panel considers that Locality Working in Middlesbrough should be better promoted and clearly branded to ensure that all partners, and the community, are aware of how it operates, who is involved and how to make contact.  The Wigan Deal is a good example of this where each priority area has an ‘our part’ (the borough’s public sector organisations and partners) and a ‘your part’ (residents) so that the principles of working together to achieve joint ambitions is realised with each partner aware of what is expected of them.

 

AGREED as follows:-

 

1.      That the proposed conclusions, as set out above, be included in the Final Report.

 

2.      That the proposed recommendations, following agreement to the amendment to recommendation c), as set out above, be included in the Final Report.

 

3.      That the Final Report on Locality Working from a Children’s Services Perspective be submitted to the Overview and Scrutiny Board on 11 May 2022 for consideration.