Executive post

Executive Portfolio:

The Deputy Mayor and Executive Member for Children’s Services (General Responsibilities)

Portfolio Holder:

Councillor Mieka Smiles

SCOPE OF PORTFOLIO

The general responsibilities of the Deputy Mayor and Executive Member for Children’s Services are as follows:

To support the Mayor in the development and promotion of Council activities, policies and performance and to lead on managing the business of the Council.

Duties and responsibilities of the Deputy Mayor and Executive Member for Children’s Services -

1.     Chairing meetings of the Executive in the absence of the Mayor.

2.      If for any reason the Mayor is unable to act, the Deputy Mayor will act in his place until the Mayor is again able to act.

3.      Co-ordination and promotion of liaison between the Mayor, Executive and non-Executive Members.

4.      Leading on corporate issues in connection with the Council’s performance.

5.      Leading on corporate external inspection and assessments.

6.      Promotion and development of Member accountability especially in relation to Members performance.

7.      Ensuring that there is effective liaison and co-ordination between the Executive and Scrutiny.

8.       Promotion and development of non-Executive Member involvement in Council policy at the initial stages of policy formulation.

9.      To undertake such duties as may be directed by the Mayor.

10.   Responsibility for Marketing and Communications

The Deputy Mayor has delegated powers:

a.     To appoint to outside bodies, made by the Executive or jointly with Council. 

b.     To appoint to Executive Advisory Bodies (Excluding membership to the Full Executive)

Executive Portfolio:

The Deputy Mayor and Executive Member for Children’s Services (in respect of the portfolio of Children’s Safeguarding)

Portfolio Holder:

Councillor Mieka Smiles

Lead Officer:

Chief Executive, Director of Children’s Services

SCOPE OF PORTFOLIO

The Deputy Mayor will be the Lead Member for Children’s Safeguarding, ensuring that our children are protected, to safeguard their welfare and wherever possible, seek to enable or provide a safe environment that reduces dependency on services, including the most disadvantaged and vulnerable and their families and carers.

Policy Framework

·       NHS Commissioning and Delivery Plans

• Statutory guidance on the roles and responsibilities of the Director of Children’s Services and the Lead Member for Children’s Services
• General principles of UN convention on the rights of the child
• Children Act 1989
• Section 19 of the Children Act 2004
• National Standards for Youth Justice Services
• Children Act 2004
• Ofsted policy Framework

Other Plans and Strategies

·     Children’s Services Improvement Plan

·     Corporate Parenting Strategy

·     Middlesbrough Safeguarding Children Board Business Plan

·     Looked After Children Strategy

·     MSCB Business Plan

·     Children and Young People’s Plan

·     Children’s Services Partnership

·     Statutory guidance on the roles and responsibilities of the Director of Children’s Services and the Lead Member for Children’s Services

·      Youth Employment Strategy

Service Functions

·       Children’s assessment and care planning teams

·       Looked after children / Children’s homes

·       Children with disabilities

·       Fostering services

·       Adoption services

·       Leaving care services

·       Independent review

·       Quality improvement

·      Advisory Service

·      Early Help / Family Casework / Partnership Early Help/Early Help Hub

·      Participation (Youth Voice/Parliament)

·     School Readiness (including Children’s Centres)

·     Work Readiness (NEET)

Partnerships

• Risk and Resilience/ Vulnerable Exploited Missing and Trafficked Groups
• Multi agency safeguarding arrangements / Local Safeguarding Children’s Board
• Strategic and operational partnerships to improve outcomes for young people (e.g. Children’s Trust)
• Children’s Safeguarding Strategic Leaders Group

Executive Portfolio:

The Deputy Mayor and Executive Member for Children’s Services (in respect of the portfolio of Education)

Portfolio Holder:

Councillor Mieka Smiles

Lead Officer:

Executive Director of Children’s Services/Director of Education, Prevention and Partnerships

SCOPE OF PORTFOLIO

The Deputy Mayor and Executive Member for Children’s Services has responsibility to ensure that all children are provided with the opportunity to realise their educational attainment potential.

The Executive Member will also oversee the provision of educational statutory services to address the needs of all children and young people and adults who are in need of services (including youth justice).

Quality education is the key to good life chances for all. The Executive Member is responsible for the following:

• Access to Education
• Achievement
• Vulnerable learners and SEN
• School Readiness (including Children’s Centres)
• Work Readiness
• School partnerships
• Adult and Community Learning
• Youth Offending

Policy Framework – Education

• National Curriculum
• Assessment & Accountability Framework 2020/21
• Children & Families Act 2014 – SEND Reforms
• Ofsted Framework
• School Finance Regulations 2013
• Education Act 2011
• Academies Act 2010
• Education and Skills Act 2008
• Education and Inspection Act 2006
• Children Act 2004(relevant to portfolio)
• Education Act 2002
• Crime and Disorder Act 1998
• School Standards & Framework Act 1998 as amended
• Education Act 1996 as amended
• Statutory Framework for Early Years Foundation Stage
• Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009
• Early Years Foundation Statutory framework
• Crime and Disorder Act 1998

Other Plans and Strategies – Education

• Children and Young People’s Plan
• Education and Priorities Strategy
• School Effectiveness Strategy
• 14-25 Strategy
• Vulnerable Learners Strategy
• Children’s Services Improvement Plan
• Capital Strategy & Asset Management Plan (Schools)
• Scheme for Financing Schools
• Adult Learning Plan
• Youth Employment Strategy
• Special Educational Needs and Disability Reforms
• School Improvement Strategy
• Healthy Child Programme (5 – 19) (including School Nursing service)
• School Improvement Strategy
• Youth Justice Plan
• SEND Strategy
• Inclusion Strategy

Service Functions – Education

• Advisory Service
• Special Educational Needs & Pupil Support
• Parent Partnership/Choice Advice
• Cleveland Unit nursery and child assessment centre
• Reduce first time entrants to criminal justice system (young people)
• Reduce reoffending (young people)
• Education Psychology
• Peripatetic Sensory Impairment Service (lead for joint arrangement)
• Pupil Referral Units
• Home & Hospital Education Service
• Virtual School for Looked After Children
• Ethnic Minority Achievement Service
• Traveller Education Service (lead for joint arrangement)
• Attendance & Child Employment Licensing
• School Admissions
• Governor Development Service
• School Business Relationship Management
• School Place Planning/School Organisation
• Capital Programme management (Schools)
• Middlesbrough Achievement Partnership support
• Community Learning and Employability
• Promote educational excellence for all children and young people
• Tackle underperformance
• Education of vulnerable children
• Special educational needs
• Strategic School place planning
• Liaison with education partners
• Skills Development
• School organisation
• Place planning
• Admissions
• Attendance
• Attainment
• SEN
• Cleveland Unit
• Sensory impairment
• Complimentary Education
• Adult and community learning

In circumstances where it is considered that an Executive Member would have a prejudicial interest the matter will be referred to the Mayor.