Children, Families & Learning Cabinet Member – Minutes – 16 November 2016

16 (16) HER MAJESTIES INSPECTORS OF PROBATION SHORT INSPECTION OF YOUTH OFFENDING WORK IN NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE – The Interim Director for Children’s Services submitted a report informing the Cabinet Member of the outcome of the Her Majesties Inspectors of Probation (HMIP) short inspection of North Lincolnshire Youth Offending Service 12-14 September 2016.

As part of the youth offending inspection regime, inspectors from HMIP undertook a series of Short Quality Screening (SQS) inspections nationally.  These inspections focused on the quality and effectiveness of Youth Offending Service (YOS) case work. To do this, the inspectors audited each of the cases they selected against specific criteria, including reviewing records, speaking to the young person’s case manager at the YOS, cross-referencing with procedures, policies and protocols and considering the effectiveness of a multi-agency, partnership approach in the cases inspected.

The focus of the SQS was the inspection of the quality of work at the start of the sentence with children and young people who had offended, primarily through to the point when initial plans should be in place post-sentence.

The inspection of the North Lincolnshire Youth Offending Service was conducted from 12 September to 14 September 2016 as part of the on-going programme of inspections of youth offending work. It examined 14 cases of children and young people who had recently offended and were supervised by North Lincolnshire Youth Offending Service.

The report gave full details of the areas focused on and the outcomes of the inspection.

Resolved – (a) That the report and positive outcome of the Her Majesties Inspectors of Probation Short Quality Screening inspection of the Youth Offending Service be received, and (b) that the continued work to improve in the areas outlined by the inspectors be supported.

17 (17) RECONSTITUTION OF LUDDINGTON AND GARTHORPE PRIMARY SCHOOL BOARD OF GOVERNORS – The Assistant Director Education submitted a report seeking approval of the instrument of government to allow the board of governors of Luddington and Garthorpe Primary School to be reconstituted with effect from 1 December 2016.

At the full board of governors meeting of Luddington and Garthorpe Primary School held on 3 October 2016, the governors voted to reconstitute the board of governors.  This was undertaken in accordance with the School Governance (Constitution) (England) Regulations 2012 and the School Governance (Constitution) (Amendment) Regulations 2014.

The above regulations set out the options available to schools in terms of the overall number of governors, the categories of governors and the guiding principles for the constitution. The regulations state that boards should be no bigger than they need to be to carry out their statutory duties.
The constitution of each board of governors was laid down in a document known as the instrument of government. A board of governors may at any time request changes to their constitution, in accordance with the regulations, by varying their instrument of government.

Appendix 1 to the report set out the proposed constitution of the board of governors in the form of an instrument of government, as requested by the governors of Luddington and Garthorpe Primary School.

Resolved – That the new instrument of government for Luddington and Garthorpe Primary School be approved.

The corresponding report of the following item (Minute 18 refers) contains exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 1 and 2 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

18 (18) PROVISION OF GROUP BASED SHORT BREAKS FOR DISABLED CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE – The Assistant Director Education submitted a report seeking approval to change the delivery of Group Based Short Break Services, and to make amendments to the establishment to deliver the changes.

The Short Breaks Regulations 2011 placed a statutory duty on the council to enable carers of disabled children to have breaks from their caring role. This should be achieved by providing a range of appropriate and reliable services.

The regulation placed a statutory duty upon the council to:

a) have regard to the needs of those carers who would be unable to provide care unless breaks from caring were given to them.

b) have regard to the needs of those carers who would be able to provide care for their disabled child more effectively if breaks were given to them to allow them to –

i) undertake education, training or any regular leisure activity,
ii) meet the needs of other children in the family more effectively, or
iii) carry out day- to-day tasks which they must perform in order to run their household.

Presently, Short Breaks were delivered by a variety of providers, both internal and external to the council.  The current contacts for Group Based Short Breaks were due to expire on 31 December 2016.

In line with the council’s commitment to ensure children and young people and their parents/carers were involved in the design of services, extensive consultation had taken place over the last twelve months.

The report set out proposals, including financial implications, for the future delivery of Group Based Short Break Services.

Resolved – That Option One, as set out in paragraph 4.1 of the report, to source and deliver Group Based Short Groups internally, be approved.

Where there is no report this is because it is exempt, as it contains information which is considered to be of a confidential nature, as detailed in the Local Government (Access to Information) Act.