Children and Young People Scrutiny Panel – 7 June 2010

PRESENT: Councillor Wilson in the chair.

Councillors Mrs Bromby, Cawsey, K Vickers and Whiteley.

Statutory Co-opted Members: Mr N Craven (Parent Governor Representative) and Mr W Egan and Mrs W Witter (Church Representatives).

Councillors Bainbridge and Ellerby attended the meeting in accordance with Procedure Rule 1.37 (b).

The panel met at Pittwood House, Scunthorpe.

138 DECLARATIONS OF PERSONAL OR PERSONAL AND PREJUDICIAL INTERESTS AND DECLARATIONS OF WHIPPING ARRANGEMENTS (IF ANY) – There were no declarations of personal or personal and prejudicial interests.

No whip was declared.

139 PUBLIC REQUESTS TO SPEAK – There were no requests received.

140 (1) ‘EVERY CHILD MATTERS – THE COMMON ASSESSMENT FRAMEWORK’ ACTION PLAN – The Chair welcomed Denise Hyde, the council’s Director of Children’s Services, Dave Basker, the council’s Head of Safeguarding and Practice and Helena Hewitt, NHS North Lincolnshire Children’s Commissioning Manager to the meeting to discuss the Executive’s action plan in response to the scrutiny panel’s review of the Common Assessment Framework.

Members were informed that of the eight recommendations, five had been implemented with the remaining three recommendations listed as ‘progress ongoing’.

Members were guided through each recommendation and a discussion ensued on all the outstanding actions.

Resolved – (a) That the council’s Director of Children’s Services, Head of Safeguarding and Practice and NHS North Lincolnshire Children’s Commissioning Manager be thanked for their attendance and for answering members’ questions, and (b) that the action plan be endorsed by this scrutiny panel with the recommendation that Cabinet too endorses the action plan.

141 (2) ‘CHILD AND ADOLESCENT MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE IN NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE’ ACTION PLAN – The Chair invited Denise Hyde, the council’s Director of Children’s Services, Dave Basker, the council’s Head of Safeguarding and Practice and Helena Hewitt, NHS North Lincolnshire Children’s Commissioning Manager to discuss the Executive’s action plan in response to the scrutiny panel’s review of the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) in North Lincolnshire.

Members were informed that of the 11 recommendations, five had been implemented, with the remaining six recommendations listed as ‘progress ongoing’.

Members of the panel were guided through each recommendation and a discussion ensued on all the outstanding actions. In addition, the Chair invited Councillors Bainbridge and Ellerby to question the officers on behalf of the ‘Magic Moments’ for autistic kids’ charity.

Particular attention was given to the referral pathways that currently exist for accessing the CAMHS service and the waiting list that awaits children and young people once they are referred to the service.

Resolved – (a) That the council’s Director of Children’s Services, Head of Safeguarding and Practice and NHS North Lincolnshire Children’s Commissioning Manager be thanked for their attendance and for answering members’ questions, (b) that the Director of Children’s Services be asked to respond to all those questions that required further clarification, and (c) that the action plan be endorsed by this scrutiny panel with the recommendation that Cabinet too endorses the action plan.

142 (3) ‘YOUTH SERVICE IN NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE’ – PROGRESS REPORT – Further to Minute 114, the Service Director Legal and Democratic circulated the action plan that was due to be considered by Cabinet at its meeting on 9 June 2010 in response to the scrutiny panel’s review of the ‘Youth Service in North Lincolnshire’.

Members had previously spoke with Lynne Goodall, the council’s Head of Integrated Youth Support and Gill Brown, Connexions Area Manager (Minute 114 refers) on the recommendations that had been made within the scrutiny panel’s report dated November 2007.

As per the council’s constitution, the action plan had to appear before the scrutiny panel prior to it being considered by Cabinet. Members therefore discussed the action plan prior to it appearing before the Executive.

Resolved – (a) That the Director of Children’s Services be asked to respond to all those questions that required further clarification, and (b) that the action plan be endorsed by this scrutiny panel with the recommendation that Cabinet too endorses the action plan.