Minutes of Meetings

Summary

The requester asked for minutes, action logs, and reports from the Children's Services Improvement Board from May 2024 to the present, and the Department of Health and Social Care disclosed all requested information including a detailed meeting minute from July 23, 2024.

Key Facts

• The Children's Services Improvement Board (CSIB) meeting on July 23, 2024, was chaired by Deirdre Mahon.
• A Leaving Care conference is being planned, with dates proposed for either February 2025 or May 2025.
• The Board approved updated Terms of Reference to include CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services).
• A review of health and social care estates is underway, highlighting children's residential facilities as a priority.
• The Family Placement Service reported 90% staffing levels with significant interest in foster care.

Data Disclosed

• 2024-11-20
• 2024-12-20
• 23 July 2024
• 09.30am – 11.30pm
• 21st February 2025
• May 2025
• 14.5%
• 16.1%
• 62.9%
• 6.4%
• 90%
• 42 pages
• 7 documents

Original Request

Dear Sirs Please provide copies of the minutes of meetings for the children's services improvement board from May 24 - present alongside any action logs, and written reports for this period. Kind regards

Data Tables (13)

Full Response Text

CSIB Agenda Private & Confidential 23 July 2024 1

Department of Health and Social Care

MINUTES Children’s Services Improvement Board (CSIB)

Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) Belgravia Board Room Tuesday 23rd July 2024 @ 09.30am – 11.30pm Attendees Titles Deirdre Mahon (DM) CSIB Independent Chair Stephen Buttery (SB) Head of Quality & Compliance, DHSC Madeleine Sayle (MS) Head of Public Health Intelligence, Public Health Julie Gibney (JG) Assistant Director of Children’s and Families, Manx Care Terri Banks (TB) Head of Safeguarding in Health, Manx Care Christine Impey (CI) Director of Multi-Agency Safeguarding Board Ian Postlethwaite (IP) Head of Additional Educational Needs (AEN) & Virtual School Head teacher, DESC Declan Crawley (DC) Head of Community Rehabilitation and Family Court Welfare, DHA Stephen Maddocks (SM) Detective Superintendent for Investigations & Safeguarding, IOM Constabulary Jared Holden (JH) Public Estates and Housing Division (PEHD) Interim Head of Housing Operations, DOI Hollie Unett (HU) External Quality Regulation Manager, DHSC In Attendance

External Quality Regulation Project Officer, DHSC Administration

Public Estates and Housing Division, DOI Apologies Tim O’Neill (Ton) Executive Director of Mental Health, Social Care and Safeguarding, Manx Care Kerry Sharpe (KS) Children’s Champion Clair Barks (CBa) Deputy Chief Officer, DHA

Quality Assurance Support Officer, DHSC Catriona Bradley (CBR) Head of Registration and Inspection, DHSC Dave Rickerby (DR) CAHMS Manager, Manx Care Caroline Savin (CS) Director of Strategic Advice for Education Daniel Davies (DD) Chief Officer, DHA Leroy Bonnick (LB) Prison Governor and Head of Probation, DHA Lisa Philliskirk (LP) Head of Housing, DOI

CSIB Agenda Private & Confidential 23 July 2024 2

The CSIB meetings will be recorded by Microsoft Teams for the purpose of accurate minutes, please see the Terms of Reference for further information.

Item Number Item Lead 054/24 Welcome and Apologies, Declaration of Conflicts of Interest No conflict of interest declared. DM 055/24 Minutes from previous meeting A correction was noted to replace ‘TB’ with ‘CBR’ in the minute for 046/24. The minutes from the previous meeting were otherwise accepted and signed off by the Board as a true and accurate reflection of the meeting.

Matters Arising The Action Log was reviewed during this section. There was some discussion around the action to consider arranging a Leaving Care conference. DM explained that the DHSC Minister is keen for the conference to be held but suggested moving the timeframe back to February 2025 with the benefit that it will not clash with other events already planned for this calendar year and it can be timed to take place on National Caregivers Day on 21st February 2025.
All agreed that the conference is important and initially agreed Care Day would be a good idea. Following this, a discussion on what would be required to ensure the meaningful involvement of children in care takes place and has a successful outcome some attendees suggested that May 2025 would be better due to the amount of work to complete.
Action: DM to discuss the feedback from the board with the DHSC Minister The MOU was noted to be currently with the Safeguarding Board for approval. A review of health and social care estates and facility needs is underway and children’s residential has been highlighted as one of the priority areas for consideration.
Action: SB to meet with Emma Barlow as the DHSC representative of this group to highlight the need for a proposed alternative facility to the White Hoe children’s home.
DM confirmed the DHSC Minister has a draft Council of Ministerial Direction for approval which would direct all Departments to have a focus on and give attention to children in care/After care with services provided across Government. This would also allow the Corporate Parenting Board to have more profile and priority in Government when it is reformed.
It was noted that DD has completed the Guidance document for schools and that has been circulated to the Board. DM

CSIB Agenda Private & Confidential 23 July 2024 3

DM contacted Leeds and is awaiting a reply with a time to meet online.
It was noted that the Terms of Reference have been updated to include CAMHS and this is on the agenda for approval by the Board later in the meeting. 056/24 Terms of Reference Review Approval was given to the updated Terms of Reference which now include CAMHS DM 057/24 CSIB Project Team, Workstreams & Action Plan Updates
General Social Work Practice
Work is ongoing with each workstream being given responsibility for an individual section of the Action Plan. DM advised that The Director of Children’s Services, Tim O’Neil, is very keen on having a “plan on the page”, which DM is currently working on DM confirmed that
14.5% of the recommendations are green is green (complete) 16.1% of the recommendations are red (outstanding) 62.9% of the recommendations are Amber (work in progress) 6.4% of the recommendations are designated to the Safeguarding Board. Family Placement Service JG advised that there is a lot of work ongoing with significant interest from persons interested in foster care. There is now 90% staffing in the Permanent Recruitment Team which is at its best for six years. There is also a functional Chair of the fostering and adoption panel visiting the island to lead the panel. Currently there is capacity within Foster Care. In addition, there have been successful outcomes within the edge of care service meaning children on the edge of care have not entered care and others have been able to return home. DM expressed that it was a priority to continue to ensure Foster Care remains connected to residential care, which is why she thinks a strategy for children in care is essential, so a seamless service is provided. JG stated that was also her vision and it was a work in progress to improve the outcomes for children as they progress to adulthood. Action: All member of the workstreams are to update their actions on the plan. DM stated Children’s services were not doing themselves justice within the action plan as there is more improvement going on than they state on the plan. JG said she would give that some attention

CSIB Agenda Private & Confidential 23 July 2024 4

16 Plus / Leaving Care / Residential JG & JH have met together to discuss the accommodation needs for care leavers and the 16+ cohort of children in care. JH confirmed that LP plans to set up a working group to put a business case together to apply to the Housing Communities Board for funding to engage an architect, or similar, to undertake a feasibility study, looking at Government owned properties and sites either in Douglas or near Douglas with good public transport links. The objective would be to consider suitability of these sites and properties for supported housing use, and especially for care leavers and other young people.
Action: JH to follow up with LP regarding progressing the working group meetings. JG Confirmed that Edmund Coates’ role has become much wider, and he is working in conjunction with St Christopher’s to find alternative accommodation
JG added that there are proposals to convert semi-independent accommodation in Derby Road from a two to a four-bed unit, and to provide staffing levels equivalent to a children’s home. However, this requires longer term planning and funding. A business case is currently being developed by Children’s Services.
Employment Scheme A team has been established to promote employment opportunities. The team is currently working with Ian Bates of Public Transport Division in DOI to explore setting up apprenticeships for 16+ children in care and care leavers. Manx Care are also seeking to ring fence some job opportunities for the same group of children and young people but are seeking further advice about how to make that work from OHR. It is hoped that this model could be copied across other organisations at a later date. It was noted that free access to the NSC gym has been organised and free bus passes are being explored for this group of young people. DM noted that strong support would be required for the young people particularly during the initial few months of employment, in order to help them to get established in their work. DC also noted that potential employers will need to be supportive. Children with Disabilities (CwD) JG advised that she was informed that the original business case was too aspirational and that a more realistic version is now being reviewed. A pilot scheme, working in conjunction with Braddan Hub is intended to evidence a business case to provide outreach staff and a manager for the Hub. Braddan Hub currently has six bedrooms and is to be revamped to be used a looked after provision.
Quality Assurance / Information Sharing / Data / IT JG confirmed DHSC working group on information communication. There is a new Information Commissioner and outcomes are more positive.

CSIB Agenda Private & Confidential 23 July 2024 5

DM stated that Business intelligence for children services must have input from Manx Care.
CI & DC noted that GDPR and information sharing remains an issue at operational level. This could result in negative impact particularly at high level, such as Serious Case Review or MAPPA meetings. It was noted that this is a cultural issue, fear of the consequence of breaching GDPR regulations. CI noted that work is ongoing to strengthen primary and secondary legislation. It was also noted that it would be helpful for the new Information Commissioner to give assurance and for workshops to be rolled out to help professionals to understand when consent is required but also when it can be overruled. DM referred to cases in other jurisdictions where tool kits have been used recording issues to determine the justification for information sharing, considering the balance of public versus private interest.

Youth Justice / Support JG Advised Aspirational proposal for an attendance centre is being worked on. A Business Case has been presented to the head of the Criminal Prosecution Service for funding from seized assets. JG did state that there is a ‘plan B’ to hold fortnightly multi-agency panel meetings to consider individual cases and how best to work with those individuals and families. This will require Terms of Reference to establish the panel, with the intention of finding means of early prevention and the best persons to work with the Youth Justice Team. Additional work is ongoing to establish a panel to provide more immediate means to reduce the use of the secure unit. SM raised concerns about the funding and resources but advised that suitable legislation is already in place. DC noted the need for Risk Assessment tools, preferably with a forensic psychologist to avoid “one size fits all”. This will require funding and staff training. DC makes recommendation for
1 Assessment Tool, to be agreed by all. 2 Interventions tailored to individual Young People. Realistic timescale for this work would be 18 to 24 months. However, it was noted that there is now a permanent Youth Justice Social Worker in post for the first time in 4 years. DM stated that strategic vison is required to prevent inappropriate use of remand for young offenders, when the offence is not one which is likely to result in a custodial sentence, JG advised that Neil Craig from Custody had explained the legislation and why courts remand offenders.
SM explained that decision is usually based on the determination of the Custody Sgt based on the level of risk/self-harm. Once remanded it is the responsibility of DHSC to house the offender, but if this is not possible due

CSIB Agenda Private & Confidential 23 July 2024 6

to lack of resources the offender will be kept on remand and where remand is not possible those of 16 plus years may be kept overnight in a cell. DM expressed concerns as to whether this criminalises-the young person and the experience of being remanded to prison may erode the deterrent it initially presents.

Early Help / Family Support o Leeds Early Help Questions MS advised that there is a lot happening which not all relevant agencies are fully aware of, and everyone needs to be brought up to date. There are 3 workshops planned to be held around the theme of Starting Well, Developing Well: - A workshop to listen and gather information, - A workshop to consider models for family help and support and what works best for the Island - A decision makers workshop to consider how to get there with the proposal put forward DM suggested tying in with the Island Plan work streams, using wording for which there is already political support. Early intervention group is assessing strategic aims. Work required to improve strategies, models of best practice, and relevancy to the island. 058/24 External Presentations, Meetings & Proposals
Corporate Parenting Group – Ministerial Direction This was discussed during review of the action log in the Matters Arising section.

059/24 Links with other projects/meetings LP to arrange multi agency meeting with the objective of formulating a business case to present to the Housing and Communities Board as discussed earlier. MS suggested that input would be required from Matt Bond in the Project Management Unit. MS - Public Health – Early Intervention group still exists but is now part of the Community Safety Partnership developing high level strategic aims

ALL 060/24 Items for Escalation DM suggested the formulation of a business case to the Housing and Communities Board for funding for 16 plus is an item for escalation.

ALL

CSIB Agenda Private & Confidential 23 July 2024 7

061/24 Any Other Business
Minutes of Board Meetings TBC –

7th CSIB - 17th September 2024 – Public Health
This date may coincide with the Domestic Abuse Conference and IOM government conference Action HU to check on this and confirm

ALL 062/24 Date(s) of next CSIB & Workstream & stakeholder meetings 2024 22 – 26 July 2024 Workstream meetings 12 – 16 August 2024 Workstream meetings 7th CSIB – 17 September 2024 (Public Health Minutes) 16 – 20 September Workstream meetings 21 – 25 October Workstream meetings 8th CSIB - 12 November 2024 (DHA Minutes) ALL

Date of Meeting Agenda Item Action Agreed Action Owner Due Date Comments 19/03/2024 041/24 Check what is required to facilitate leaving care conference in September, and expectations from Minister DM 16/07/24 16/05/24 - Some feedback/questions if the conference is necessary, CSIB chair to discuss with Minister Hooper 23/07/24 - Chair to discuss with Ministe

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