To receive updates from Officers on the response of Children’s Services to the Covid pandemic

9.1      Members received a presentation which updated them on the response of Children’s Services to the covid pandemic.

9.2       The Principal Education Improvement Advisor and the Service Manager, Business Support Learning and Skills updated the meeting of the impacts on schools and pupils.  Members were advised that overall school attendance had been higher than the national average due to the lower number of Covid cases but that inevitably that had been a loss in progress which was worse for disadvantaged pupils.  In addition, there had been an impact on social and emotional skills and an impact caused by “missed experiences” 

9.3       In response to a question regarding opportunities for pupils to catch up on “lost learning” the Principal Education Improvement Advisor advised the meeting that there was additional funding available and that each school would identify how best to utilise this money.

9.4       A Member commented that amongst “missed experiences” was the opportunity for work experience and asked how this would be addressed.  The Principal Education Improvement Advisor advised the meeting that each school would identify how best to take this forward and that it would be monitored as part of the Schools Improvement advisors’ regular assessments.  The Executive Director Children’s Services comments that for those pupils that had missed out and left school the “Kickstart” programme may provide opportunities.

9.5       A Member commented that the vouchers scheme had been well received and had been a lifeline to many and asked that given the reduction in Universal credit and no voucher scheme for October half term how will the most vulnerable be protected?   The Service Manager, Business Support Learning and Skills comment that there may be some support from Government may be forthcoming but that he was unsure at this stage what form this would take.

9.6       The Head of Early Help, Partnerships and Commissioning updated the meeting of the work of the Early Help Team during the pandemic.  Members were informed that a new case management system had been implemented which had enabled better information sharing between departments. The Head of Early Help, Partnerships and Commissioning advised that early help requests at level three had increased with peaks coinciding with schools reopening after lockdowns and that visits to supported families had been maintained throughout the period. Members were advised that extra support would be provided to families though the school holidays with activities provided to over 1500 children & young people.

9.7       The Assistant Director Children’s Social Care and Safeguarding informed the meeting that there had been a significant increase in demand on social care which had peaked when schools returned after lockdowns, and that there had been an increasing complexity in cases.  The Assistant Director advised that there had been an increase in the number of children in care which was due partly to an increase in the number of large families entering the care system and a delay in some children exiting the care system.

9.8       In response to a query the Assistant Director confirmed that some of the new ways of working that had been developed would continue to be used going forward.

9.9       In response to a question the Assistant Director confirmed that the rise in the number of looked after children mirrored what was happening nationally and that the costs and complexity of cases was also comparable.

9.10    A Member asked whether the standard or housing that families were living in was a contributory factor to children entering the care system.  The Assistant Director informed the meeting that it was not a problem they were aware of, but that they would look into the matter.

9.11    The Business Manager, Shropshire Safeguarding Community Partnership advised the meeting that the impact of the Covid epidemic on safeguarding had been continually assessed through regular meetings and that a series of guidance notes and other documents had been produced to assist officers and external scrutiny had been used to ensure that all processes were carried out correctly.  The Business Manager advised Members that there had been an increase in the statutory case reviews and also there had been in increase in the reporting of anti-social behaviour reported.

9.12    The Director of Children’s Services paid tribute to officers who had risen to the challenges well and continued to provide a good service and commented that the effects of the pandemic would continue long after the pandemic was over.  Members also paid tribute and thanked Officers for their work.

9.13    RESOLVED:

            That the People Overview Committee thank all officers, staff and other people involved in the care, education, and protection of children and adults in Shropshire for their work during the covid pandemic.