SCRUTINY COMMITTEE (LIFELONG LEARNING)
Minutes of a meeting held on 1st
June 2009.
Present: Councillor J. Clifford
(Chairman); Councillor Mrs. K.A. Kemp (Vice-Chairman); Councillors
C.P.J. Elmore, J.F. Fraser, F.T. Johnson, C.L. Osborne
and Mrs. S.I. Sharpe.
Non-Voting Observers: Mrs. T. Champ and
T. Cox.
Also present: Councillor A.D. Hampton.
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APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE -
These were received from Councillors Mrs.
M.E.J. Birch, Mrs. V.L. Ellis, E. Hacker and Mrs. V.M.
Hartrey.
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MINUTES -
RECOMMENDED - T H A T the minutes of the
meeting held on 27th April and 13th May 2009
be approved as a correct record.
66
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST -
The following Councillors declared the nature
of their personal interests, being Governors of Schools within the
Vale of Glamorgan: Councillors J. Clifford, Mrs. K.A. Kemp, C.P.J.
Elmore, J.F. Fraser and C.L. Osborne.
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RE-INSPECTION OF THE YOUTH OFFENDING SERVICE (CX) -
The Youth Offending Service had been subject
to an inspection by HM Inspectorate of Probation (HMI-P) in October
2007. At that time early indications from feedback indicated
that the inspection was poor, with significant criticism of the
management of the service, particularly the Management Board.
On receipt of feedback from inspectors, the Chief Executive as a
matter of urgency brought the service from the Social Services
Directorate into the Chief Executive’s Directorate under the
management of the Operational Manager - Corporate Policy and
Communications. Consequently, the Chief Executive began
chairing the YOS Management Board in November 2007, in order to
provide improved leadership and direction.
On 5th March 2008, the Cabinet
received a report which set out details of a proposed restructuring
of the Service. In addition, the Cabinet also received a
report in June 2008, on the detailed recommendations from the
inspection. Further updates had then subsequently been
provided regarding the implementation of the inspection action
plan.
Following the original inspection, the HMI-P
advised that a re-inspection would be undertaken to ensure that the
required improvements were being progressed. The
re-inspection took place in December 2008 with the final report of
the re-inspection being available on 1st April 2009.
The report under consideration by the Scrutiny
Committee set out in summary the main elements of the inspection
report. The overall finding was that whilst significant
change and massive improvement had occurred, these were at a
critical stage and needed to be built upon to ensure that lasting
change was continued. The three year action plan developed in
2008 continued to be challenging.
With regard to education, the inspectors found
evidence to show that Children’s Services, Education and Health
colleagues were making an improved contribution to both assessment
and intervention plans. The Children and Young People’s
Partnership was represented at senior level on the Management Board
and members of the YOS staff had participated in the development of
the Children and Young People’s Plan. The re-inspection
report also acknowledged that more effective arrangements were
being made for identifying and providing services for children and
young people at risk of becoming NEET (Not in Education, Employment
or Training).
The re-inspection report also outlined that
there had been significant changes in NEETs that had been
pro-actively led by the Director of Learning and Development.
A passport to learning project for young people aged 14-19 and at
risk of becoming NEET had been arranged and implemented and
included arrangements for children and young people referred by the
YOS. A direct link had been established between the Director
and the YOS education officer to facilitate the service
improvements. Headteachers of secondary schools had been made
fully aware of their responsibilities with regard to NEET children
and young people.
A number of intervention measures had been put
in place to address NEET which had resulted in the content of
intervention promoting learning opportunities and attainment in 94%
of the relevant cases compared with 80% in the first
inspection. It was also noted that the provision for
education, employment and training was being met through
partnership working with the education service, pupil referral
unit, lifelong learning service, Careers Wales, Barry College and a
variety of voluntary and private sector training providers.
In addition, the Council’s Visible Services Division provided a
number of work experience placements for young offenders, which
could result in permanent employment for placements.
The Vice-Chairman referred to the report
previously made to the Scrutiny Committee in October 2008 and to
the appended information at that time which related to the number
of individuals and their education status and requested that
similar information be reported to the next meeting, including an
update of individuals and their education status since last
reported, for comparative purposes.
The Chairman then referred to targets and
progress being made to meeting those contained within the action
plan. The Operational Manager (Corporate Policy and
Communications) indicated that performance indicators were being
monitored and indicated that performance in respect of 17-18 year
olds was under performing.
In response to a separate question from
Councillor Johnson regarding the resolution of staffing issues that
had been reported previously to the Scrutiny Committee, the
Operational Manager indicated that significant changes had been
implemented at the YOS which included some staff restructuring and
the recruitment to vacant positions which had been vacant for some
time. Only two posts remained vacant on the
establishment.
At this juncture the Vice-Chairman referred to
paragraph 10 of the report and enquired as to what evidence had
been found by the inspector to show that Children’s Services,
Education and Health Colleagues were making to improve contribution
to both assessment and intervention plans. In response, the
Operational Manager referred to the various performance indicators
which related to this area and suggested that a report be submitted
to the next meeting on the service performance against the related
performance indicators.
Having regard to the above and related issues,
it was
RECOMMENDED -
(1) T H A
T the contents of the report be noted.
(2) T H A
T the staff and Management Board of the Youth Offending Service be
commended for their hard work in turning the service around in such
a short space of time.
(3) T H A
T the Operational Manager (Corporate Policy and Communications) be
requested to submit a further report to the next meeting updating
the Committee on individuals and their education status (including
comparative data) since last reported to this Scrutiny Committee in
October 2008.
(4) T H A
T the Operational Manager (Corporate Policy and Communications) be
requested to submit a further report to the next meeting on
performance against the related performance indicators contained in
the three year Inspection Action Plan.
Reasons for recommendations
(1) In
acknowledgement of the improvements made in the Youth Offending
Service and the continued work that was required.
(2) To
recognise the commitment and hard work that had taken place to
date.
(3) To
apprise the Committee of comparative data in respect of individuals
and their education status.
(4) To
allow monitoring of progress in achieving the performance
indicators contained in the Action Plan.
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CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE’S PLAN (DLD) -
The above Plan was one of the main strategic
Plans now required by the WAG. Whilst the obligation for
producing the Plan rested with the Council, the content of the Plan
was a matter for consideration by the Children and Young People’s
Partnership.
The Plan had been developed for the purpose of
establishing arrangements for local implementation of measures to
achieve the WAG 7 Core Aims for Children and Young People
namely:
· A
flying start to life
· A
comprehensive range of education and learning opportunities
· A
healthy life, free from abuse, victimisation and exploitation
· Access
to play, leisure, sporting and cultural activities
· Listened
to and treated with respect and have race and cultural identity
recognised
· A
safe home and a community that supports physical and emotional
wellbeing
· A
life not disadvantaged by poverty.
Since the approval and launch of the Plan
nominated groups of Local Authority, Statutory Partners and
Voluntary Sector Representatives had been engaged in progressing
the action plan under each of the core aims. As part of their
work each of the Core Aim Groups had also been asked to review the
detail of the proposed action plans and to see where possible, to
simplify those plans by removing process tasks and focusing on
outcomes. This was in keeping with the approach being
presented by the Welsh Assembly Government Association Data
Unit.
It was anticipated that much of the work would
be completed by June 2009 to allow for elected Members to be
consulted in July. The Council had an obligation to review
the Plan by October 2009, so the work currently being undertaken
would enable the statutory timescales to be met.
RECOMMENDED -
(1) T H A
T the progress being made in resourcing the Children and Young
People’s Plan be noted.
(2) T H A
T a further report be presented on the revised Action Plan to the
7th September meeting of the Scrutiny Committee.
Reason for recommendations
(1&2) To enable elected Members to
consider and endorse changes to the statutory Plan.
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EDUCATION 2015 (DLD) -
Education 2015 was a draft vision document
which had been developed following extensive consultation with key
partners and with staff across the service. It had been
specifically designed with the purpose of linking the Council’s
Corporate Framework but at the same time establishing a clear and
progressive vision for the education service through to 2015.
In drafting the document a number of key
principles had been defined including the Council’s approach to
delivery which was incorporated within the core values
section. Upon careful consideration of the current and future
pressures, strategic priorities had been defined broadly. The
format was intended therefore to support the next round of Service
Plans where specific targets, inputs and outcomes could be defined
and presented to Members for support. This approach would
also support a move to an outcomes based performance management
approach which was consistent with the expectations of WAG and
other public sector partners.
The draft versions of the Education 2015 had
been presented to the Headteachers Steering Group and to the full
Headteacher Conference. Details had also been discussed with
other partners in the Children and Young People’s Partnership who
had been supportive. Similarly, the document had been
considered, challenged and shaped by School Governor
Representatives, teaching associations and recognised trade unions.
Staff across the Directorate, supported by members of the
Chief Executive’s Department, had participated in workshops to
develop and refine the draft which was attached to the report.
RECOMMENDED - T H A T the contents of the
draft “Education 2015” visionary document for the Education Service
be endorsed.
Reason for recommendation
To advise the Cabinet of the Scrutiny
Committee’s views on the matter.
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GENESIS II (DLD) -
The above initiative was a WAG and EU funded
scheme which provided funding for training and support to the
economically inactive.
The Scrutiny Committee had previously
discussed issues in respect of the increasing demands made on the
services of Job Shop Extra during the economic climate and since
that time an application for additional resources had been
submitted with the purposes of attracting funding from the Genesis
II funding stream.
The Council had received confirmation that its
application had been approved with funding being awarded until 2014
to deliver a project entitled Genesis II in the Vale. The
amount of funding available was £537,000 which would be used to
secure the appointment of a project co-ordinator and an
administrator. The Head of Lifelong Learning indicated that
the funding would also be used to initially provide an outreach
service based from the Holmview Leisure Centre in Barry.
Dependant on uptake of the service, a more suitable location would
be sought in a prime location with a view to providing a permanent
facility. Funding would also be used to provide training and
support to unemployed including child care facilities.
RECOMMENDED - T H A T the award of Genesis II
funding in the amount of £537,000 for the period up to 2014 to
deliver a project Genesis II in the Vale of Glamorgan be noted.
Reason for recommendation
In acknowledgement of the award of
funding.