Directorate of Children’s Services Termly Briefing for Chairs of Governors and Headteachers - Spring Term Thursday 15 th January pm – 8.00 pm Saltwells EDC

Directorate of Children’s Services Welcome and Introduction Jane Porter Interim Director of Children’s Services

Directorate of Children’s Services Welcome and Introduction Who’s Who Ways of working Budget Safeguarding Good news

Directorate of Children’s Services Introduction to the Spring Term Agenda Pat Brockman Head of School Governance

Directorate of Children’s Services Introduction to the Spring Term Agenda Vetting and Barring Scheme Review of format of this meeting Modern Governor

Directorate of Children’s Services Introduction to the Spring Term Agenda Agenda 16.Governor Code of Conduct 17. Health and Safety Report Mike Morton 9. Report on progress of any Looked After Children Pat Finegan

Directorate of Children’s Services APA Outcomes Ian McGuff Assistant Director ( Performance and Partnership)

Directorate of Children’s Services Draft Annual Performance Assessment Letter 2008 Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council delivers services that are consistently above the minimum requirements for children and young people. All services can demonstrate how they are improving the achievement and economic well-being of children and young people. There are significant strengths in all areas.

Directorate of Children’s Services Draft Annual Performance Assessment Letter 2008 This well managed Council has a good capacity to improve its services further. The Council has strong leadership and an ambitious vision. Collaboration with strategic partners is effective and the Council’s performance management framework is good.

Directorate of Children’s Services Draft Annual Performance Assessment Letter 2008 …there is a strong track record in supporting improvement, together with pursuing new initiatives to develop interagency and partnership work. The Council targets resources well to secure improvements. The Council’s analysis of its strengths and areas for development is consistent with the admissible evidence. There are no additional recommendations to make as a result of the APA.

Directorate of Children’s Services The Children and Young Person’s Act Pauline Sharratt Assistant Director (Children’s Specialist Services)

Directorate of Children’s Services The Children and Young Person’s Act The purpose of the Act is to reform the statutory framework for the care system in England and in Wales to ensure that children and young people receive high quality care and to drive improvements in the delivery of services focused on the needs of the child.

Directorate of Children’s Services The Children and Young Person’s Act Key aims: Improving placement stability Educational experience and attainment Quality of care planning Ensures that young people are not moved out of care before they are ready Ensures sufficient support and guidance as long as they require it

Directorate of Children’s Services The Children and Young Person’s Act Key provisions Secure sufficient accommodation Places a new duty on local authorities to appoint a representative to visit all looked after children Places a duty on governing bodies of maintained schools to designate a member of staff at schools for pupils looked after by a local authority Requires local authorities to pay a bursary to former relevant children who go on to higher education Entitlement to payment in respect of higher education Assistance to pursue education or training Extension of entitlements to personal adviser and to assistance in connection with education or training

Directorate of Children’s Services Safeguarding Pauline Sharratt Assistant Director (Children’s Specialist Services)

Directorate of Children’s Services Safeguarding Issues against which we need to undertake activity (from Haringey JAR) Leadership and Management Practice Issues  Recording  Assessment and Care Planning  Key meetings  Referrals Interagency Working Workforce Issues

Directorate of Children’s Services Safeguarding Learning from Previous Serious Case Reviews Interagency Working Understanding of Other Agencies’ roles Communication Recording Supervision Risk Management Decision-Making

Directorate of Children’s Services Safeguarding Ensure that staff working with vulnerable children and families are provided with up-to-date procedures, protocols and guidance Where a professional makes a referral to Children’s Services concerning the welfare of a child, the referral must be confirmed in writing by the referrer within 48 hours All front-line staff in local authorities must be trained to pass all calls about the safety of children through to the appropriate duty team without delay, having first recorded the name of the child, his or her address, and the nature of the concern. If the call cannot be put through immediately, further details from the referrer must be sought including their name and contact number. The information must be passed verbally and in writing to the duty team within the hour.

Directorate of Children’s Services Safeguarding Ensure that all staff who work with children have received appropriate vocational training, receive a thorough induction in local procedures and are obliged to participate in regular continuing training Ensure that when staff are absent from work, systems are in place to ensure that post, s and telephone contacts are checked and actioned as necessary

Directorate of Children’s Services The Children and Young People’s Plan Ian McGuff Assistant Director ( Performance and Partnership )

Directorate of Children’s Services The Children and Young People’s Plan – The plan of the Children’s Trust To be reviewed and refreshed each year Informed by Annual Performance Assessment, Joint Strategic Needs Assessment, Local Area Agreement, Views of Children, Young People, Families, Professionals and Volunteers

Directorate of Children’s Services The Children and Young People’s Plan – KEY PRIORITIES Improve outcomes for CYP in care and those with learning difficulties and disabilities All children to … Have best possible start in life and follow healthy lifestyles Feel safe and protected from bullying and discrimination

Directorate of Children’s Services The Children and Young People’s Plan – KEY PRIORITIES All children to … Achieve stretching national educational standards Engage in law abiding, positive behaviour in and out of school and engage in decision making and support for community and environment Engage in further education, employment or training on leaving school

Directorate of Children’s Services The Children and Young People’s Plan – OTHER KEY ACTIVITIES Ensure effective … Children’s Trust arrangements that are properly understood and supported Workforce development Parenting strategy Safeguarding of children Use of resources Management of performance

Directorate of Children’s Services Academies/BSF/Primary Capital Programme Jane Porter Interim Director of Children’s Services Dave Perrett Interim Assistant Director (Early Years, Youth and Education Services)

Directorate of Children’s Services Black Country Challenge - Update Dave Perrett Interim Assistant Director (Early Years, Youth and Education Services)

Directorate of Children’s Services Open Forum

Directorate of Children’s Services Date of Next Meeting Thursday 30 th April 2009