East Riding Councillors review children's services ahead of Ofsted visit
East Riding Council is looking after children with more complex problems while the coronavirus pandemic has seen referrals from schools closed to most pupils reduce, councillors have heard.
East Riding Council is looking after children with more complex problems while the coronavirus pandemic has seen referrals from schools closed to most pupils reduce, councillors have heard.
East Riding Council’s Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Committee heard today (Wednesday, April 21) the amount of referrals had not risen as it had in neighbouring authorities.
But council Children and Young People Support and Safeguarding Services lead Penny Donno told the committee demand was being fuelled by children’s needs becoming more complex.
Councillors also heard that referrals had fallen from schools, the leading user of East Riding early help consultation services, whilst most pupils were learning from home.
They also heard there could be an up tick in referrals after pupils returned on Monday March 8.
It comes as councillors were reviewing improvements made to East Riding children’s services after Ofsted demanded urgent improvements following an inadequate rating in March 2020.
Council Children and Families Director Eoin Rush told the committee several “milestones” had been achieved but there was still work to do.
Steve Walker, of the Department for Education, said he believed Ofsted could rate the new system at at least ‘Requiring Improvement’, the next level above inadequate.
He added inadequate rating followed the previous EHaSH system being “swamped” by referrals but the subsequent overhaul appeared to show the right children were being helped at the right time.
A report submitted to the committee stated the council’s Children’s Safeguarding Hub handled 1,599 contacts between September and completed 417 consultations.
The contacts referred on to social workers made up 38.5 per cent of the 1,599 total while 90.1 per cent of requests to the council’s Early Help Hub were picked up.
The EHaSH system handled 2,234 contacts between September 2019 and February 2020, with 761 or 34 per cent referred on.
The amount of child contacts referred for further help increased from 28 per cent in September 2020 to 52 per cent in February.
The report stated that showed the system was increasingly reaching the right children whereas many contacts under the previous system did not require council help, leading to backlogs.
Council figures from the end of March from a profile of children considered the most vulnerable, including those vulnerable to criminal exploitation, showed 62 per cent had special education needs.
Those which had previously gone missing made up 85 per cent of the total while 38 per cent were regularly reported missing.
Children who had contacted mental health professionals made up 64 per cent while 59 per cent were known to the Youth Justice Service.
Councillors heard feedback from families social services had worked with was largely positive, with one mother telling staff she felt her problems were “understood”.
Council figures showed 94 per cent of partners including schools, Humberside Police and the NHS gave positive feedback on the reformed service.
Ms Donno said Ofsted inspectors were expected to visit the council again before the end of May.
The officer said:
“We haven’t seen an increase in cases relating to looked after children that some of our neighbouring authorities have.
“The numbers are static but the complexity of needs is significant.
“We’re in a position where demand is being driven by those needs becoming more complex.
“It’s about reaching children early on so we can help prevent an escalation.”
“It’s clear that there’s still work to do following the Ofsted rating, but we have a far greater line of sight now.”