Families and Children S Services Scrutiny Committee

Families and Children’s Services Scrutiny Committee

Date: 15th January 2015

Safeguarding Activity Trends Report

Report of the Executive Director for Wellbeing and Community Services, Daljit Lally

Policy Board Member for Wellbeing and Community Health Services Group: Councillor Robert Arckless

Purpose of report.

To provide analysis of social work activity trends and case allocation as well as highlighting national developments regarding the Department for Education safeguarding indicators.

Recommendations

To provide analysis of social work activity trends and case allocation as well as highlighting national developments regarding the Department for Education safeguarding indicators.

It is recommended that the Committee

1) Identify any issues for further scrutiny.

Link to Corporate Plan

This report is relevant to the Health and Well Being and Stronger Communities and Families priorities included in the NCC Corporate Plan 2013 2017.

Key issues

CASELOADS ANALYSIS

1. Systems are in place to closely monitor the Integrated Children’s System with regards to unallocated cases, and social care locality team caseloads. As part of this process, a list of all open cases was extracted on 3rd November 2014.

2.Using the information from the caseload extract, there were 3,907 cases open to Children’s Services overall, and of those, 83% (3,224) were being held open on a child in need basis, 9% (355) were cases involving children looked after by the County Council (28 of which are also subject to a Child Protection Plan), and 9% (356) were cases of children subject to a Child Protection Plan (CPP). All cases needing social work intervention are allocated to a named social worker.

3.All child protection cases are allocated to suitably skilled, experienced and qualified social workers and the capacity in the teams is closely monitored with managers demonstrating good oversight of cases. Systems are in place to ensure that appropriate professionals from the full range of agencies are involved in planning and review meetings.

4.As well as monitoring the allocation of cases, the service has procedures in place to manage the initial referrals of children at risk of considerable harm, and these are systematically reviewed. Team workloads are regularly evaluated and information systems are in place so that quantitative data on the performance of social work teams can be reported monthly. At the start of November 2014, there were 33 cases per social worker.

5.Work with children in need is supported both by practical guidance and a policy framework. Assessments of children in need routinely record information, conclusions and decisions, and the majority are completed within the nationally-prescribed timescale.

6.Systems are in place to ensure that where staff are absent from work, their work trays (within ICS) can be picked up, checked and actioned, with the system generating alerts for workers to pick up tasks where necessary.

7. RECENT TRENDS WITHIN THE CHILD PROTECTION PROCESS

STANDARD DATASET:

Guide to the graphs:

EARLY HELP ASSESSMENT (EHA)

The number of EHAs undertaken each month in Northumberland is outlined in Graph 1 below. Numbers of EHAs undertaken have increased in recent months to the highest ever monthly figure (of 85). Looking at the raw data, this increase appears to be due to an increase in numbers within the Blyth area – 38 EHAs started in October compared to an average of 10 per month in the previous six months. Coupled with this, there has been an increased number of EHAs starting where the lead agency is social care – 32 in October compared to an average of 13 per month in the previous six months.

In the most recent quarter ending September 2014 (figures in brackets are the figures for the year ending June 2014), 27% of EHAs were undertaken by schools [including school health] (48%), 12% by children’s centres (11%), 18% by health visitors (22%), and 28% by children’s social care (15%). Of the EHAs that ended over the past year where an outcome was recorded, 56% of assessments were deemed to have met the needs of the child, with a further 25% being stepped up to children’s social care.

Graph 1 – number of EHAs undertaken per month

RECENT TRENDS WITHIN THE CHILD PROTECTION PROCESS

Numbers of contacts and referrals to Children’s Services remain high, with 2,069 contacts and 1,558 referrals received by social care teams in the quarter ending October 2014. This means that over the past year, Northumberland has received 8,398 contacts and 5,598 referrals, which when equated to the most recent child population figures, gives a rate of 910 per 10,000 children, and remains notably higher than the latest (2013/14) national rate (of 521), and statistical neighbour rate (of 546). Graphs 2a and 2b show the number of contacts and referrals received by Children’s Services in each of the past six quarters.

Graph 2a – Contacts per quarter

Graph 2b – Referrals per quarter

In the quarter ending October 2014, 64% of referrals went on to be assessed by a social worker, slightly below the national average of 74%, and represents a lower rate compared to the previous quarter (see Graph 3). 37% of referrals were dealt with by providing information or advice (PIA), with a very low proportion (0.5%) leading to no further action (NFA) being taken.

Graph 3 – Referrals by outcome

Graph 4a shows the proportion of referrals received by the social care teams for the past two quarters by agency type. In the most recent quarter (compared to the previous quarter) there were an increased proportion of referrals from the police (28%), health (22%), LA services[1] (17%) and a decreased proportion from early years and schools [EY&S] (11%) – due to school holidays. The proportion of referrals from relatives, friends and neighbours and self [RFNS], the voluntary and community sector [VCS] and other referral sources remained at around the same level compared to the previous quarter.

Graph 4a – Referrals by agency type

Graph 4b shows the number of referrals received by the social care teams over the past two years by agency type. The most notable increase or decrease is within Early Years and Schools [EY&S] where 16% of referrals were received from in the year ending October 2014 (compared to 11% in the year ending October 2013).

Graph 4b – Referrals by agency type – this year v last year

With regards to re-referrals (see Graph 5), 29% of referrals received in the quarter ending October 2014 were counted as re-referrals over the last year, which is an increase on the previous quarter, and remains above the national and statistical neighbour averages of 25% and 24% respectively. In the most recent quarter the percentage of re-referrals within 3 months of the previous referral was 9% (note this figure includes the percentage re-referred within 1 month). This figure is higher than the previous quarter, but represents a reduction compared to the same period last year (the figure was 12% between August and October 2013).

Graph 5 – Re-referrals within 12 months

In the publication “Working Together to Safeguard Children”[2], there is a move away from the 10 day timescale for assessing children’s social care needs in favour of an assessment being carried out based on the needs of the child within 45 working days of the point of referral. The children and family (C & F) assessment was implemented in March 2014 replacing initial and core assessments, with managers making a judgement about whether it should be completed within 10, 25 or 45 working days of the referral to children’s services. Graph 6 (below) shows the proportion of assessments completed by the deadline set by the team manager. Performance has reduced to 46% being completed in timescale in the most recent quarter – a reduction from the previous quarter (52%). There is also a high proportion of assessments are taking longer than 45 working days to be authorised – with 35% taking longer than this in the most recent quarter.

Graph 6 - % assessments completed in timescale*

*C & F assessments introduced in March 2014, therefore three quarters worth of data is available

The reasons behind this are due to an increased number of referrals being received (particularly in South East Northumberland in recent months) as well as the teams catching up on a backlog of assessments whilst getting used to the new assessment process and format on the Integrated Children System (ICS). There has also been an increased number of child protection cases in Blyth and Cramlington in recent months at a time when some experienced social workers have left: all of which has impacted upon capacity to complete assessments in a timely manner. A number of actions have been taken to address this:

• Social workers have asked for changes to the format of the C & F assessment form within ICS so that it is more straightforward to complete – this has been done.
• Detailed work looking at the profile of caseloads and skills / experience mix within each team has been carried out with a view to re-allocating resources where they are needed. There has also been a recent recruitment drive with a view to appointing a number of experienced social workers to replace those that left.
• It has been agreed that the 10 day timescale will be set for all assessments (other than unborn cases, where the 25 day timescale will be set).
• An interactive monitoring tool has been created so that managers can track the number of assessments that are due in the next week for each social worker and also those that are overdue.

Section 47 enquiries

In the year ending October 2014, there were 1,156 section 47 enquiries (S47s) completed, equating to 192 per 10,000; higher than the national average of 124. Numbers of S47s ended in the past two quarters are 29% higher than the same quarters in 2013. Following a recommendation by the Northumberland Safeguarding Children Board, a themed case file audit of S47s was undertaken, with all audits agreeing with the decision to carry out a S47.

Graph 7 – Section 47s ended per quarter

Initial Child Protection Conferences (ICPCs) and Child Protection Plans (CPPs)

In the most recent quarter ending October 2014, there were 98 children subject to an initial child protection conference (see graph 8a) which represents a similar figure to the previous quarter. This means that 418 children were the subject of an ICPC over the year ending October 2014 (compared to 400 in the previous year), equating to 68 per 10,000 - above the national average (2013/14) of 57. The proportion of children then made subject to a Child Protection Plan in the most recent quarter was 89% (see Graph 8b), a lower proportion than the two previous quarters. Across the year, 89% of children made subject to an ICPC went on to start a CPP; slightly below the national average of 92%.

Graph 8a – number of children subject to ICPCs and numbers subsequently made subject to a CPP

Graph 8b – % of children subject to ICPCs who were subsequently made subject to a CPP

In the publication “Working Together to Safeguard Children”[3], it recommends that social work managers convene ICPCs within 15 working days of the most recent strategy discussion. In the most recent quarter ending October 2014, 86% of ICPCs were held within this standard (the 2013/14 national average was 69%).

Graph 9 – % of ICPCs held within 15 days of the latest strategy discussion

Across the year ending October 2014, 372 children were made subject to CPPs (compared to 358 for the same period in 2013) equating to 60 per 10k – above the latest national and statistical neighbour averages of 52 per 10k. Graph 10a shows the age groups of children starting CPPs in the year ending October 2014 (compared to year ending October 2013). 15% of all CPPs started in this period were unborn, with 10% being babies. One quarter of children starting CPPs were aged between 1 and 4 years old, with 26% being aged between 5 and 9. 22% of children starting CPPs were aged between 10 and 15 years old, with 2% aged 16 or over.

Graph 10b shows the breakdown of the category of abuse for all CPPs started in the year ending October 2014. 53% of CPPs were allocated the category of ‘neglect’ (compared to 41% nationally), with 9% due to physical abuse (10% nationally), 3% due to sexual abuse (5% nationally), 30% due to emotional abuse (35% nationally) and 6% being labelled with multiple abuse types (9% nationally).

Graph 10a – number of CPPs started in the year by age group

This year v last year

Graph 10b – number of CPPs started in the year by category of abuse

This year v last year

Of the 372 CPPs that started across the year ending October 2014, 37 children (10%) had previously had a CPP (compared to 16% nationally), with 6 children (2%) having had a CPP started within two years of a previous CPP ending.

Of the 305 CPP plans ended in the year (see Graph 11), 27 (8%) ended within up to three months of the plan starting (compared to 20% nationally), 10 (3%) ended between three and six months (10% nationally), 150 (42%) ended between six and twelve months (40% nationally), 103 (29%) ended between one year and two years of the plan starting (25% nationally), and 15 (4%) of those ending were started over two years before (5% nationally).

Graph 11 – number of CPPs ended by duration

At the end of October 2014, 356 children were subject to a CPP (see Graph 12a), which when equated to the most recent population estimates (see Graph 12b) equates to 58 per 10,000 of the under 18 population; above the statistical neighbour rate of 41 (white line) and the national rate of 42 (red line).

Graph 12a – Number of children with Child Protection Plans at month end

Graph 12b – Rate of Child Protection Plans per 10,000 children at month end

The numbers of children with CPPs at the end of October 2014 by age group is shown in Graph 13 (below). 4 children (1%) with CPPs are disabled according to the ICS.

Graph 13 – Age group of children with CPPs at month end

Between April and October 2014, 534 of 538 child protection review conferences (99%) have been held in timescale (above the national average of 95%).

At the end of October 2014, 346 children were in care (LAC) (see Graph 14a), which when equated to the most recent population estimates (see Graph 14b) equates to 56 per 10,000 of the under 18 population; below the statistical neighbour rate of 64 (white line) and the national rate of 60 (red line).

Graph 14a – Number of children in care at month end

Graph 14b – Rate of children in care per 10,000 children at month end

8Themes arising regionally and nationally:

The Health and Social Care Information Centre has recently published some new female genital mutilation (FGM) statistics:

• 125 of 160 eligible acute trusts in England submitted signed off data.
• 1,279 active cases and 467 newly identified cases of FGM were reported nationally.

The report into child sexual exploitation in Rotherham has recently been published[4], with the conclusion being that although there was convincing evidence of organised child sexual exploitation in Rotherham, none of the parts of the system designed to scrutinise or challenge had any perceptible effect in identifying or challenging the prevailing insensitivity to child sexual exploitation within the Council. It was the press which stimulated action. One of the lessons for local government from the Jay Report[5] into child sexual exploitation in Rotherham will be the need to improve scrutiny and challenge within council governance.

Northumberland’s CSE strategy and action plan was endorsed by the Northumberland Safeguarding Children Board (NSCB) in July 2014, but is being reviewed and revised for the January 2015 NSCB meeting.

The next round of regional benchmarking has started with data being requested of all North East authorities up to the end of September 2014 – the analysis will be presented in March 2015, with the headlines being presented in a future report.

IMPLICATIONS ARISING OUT OF THE REPORT

CONSULTATION

BACKGROUND PAPERS

Lord Laming – The Victoria Climbie Inquiry.

Lord Laming – The Protection of Children in England: A Progress Report

Social Work Task Force – Building a safe, confident future

Annual unannounced inspection of contact, referral and assessment arrangements within Northumberland County Council children’s services – July 2011

Report sign off.