Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies had been received from Cllrs Oppenheimer and Heron – a Conservative group deputy was not available.

Apologies had also received from Cllrs Porter, Bains and Tod. Cllrs Irish, Price and Groves were presented as the Liberal Democrat group deputies.

Cllr Chadd, Executive Lead Member for Children’s Services was in attendance but Cllr Forster, Executive Member for Education had not been able to attend.

All Members who believe they have a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in any matter to be considered at the meeting must declare that interest and, having regard to Part 3 Paragraph 1.5 of the County Council's Members’ Code of Conduct, leave the meeting while the matter is discussed, save for exercising any right to speak in accordance with Paragraph 1.6 of the Code. Furthermore all Members with a Personal Interest in a matter being considered at the meeting should consider, having regard to Part 5, Paragraph 4 of the Code, whether such interest should be declared, and having regard to Part 5, Paragraph 5 of the Code, consider whether it is appropriate to leave the meeting while the matter is discussed, save for exercising any right to speak in accordance with the Code.

Members were mindful that where they believed they had a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in any matter considered at the meeting they must declare that interest at the time of the relevant debate and, having regard to the circumstances described in Part 3, Paragraph 1.5 of the County Council's Members' Code of Conduct, leave the meeting while the matter was discussed, save for exercising any right to speak in accordance with Paragraph 1.6 of the Code. Furthermore Members were mindful that where they believed they had a Personal interest in a matter being considered at the meeting they considered whether such interest should be declared, and having regard to Part 5, Paragraph 5 of the Code, considered whether it was appropriate to leave the meeting whilst the matter was discussed, save for exercising any right to speak in accordance with the Code.

No declarations were made.

To confirm the minutes of the previous meeting.

The Minutes of the previous meeting were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive any deputations notified under Standing Order 12.

The Committee did not receive any deputations.

To receive any announcements the Chairman may wish to make.

The Chairman did not make any announcements to the meeting.

To receive a presentation from the Director of Children’s Services providing an update on the School Transport Improvement Programme.

The Children and Young People Select Committee received a presentation from the Director of Children’s Services providing an update on the School Transport Improvement Programme.

Officers summarised the financial pressure of the programme and the related cost reduction activities, noting that the predicted spend is over £75m by 2025/26. The main factor in this increase is the increase in demand for SEN transport (3,100 in 22/23, 4,000 for 24/25).

Members noted the key achievements of the service, including the new Customer Contact Form which provided a better interaction for parents and was easier for the team to process queries quickly. A summary of the opportunities identified by the service was provided alongside the progress for September 2024 and the plan for dealing with parent queries promptly.

In response to questions members heard that:

·           Deadlines had been adjusted to allow the service to have more time to arrange transport.

·           There are schemes to support schools to run their own transport via minibus where possible.

·           There are more issues caused by lack of availability of passenger assistance rather than drivers.

·           The service cannot be fully provided in house due to the number of vehicles and drivers required.

RESOLVED:

That the Children and Young People Select Committee noted the presentation providing an update on the School Transport Improvement programme.

To receive a presentation from the Director of Children’s Services providing an update on the new specialist children’s home, Hockley House.

The Children and Young People Select Committee received a presentation from the Director of Children’s Services providing an overview of the new specialist Children’s Home, Hockley House.

Officers explained that the purpose of Hockley House was to address the needs of children with complex behavioural and mental health issues and reduce the reliance on costly out-of-county placements. Hockley House is a newly developed residential home accommodating up to three young people with self-contained bedrooms to develop independence and life skills. The home includes communal spaces like a family kitchen and dining area.

Members noted that the innovative approach of Hockley House provides intensive therapeutic support with a Structured Activity Program. It aims to maintain family and community networks while supporting the child’s transition back home or to other placements.

The committee heard that Hockley House is jointly funded and operates as a multi-agency provision between the council and the Integrated Care Board (ICB).

In response to questions members heard that:

·           The home was positioned in a residential area with easy access to the local GP surgery, in keeping with the wishes of young people.

·           Hockley House would run at a lower cost than other options for young people, including Swanick Lodge and would be significantly cheaper than the independent sector.

·           The home has been visited by Hampshire Care Leavers to provide feedback and their thoughts on the home, as care experienced young people.

·           Children at the home will not be in full time education, but the aim would be for them to return to that. Support would be in place from ‘Future You’ as part of the wrap around service.

·           Meetings take place every four weeks to review the young people’s progress and ensure that placements last the minimum suitable amount of time.

·           Outreach work would be undertaken for young people once they have moved out of the home.

RESOLVED:

That the Children and Young People Select Committee noted the presentation on the new specialist Children’s Home, Hockley House.

To receive a presentation from the Director of Children’s Services providing an update on the new children’s social care operating model, Family Help.

The Children and Young People Select Committee received a presentation from the Director of Children’s Services providing the new children’s social care operating model, entitled Family Help.

Officers set out that Hampshire’s Children’s Services has been at the forefront of social care transformation since 2015, with a focus on keeping more children safely at home by providing families with the right support at the right time. The latest expression of this is the Family Help Teams introduced in early 2024. These teams provide intensive support with specialist workers able to address complex needs.

Members noted how this new model provided geographically based teams to support families as part of a multi-agency approach which provided enhancing flexibility and improved outcomes for children and families. Through this new way of working, enhanced community engagement and trusting relationships is hoped to positively impact staff recruitment and retention and foster continuous improvement and innovation.

In response to questions members heard that:

·           The number of teams in each district is based on referral rates and increased demand will see additional teams added as required.

·           Part of the team manager role is to increase the awareness of the service in the community to assist referrals.

RESOLVED:

That the Children and Young People Select Committee noted the presentation on the new Children’s Social Care operating model, Family Help.

To receive a regular information update (written only) on Autism Services Commissioning for Children and Young People in Hampshire, from the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Partnership of Clinical Commissioning Groups.

The committee received a regular information update (written only) on Autism Services Commissioning for Children and Young People in Hampshire, from the Mental Health, Learning Disabilities & Autism and Children’s Care Directorate, NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight.

The Select Committee noted their dissatisfaction of the contents of the update provided and the lack of progress being made.

RESOLVED:

That the Children and Young People Select Committee noted the contents of the report.

To consider and approve the Children and Young People Select Committee Work Programme.

The Director of People and Organisation presented the Committee’s work programme.

The Chairman noted several suggestions from members of the Select Committee to be prioritised and allocated to the work programme, including the suggestion that a working group be formed with a focus on School Transport.

RESOLVED:

That the Children and Young People Select Committee discussed and agreed potential items for the work programme that can be prioritised and allocated by the Chairman of the Children and Young People Select Committee in consultation with the Director of Children’s Services.