Agenda item

To receive an overview on Children’s Services’ response to Covid-19 including the approach, actions, and lessons learned.

The Board received a presentation from the Director of Children’s Services at Hampshire County Council with an update on the Starting Well theme and mitigating the impact of Covid on children. 

Members heard that safeguarding work is continuing as well as looking after children in care.  While there was a 3 Phase response planned, there has not been a need to move past Phase 1 which is business as usual but working differently. 

Statutory responsibilities have been met using technology to be able to see children.  Technology has had a huge impact on working differently and allowed virtual visits in many cases and in some, face to face visits as well in keeping with the guidance.  There has been quick response and reassuring where necessary.  There have been roughly the same percentage of face to face and virtual visits and teenagers have preferred the new ways of working with technology-aided reviews. 

The number of referrals had dropped off in April but were back up in May and currently above those levels in June by 15%.  This likely reflects increase in tensions and instability in families brought about by the impact of the lockdown. 

Children’s Services has worked to keeping children in care engaged and entertained and provided support for foster carers.  Covid has provided to be a challenge in terms of placements and similarly young adults were unable move on at 18 to independent accommodation. 

Children will remain in care due to the current challenges for matching placements and this is likely to continue for some time.  People have concerns about taking new children into their families under the current circumstances.  Two homes have been deliberately closed to provide more resiliency in the staff rota in the remaining facilities.  Foster carers have been magnificent at nurturing their children and work with partners continue.  Staff have been kept informed and appreciated which was well-received.  Lessons learned and review prior to the next phase continues moving forward in a slightly modified environment. 

Schools have been closed since end of March but remained open for key workers and critical vulnerable children while working hard to understand and follow the guidance.  Currently, numbers have really increased, including students with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCP) as well as those with underlying health needs. 

Schools have been supported with home learning, wellbeing, technology needs, resolving challenges with laptop availability and orders, etc. as well as the wider reopening of primary schools and priority order of return, in keeping with the guidance. 

Key restraints have included the number of staff and size of premises.  It has proved very difficult to physically get everyone back into the school.  More than 25,000 students back in school, one of the highest in the country. 

School construction sites are now open.  New school place schemes are due to progress as planned.  The areas most affected include home school transport and early years.  Recovery plans are in place, however current restrictions may be changed by September.  

School admissions rounds are complete.  Early years and childcare both private and state funded have been affected as providers may have lost their income or staff have been furloughed.  The guidance was also changed but a brokerage service was created for parents and providers to connect and hopefully with sufficient capacity by September. 

In response to questions, Members heard:

The courts were out of step, but resolutions have been negotiated.

The continuing education of children over lockdown would be reviewed to ensure learning had been taking place. Standards developed around online learning needs to be in place as Ofsted inspect against Department for Education (DFE) standards.  Ofsted are likely to do some form of assurance to see how schools have coped with Covid to highlight best practices and lessons learned; it would not be an inspection as such, rather an investigation. 

The same would take place from a local perspective in order to develop good practice guides around online learning.  It has been an imperfect teaching method and not pedagogically sound in the primary sector or in terms of being useful for young children.  Members noted that understanding and addressing the impact on mental health and engagement or disengagement with school is critical.  

Schools are not expected to be open over the summer and there is DFE guidance around summer and play schemes.  Previously, the guidance was unhelpful, and colleagues are reviewing current guidance which will hopefully allow for larger bubbles that allow more schemes.  If private providers do not operate within this guidance, their insurance would become invalid.

Members noted an opportunity during the return to school in September to encourage walking and cycling while avoiding public transport which would be both safer and environmentally friendly.  Outdoor learning, some time to acclimatize and express how children felt would be very important.  While there are rights to maintain transport, healthy ways to get to school when possible would be encouraged.

Members also noted that summer placements are crucial for NHS staff to continue to work and necessary for the work force.

RESOLVED: 

That the Health and Wellbeing Board--

• Notes the report.