Decision details

The purpose of the report will be to provide an update on new expenditure required to meet the anticipated demand for children’s social care services during the COVID-19 lockdown and also to provide an overview on the overall expected spending forecast for 2020/21.

To ensure that Sheffield continues to support all children and families who require additional support at the earliest possible opportunity, approval is given for an investment of £740k in early intervention services to provide:-

1. an expansion of the commissioned offer to support children and young people who have experienced or are experiencing Domestic Abuse; and

2.    funding to recruit 22 additional MAST staff to support the increase in demand from new Early Help or Social Care referrals (est. 500 additional referrals) when services who work closely with children and families (schools, GPs, etc) resume their contact.

The expansion in Early Help services is required due to pressures placed on services and the children and families who access them, as a result of changes in demand due to COVID-19.

The proposals to expand the commissioned offer to support children and young people who have experienced or are experiencing domestic abuse and increase capacity in MAST, are preferred because:-

·         They support the Council in meeting its statutory duties and its commitment to support families in crisis.

·         Early intervention by MAST professionals ensures the correct support is offered to vulnerable children and families in a timely manner, reducing waiting lists and removing blockers to accessing services.

·         They are a realistic response to an increasing challenging situation brought about by the measures to tackle COVID-19.

If the proposals are approved we would see the intended outcomes for families as being:-

• Reduced risk to harm for already vulnerable children.
• Support for families to mitigate the risk to child development and the impact of social isolation brought on by COVID-19.
• Increased support for families falling into poverty.

No alternative options were outlined in the report.