Agenda item

6.1

Dorne Collinson, Director, Children and Families, provided a brief overview of her role, since her appointment to the post of Director in April 2014.  She stated that she had a long employment history in the field of social care, and was responsible for a large and diverse portfolio, which included a number of social care functions, such as children’s social work, fostering, adoption and safeguarding.  Ms Collinson stated that she was going to place a big emphasis on the early years agenda in an attempt to minimise intervention levels at a later stage.  She was particularly impressed with the early intervention and prevention services and planned to make further improvements to services relating to Looked After Children, and would be trying to align a number of the other services to make them more streamlined and easier to access.  Part of this work would include the introduction of a one point of contact for members of the public and partner services.

6.2

Members of the Committee raised questions and the following responses were provided:-

·                The work to introduce a one point of contact was at an early stage.  The plan was to have a new telephone number, which would be a local number, and it was hoped that the new arrangements would be in place by Spring 2015.

·                The Service would be undertaking a review of the relevant services following the recommendations of Professor Jay, in the light of the recent child sexual exploitation inquiry in Rotherham.  One element of the review would include an audit of recent child sexual exploitation cases referred to the system, to be undertaken by an independent consultant and overseen by a Panel comprising the Executive Director, Children, Young People and Families, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Families, the Chair of the Safeguarding Children’s Board, and a representative from the Health Service.  The results of the audit would be fed into the Sheffield Safeguarding Board, as well as being reported to a future meeting of this Committee.  The practices adopted by the Service were constantly reviewed following the publishing of details in respect of child sexual exploitation cases in other local authority areas. 

·                Whilst there were no immediate plans to change the good practice already adopted by the Service, the challenging nature of the work undertaken by the Service meant that officers had to work in an innovative way. 

6.3

RESOLVED: That the Committee:-

(a)       notes the information now reported by Dorne Collinson; and

(b)       thanks Ms Collinson for attending the meeting and providing an overview of her role, and welcomes her to the City in her new role as Director, Children and Families.