The Scrutiny Children & Young People Sub-Committee met on Tuesday 30 June 2026 to discuss the transformation of children's services, including the appointment of a Strategic Transformation Partner, reforms to Social Work, SEND, and Youth Justice, and to review performance dashboards. Key discussions also focused on the development of Family Hubs and the progress of the Scrutiny Work Programme for 2026-27.

Strategic Transformation Delivery Partner, Social Work reforms, SEND reforms and Youth Justice reforms Update

The Sub-Committee received a comprehensive update on the transformation of the Children, Young People & Education (CYPE) Directorate. Councillor Andy Stranack, Cabinet Member for Children & Young People, and Stuart Collins, Corporate Director for CYPE, presented the report, highlighting the significant demand pressures faced by the directorate due to factors such as child poverty and an increasing number of children with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs).

A key focus of the discussion was the appointment of Newton as the Strategic Transformation Partner to support a redesign of services. Phase One of this partnership, focused on understanding current performance and designing future services, was nearing completion, with a Go/No-Go decision for Phase Two anticipated in July 2026. Members were assured that child poverty would be a central consideration in the redesign, with a public health approach being adopted. The Sub-Committee expressed support for the proposed Simpler Pathway Model, which aims to reduce the need for families to repeat their stories to different services and allow social workers to focus more on safeguarding and risk management. The Sub-Committee also requested to see the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for the Helping Families Thrive and Families First Partnership programmes at a future meeting.

The development of Family Hubs was also a significant topic. The Sub-Committee heard about the expansion of the Family Hub network across Croydon, with a focus on providing integrated universal and early help support for families. Councillor Stranack emphasised the collaborative approach between the Council and the Voluntary, Community and Faith Sector (VCFS) in delivering these services. Members requested updates on the Central Croydon Family Hub, visiting data, the digital offer, and services for families affected by domestic abuse. The Sub-Committee noted the positive impact of Family Hubs in reducing re-referrals to statutory services and expressed support for the Early Years work within these hubs, aiming to improve the Good Level of Development target. The upcoming pilots for Domestic Abuse, Family Breakdown, and Neglect were also highlighted for inclusion in the future work programme.

Regarding SEND reforms, the Sub-Committee discussed the rising number of EHCPs and the Council's investment in local SEND provision, including Enhanced Learning Provisions (ELPs) and special school annexes. The Director of Education, Shelley Davies, explained that while independent special school and out-of-borough placements were costly, they remained necessary for some children. The Council is working to increase in-borough provision to mitigate these costs. The Sub-Committee was reassured that existing placements would be maintained where appropriate and that the Council was preparing for the introduction of Individual Support Plans (ISPs) from 2029/30. The Sub-Committee concluded that it would revisit the tiered approach and ISP development as part of its future work programme.

Updates on Youth Justice reforms indicated a shift in national governance, with the Ministry of Justice taking on more responsibilities. Croydon's approach would align with the broader CYPE transformation agenda, focusing on early intervention and prevention, with a particular emphasis on Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG) and serious youth violence. The Sub-Committee requested to see the new KPIs for the Youth Justice Service once established.

Early Help, Children's Social Care and Education Dashboard (March 2026)

The Sub-Committee reviewed the Early Help, Children's Social Care and Education performance dashboard. A significant improvement in the combined NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) and Not Known rate was noted, with Croydon rising 17 places nationally. The Sub-Committee discussed the reliance on a temporary role for this improvement and requested further information on sustaining these outcomes. Progress in reducing the number of Child Protection Plans lasting over two years was also highlighted, attributed to stronger governance and practice changes. Concerns were raised regarding the timeliness of EHCP issuance, with the Sub-Committee noting that the restructure of the SEN Service and the establishment of an Assessment Team were expected to address this. The Sub-Committee concluded that it would keep the EHCP issuance indicator under review.

Scrutiny Work Programme 2026-2027

The Sub-Committee discussed potential additions to its work programme for 2026-27. Topics suggested for inclusion were youth violence and prevention, children and young people's mental health, NEET, Family-first health partnerships, surplus school places, the embedding of early intervention across all services, and the pilots on Domestic Abuse, Family Breakdown, and Neglect. The Sub-Committee agreed for the Chair and Vice-Chair to discuss the work programme further with officers.