The Children's Services Scrutiny Subcommittee of Lambeth Council met on Thursday, 9 March 2023, to discuss the ICSA action plan delivery update and the Ofsted update on the inspection of local authority children's services. The meeting also covered increasing achievement in schools and the committee's work programme.

ICSA Action Plan Delivery Update

The subcommittee received an update on the ICSA (Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse) action plan. Councillor Ben Kind, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, highlighted that several actions were still in progress, with some requiring further discussion with trade unions to ensure co-production in HR policies. Melanie, who led on the HR policies, confirmed that six key policies – disciplinary, grievance, attendance, whistleblowing, capability, and probation – had been drafted and were undergoing final formatting. An EDI (Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion) statement had also been produced, and the declaration of interest process was being refreshed. Councillor James Bryan raised concerns about the timeline for these HR actions, noting that they were overdue. Melanie apologised for the delays, citing the sad passing of a trade union colleague involved in the policy development. She confirmed that all policies would be implemented by the end of March, with completion by 27 March. Councillor Deepak Sardiwal inquired about the implications of the final ICSA inquiry report for Lambeth and whether this had been discussed with other government structures. Councillor Kind stated that the council would continue to engage with government departments and work through organisations like London Councils and the LGA (Local Government Association) to advocate for changes stemming from the inquiry's recommendations. Councillor Sardiwal also asked for confirmation that all councillors had completed mandatory training in EDI, safeguarding, and corporate parenting. Fatih, from Democratic Services, confirmed that all members had completed corporate parenting and safeguarding training, and that only one member was yet to complete the EDI training.

Ofsted Update: Progress on the Inspection of Local Authority Children's Services (ILACS)

The committee received an update on the Ofsted inspection of Lambeth's children's services, which resulted in an overall judgment of requires improvement. Councillor Ben Kind acknowledged the significant effort of officers in preparing for the inspection and noted that while the judgment remained the same as in 2018, the ILACS system was more challenging. He highlighted Ofsted's comment that Lambeth has credible plans in place to address the weaknesses. Andrew Carter, Director for Children's Services, presented the report, detailing that Ofsted's inspection took place from 24 October to 4 November 2022, with the report published on 16 December. Seven recommendations for improvement were made, with an action plan due to Ofsted by 29 March. Key areas for improvement included the timeliness, oversight, and effectiveness of pre-proceedings, care proceedings, and plans for permanence. Mr Carter outlined actions already taken, such as establishing a court proceedings team and a new legal gateway panel. He also addressed concerns about the consistency of independent reviewing officers and social workers, noting the appointment of permanent leadership roles and additional capacity. David Goosey, Chair of the Lambeth Safeguarding Children Partnership, focused on the inter-agency collaboration, particularly regarding missing children and attendance at multi-agency meetings. Laura Eden and Chrissie Gregory from Islington Council, who are partners in practice with Lambeth, shared their experience and insights, emphasising the importance of stable leadership and a consistent practice model. Councillor James Bryan asked about Islington's strategies for maintaining social worker continuity, and Ms Eden and Ms Gregory discussed the challenges of staff retention and the importance of growing our own social workers. Councillor Judith Cavanagh asked about social workers' reactions to the Ofsted report and their confidence in the proposed improvements. Bob Bielby, Director of Children's Social Care, and Brenda McErnie, Interim Strategic Director for Children's Services, explained that staff felt included in the process and were motivated by the plans for improvement, particularly as Lambeth was at the top end of the requires improvement grading. They highlighted the ongoing work to develop a social work academy and strengthen leadership.

Increasing Achievement in Schools

The committee discussed the Increasing Achievement in Schools 2022 report. Councillor Ben Kind highlighted the fragmentation of the school system and the reduced role of local authorities in education, noting that government funding for school improvement had been significantly cut. Fiza, Head of Schools Research and Statistics, presented the report, which analysed achievement data from foundation stage to A-level, considering factors such as ethnicity, gender, disadvantage, and special educational needs. He reported that Lambeth maintained high or above national average performance at primary level and showed significant improvement at secondary level. However, for the first time, GCSE results were below some other inner London local authorities. Mr Fiza noted that disadvantaged children in Lambeth achieved better than the national average, and Portuguese-speaking children, once their English proficiency improved, also performed well. Challenges remain with the underachievement of Black Caribbean children and those not fluent in English. Andrea Parker, Flexitive Head for Bonneville, Jessup and Stockwell Primary School, and co-chair of the Lambeth School Partnership (LSP), expressed support for the challenges of the fragmented system and highlighted initiatives like Raising the Game and a racial justice network aimed at improving the educational experience for Black Caribbean children. Councillor James Bryan questioned why the report focused on national comparisons rather than comparisons with other London boroughs, and Gerald Murton, Interim AD for Standards, explained the challenges of data availability and the need for schools to support each other, particularly academies. Councillor Deepak Sardiwal echoed concerns about the widening attainment gaps for Black Caribbean children and the need for greater focus on absolute performance rather than just national comparisons. He also raised questions about staff representation in schools and the concentration of issues across the borough. Andrea Parker and Fiza responded, discussing the impact of COVID-19 on starting points and attendance, and the ongoing work to improve staff representation. Dan Stotes, Director of Children's Commissioning and Youth Services, provided information on speech and language therapy provision within schools.

Work Programme

The committee reviewed its work programme for the upcoming year. It was noted that there might be a shuffle of committees following the Annual General Meeting, and the newly constituted committees would set their own agendas. Members were encouraged to submit any items they wished to be considered for scrutiny. Councillor Judith Cavanagh expressed appreciation for the action log and requested an update on the youth strategy, including the involvement of faith groups. Councillor David Oxley, Chair of the Subcommittee, was thanked for his leadership.