Children And Families Services Committee - 26/10/2020

At a MEETING of the CHILDREN AND FAMILIES SERVICES COMMITTEE held remotely on 26th October, 2020.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

External members for Articles I to VI

Miss K MANDS, Church of Scotland Representative

Ms M LECK, Roman Catholic Church Representative

Ms J BARCLAY, Teacher Representative

Mr D BAXTER, Teacher Representative

Mr J ANDERSON-McGUINNESS, Parent Representative

Councillor Stewart HUNTER, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 7th September, 2020 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I DECLARATION OF INTEREST

There were no declarations of interest.

II HUNTER FOUNDATION AND BBC CHILDREN IN NEED

There was submitted Report No 273-2020 by the Executive Director of Children and Families Service providing a 12-month update on work with the Hunter Foundation and BBC Children in Need as part of a What Matters 2 U initiative for children and young people considered to be on the edges of care. It also provided an update on developments relating to a number of aligned initiatives which continued to be progressed as part of an ambitious Getting It Right for Every Child (GIRFEC) Improvement Programme designed to improve the early identification of family problems and related support in order to prevent problems from escalating.

The Committee:

(i) noted progress made in the last 12 months of the continued implementation of What Matters to You (WM2U) in conjunction with aligned initiatives;

(ii) noted that this work would now be progressed as an integrated part of the response to the Independent Care Review and work with the Third Sector on commissioning; and

(iii) instructed the Executive Director of Children and Families to provide a further update to this Committee including an outline of financial implications and proposals in six months.

III PUPIL EQUITY FUND UPDATE

On a reference to Article III of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 28th October, 2019, there was submitted Report No 272-2020 by the Executive Director of Children and Families Service providing an update as to the use of the Pupil Equity Fund (PEF).

The Committee noted the contents of the report.

IV PROVISION OF FREE PERIOD PRODUCTS IN SCHOOLS

On a reference to Article IV of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 28th October, 2019, there was submitted Report No 274-2020 by the Executive Director of Children and Families Service reporting that COSLA Leaders had agreed to provide access to free period products in schools and public buildings in 2018 and all local authorities did so according to a set of guiding principles. This issue continued to be one of high political interest and the Scottish Government had committed to bring forward regulations that would place a duty on local authorities to provide period products for those who need them in education settings. The report outlined the progress made on the delivery of provision of free period products in schools in Dundee and the adjustments made to the delivery model since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The report further outlined the Period Products in Schools (Scotland) Regulations 2020 which came into force on 19th October, 2020.

The Committee:-

(i)                            noted the content of the report; and

(ii)                           noted the Period Products in Schools (Scotland) Regulations 2020 which came into force on the 19th October, 2020.

V CORPORATE PARENTING

On a reference to Article II of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 28th October, 2019, there was submitted Report No 271-2020 by the Executive Director of Children and Families Service providing the third and final annual update on the current three year Corporate Parenting Plan 2017‑2020. It built on previous reports and outlined continued progress made by the Council and partners in providing a range of supports to care experienced children and young people which was designed to improve outcomes in their health, wellbeing, attainment and post-school destinations. It also outlined how support had been adapted and maintained during the COVID-19 pandemic. As the Independent Care Review was published shortly before the pandemic in February, 2020, the report also recommended both a briefing for members and the submission of a further report outlining the next three year plan which would include the local response to the review in December, 2020.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the continued progress made in the implementation of the Corporate Parenting Plan 2017-2020 and the significantly improved outcomes for care experienced children and young people; and

(ii) instructed the Executive Director of Children and Families Service to co-ordinate a briefing for members and submit the next three year Corporate Parenting Plan in the context of the recommendations of The Independent Care Review in December, 2020.

VI EXPANSION OF EARLY LEARNING AND CHILDCARE ENTITLEMENT TO 1140 HOURS

On a reference to Article IV of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 13th May, 2019, there was submitted Report No 275-2020 by the Executive Director of Children and Families Service providing an update on the planned expansion of Early Learning and Childcare.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the content of the updated progress report; and

(ii) remitted the Executive Director of Children and Families Service to bring a further report on the progress of the implementation to this Committee in 12 months time.

Stewart HUNTER, Convener.