Children And Families Services Committee - 31/10/2022

At a MEETING of the CHILDREN AND FAMILIES SERVICES COMMITTEE held remotely on 31st October, 2022.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

External members for Articles I to VII

Ms J BARCLAY, Teacher Representative

Mr D BAXTER, Teacher Representative

Mrs M McVEAN, Church of Scotland Representative

Mrs T JAVED, Parent Representative

Mr J ANDERSON-McGUINNESS, Parent Representative

Miss E COX, Pupil Representative

Councillor Stewart HUNTER, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 5th September, 2022 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I DECLARATION OF INTEREST

There were no declarations of interest.

II PARENT, PUPIL AND TEACHER REPRESENTATION ON THE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES SERVICES COMMITTEE

Reference was made to Article V of the minute of meeting of the City Council held on 23rd May, 2022, wherein it was agreed to seek nominations for parent, pupil and teacher representatives on the Children and Families Services Committee.

There was submitted Agenda Note AN45-2022 reporting that, with regard to parent representation, Tara Javed had been re-nominated as the primary representative and John Anderson-McGuinness had been re-nominated as the secondary representative.

The City-Wide Pupil Council had nominated Eve Cox, a pupil at Morgan Academy, to be the pupil representative on the Children and Families Services Committee for Session 2022/2023.

The following nominations had been received in respect of Teacher representation:-

Jodi Barclay

David Baxter

The nominees had agreed to abide by the Code of Conduct in accordance with the Standards Commissions Guidance.

The Committee agreed the above appointments.

III DECOMMISSIONING SCHOOL CROSSING PATROLS - DOWNFIELD PRIMARY SCHOOL

It was reported that this item had been placed on the agenda at the request of Councillor Coleman who asked the Committee to retain the School Crossing Patrols at the following locations - Gilburn Road/Surgery Car Park (BAL 4), Haldane Crescent (School Gate) (BAL 5) and Strathmartine Road/Haldane Street (BAL 7).

The Committee noted that the position would be reviewed once the school streets process for Downfield Primary School had concluded (Article III of the minute of meeting of the City Development Committee of 31st October, 2022 referred). The Committee further noted that the School Crossing Patrols would be retained meantime.

IV CONSULTATION ON CLOSURE OF LAW NURSERY

There was submitted Report No 277-2022 by the Executive Director of Children and Families Service seeking approval for the Executive Director of Children and Families Services to formally consult on the undernoted proposal under the terms of the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010.

The Committee instructed the Executive Director of Children and Families Service to:-

(i) formally consult on the proposal for the permanent closure of Law Nursery from July 2023; and

(ii) report the outcomes and recommendations resulting from the statutory consultation in due course.

V MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING SUPPORT AND SERVICES

There was submitted Report No 278-2022 by the Executive Director of Children and Families Service providing an update on progress with Dundee Children and Families Service implementation of the Tayside Emotional Health and Wellbeing Strategy including approaches to improving mental health.

The Committee:-

(i) noted that the priorities from the National Children and Young Peoples Mental Health and Wellbeing Joint Delivery Boards strategic framework had informed regional and local developments to improve support to children and young people;

(ii) noted how measures for monitoring and improvement should be considered along with other measures related to Getting It Right For Every Child (GIRFEC); Trauma Informed Practice; Our Promise; and school attendance; and

(iii) instructed the Executive Director to keep the implementation and outcomes of approaches under review and provide an update report in 12 months.

VI OUR PROMISE

There was submitted Report No 276-2022 by the Executive Director of Children and Families Service providing the second annual update on the implementation of Our Promise to Care Experienced Children, Young People and Care Leavers 2021/2023 (attached as Appendix 1 to the report). The report followed elected member approval of Our Promise on 8th March, 2021 (Article IV of the minute of meeting and Report No 93-2021 referred) and the first annual update which was approved on 25th October, 2021 (Article VI of the minute of meeting and Report No 289-2021 referred). It outlined key developments over the last 12 months, including details of Scottish Government Whole Family Wellbeing Funding (WFWF) announced in July, 2022 (attached as Appendix 2 to the report); improved outcomes for care experienced children, young people and care leavers; and key priorities.

The Committee:-

(i) noted progress made in the implementation of Our Promise and the improved outcomes for care experienced children, young people and care leavers;

(ii) noted the Scottish Government allocation of 894k Whole Family Wellbeing Funding (WFWF) to Childrens Service Planning Partnerships recurring annually from 2022/2023 to March, 2026; and

(iii) instructed the Executive Director to provide a further update on Our Promise in 12 months alongside a revised plan for the period 2023/2025 and details of the WFWF allocation.

VII TAYSIDE PLAN FOR CHILDREN, YOUNG PEOPLE AND FAMILIES ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT 2021/2022

There was submitted Report No 279-2022 by the Executive Director of Children and Families Service providing an update on the implementation of the Tayside Plan for Children, Young People and Families over the last 12 months. The report highlighted progress being made in relation to the five priorities outlined in the plan, with a specific focus on the local impact of shared actions of the regional collaborative. A full update covering the region was outlined in the Tayside Plan Annual Report 2021/2022 (attached as Appendix A to the report).

The Committee:-

(i) noted progress on the agreed actions within the annual update report;

(ii) instructed the Executive Director to provide an annual progress report in 12 months; and

(iii) instructed the Executive Director to submit for approval a revised Tayside Plan 2023/2026 in August 2023.

Stewart HUNTER, Convener.