PAPER E1
Purpose : For Decision
REPORT TO THE CABINET
Date: 28 FEBRUARY 2006
Title: CHILDREN’S
SERVICES PARTNERSHIP ARRANGEMENTS
REPORT
OF THE CABINET MEMBER FOR CHILDREN’S SERVICES
IMPLEMENTATION
DATE: 10 March 2006
______________________________________________________________________
SUMMARY
1. To consider the findings and
recommendations from the investigations undertaken by Mouchel Parkman and
Outcomes UK during January 2006.
2. The diagnostic work undertaken in January
by the Council’s strategic partners,
Mouchel Parkman and Outcomes UK,
identified a number of key issues.
Their most important finding was that there needs to be a much stronger
accountability for the learning and progress of each individual child and young
person in our schools. This means that
procedures need to tightened; the Council’s capacity for school improvement
needs to be strengthened; and the use of data needs to be significantly
improved. In addition, further work is
needed to review the Council’s practices and procedures for safeguarding
children and young people.
BACKGROUND
3. In November 2005, the annual
performance assessment found that education provision on the Isle of Wight
merited only one star. The Isle of
Wight is one of only two local authorities given this low score. Children’s social care provision was rated
more positively with two stars.
4. In December 2005, a consortium,
comprising Mouchel Parkman and Outcomes UK, was procured by the Council to be a
strategic partner for its Children’s Services. During January a series of meetings and school visits have taken
place to ascertain what needs to be done to strengthen educational and
safeguarding provision. During this
time, the strategic partner has also provided the interim Director for
Children’s Services.
5. This report puts into effect, by means
of a further cabinet decision, the decisions taken at a cabinet meeting on 21
December 2005.
RULE 15
ACCESS TO INFORMATION PROCEDURE RULES
6. This decision has not appeared on the forward plan. It is not a key decision as defined in the Constitution, and the law does not require it to appear on the forward plan. Further, the decision of Cabinet on 21 December 2005 provides for the details of the work proposed in this report to be determined under delegated authority. Rule 15 of the Access to Information Procedure Rule provides for consideration of key decisions without their appearance on the Forward Plan, but it is not necessary to invoke that rule in relation to this report.
STRATEGIC
CONTEXT
7.
Improving
educational attainment is one of the key priorities of the Aim High
Strategy. Raising attainment
contributes to improving the chances of individuals and to the economic and
social wellbeing of the Island.
CONSULTATION
8.
The
process of identifying the particular work that will be undertaken by the
strategic partners, Mouchel Parkman and Outcomes UK, has involved consultation
with headteachers, chairs of governors, school staffs, staff from across the
Children’s Services, and senior officers and members of the Council.
FINANCIAL
AND BUDGET IMPLICATIONS
9.
The
specific work to be undertaken will fall into five workstreams:
1.
support to
build the capacity of the school improvement team so that it is well equipped
to support and challenge schools;
2.
support
directly to the high schools to maximize the GCSE performance of their pupils
this summer;
3.
support to
the data management teams in the Council to support pupil progress;
safeguarding; and performance management;
4.
support to
the Children and Families Division around child protection issues;
5.
leadership
for accountability, learning and safeguarding – as provided by the interim
Director for Children’s Services.
10.
The
total cost for this work will fall within the parameters originally agreed -
£200,000 for the calendar year 2006.
The funding for this will come from savings in management salaries
within Children’s Services. Additional
sums, of up to £50,000, from budgets already allocated for supporting delivery
of improved attainment, will also be made available to support this work if the
Cabinet Member or Acting Chief Executive determine this is the most effective
means of delivery improved attainment.
LEGAL
IMPLICATIONS
11.
The
procurement of the Council’s strategic partnership with Mouchel Parkman and
Outcomes UK is in accordance with European procurement rules and Council
procedures.
OPTIONS
12.
Work
by Mouchel Parkman / Outcomes UK was procured as an outcome of the cabinet
decision on 21 December 2005. The paper recommends more detailed workstreams
and outcomes for the short and medium term.
It is recommended that the Cabinet Member for Children and the Acting
Chief Executive are specifically delegated to commission, to a total value of
no more than £250,000 in the calendar year 2006-07, work by Mouchel
Parkman/Outcomes UK to deliver the outcomes recommended in the attached report
and letter.
RISK
MANAGEMENT / EVALUATION
13.
This
report recommends broad outcomes and workstreams to deliver those
outcomes. There must be clear
accountability and contract managerial arrangements for delivery.
14.
Elsewhere
on this agenda the Cabinet is asked to approve contract management
arrangements. The Cabinet Member and
Acting Chief Executive should be free to manage the contract – including
setting priorities and refining outcomes and workstreams within the advisory
and quality assurance framework provided by the Aim High Improvement Board and
the Children’s Services Partnership Board.
15.
It
is important that there is an exit strategy for the current partnership
contract. Future reports to the cabinet will consider the terms for a future
procurement of private sector support for Children’s Services and the best
political and managerial leadership structures.
RECOMMENDATIONS
16.
It
is recommended that the Cabinet Member and Acting Chief Executive are
specifically delegated to:
i. Agree
a contract with Mouchel Parkman/Outcomes UK, and
ii. manage
that contract within the available budget of £250,000 for the calendar year
2006,
in order to deliver workstreams and
outcomes in accordance with the recommendations set out in the appendices to
this report and summarised in paragraph 7.
APPENDICES
Appendix B Letter from Mouchel Parkman /
Outcomes UK dated 5 February 2005, Strategic
Director, Stage 2
BACKGROUND PAPERS:
Contract with Mouchel Parkman/Outcomes UK
Report to Cabinet 21 December 2005
Report from Mouchel Parkman/Outcomes UK
Contact Point: John Lawson – Acting Chief Executive 823203
[email protected]
Ian Sandbrook – Director of Children’s Services
823400 [email protected]
|
MR JOHN LAWSON Acting Chief Executive |
COUNCILLOR PATRICK JOYCE Deputy Leader and Cabinet
Member for Children’s Services |