Agenda item

Arrangements for Discharging the Statutory Role of Director of Children's Services: Local Test of Assurance

To consider a report of the Executive Director Core Services and the Executive Director People (Item 6a attached) in respect of the peer led test of assurance, concerning Barnsley’s arrangements for complying with the statutory guidance on the roles and responsibilities of the Director of Children’s Services (DCS) (Item 6b attached)

 

Minutes:

The following witnesses were welcomed to the meeting:-

·         Councillor Margaret Bruff, Cabinet Spokesperson, People (Safeguarding)

·         Rachel Dickinson, Executive Director, People

 

The attention of Members was drawn to the report circulated, and Members were reminded of the restructuring which had combined the duties of the Director of Children’s Services and Director of Adult Social Services.  Where Council’s had added duties to the Director of Children’s Services, a test of assurance should be undertaken.

 

An external assessment was undertaken by Peter Dwyer, then the Corporate Director – Children and Young People’s Service for North Yorkshire County Council, an authority rated as ‘good’.

 

The assessment considered various sources of information, including the self-assessment undertaken, a range of documents, information on the Council’s internet pages, and interviews with officers.

 

The assessment presented two recommendations, the first relating directly to Overview and Scrutiny and the need to ensure the focus on Children’s Services is not lost; the second relating to reliance on high quality officers and the need to ensure this is maintained through succession planning and strong recruitment processes.

 

Members asked a number of questions on the report and the following points were noted:-

·         There is no requirement to repeat the assessment, however it may be wise to repeat the exercise should the duties assigned to the post acting as Director of Children’s services significantly change.

·         With regards to the focus of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, the current arrangements, with a wider membership than previously, were considered beneficial to providing an appropriate level of oversight and challenge.  It was suggested that this needed to be maintained.

·         Whilst the need for focus on Children’s Services was acknowledged, Members discussed whether current arrangements allowed appropriate time to focus on other issues.  It was suggested that this would be considered in more detail in a review of the current arrangements.

·         It was agreed that whatever structures were adopted, they needed to be carefully balanced to ensure that they added value, and took account of wider arrangements.

 

RESOLVED:-

(i)            That the report be noted; and

(ii)          That thanks be given to the witnesses for their attendance.

 

Supporting documents:

 

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