Agenda and minutes

Apologies had been received from Councillor Robert Evans and Councillor Russell Mellor.

In respect of item 13 on the Executive Agenda Councillor Bennett declared an interest as a Governor of Bromley College.  In respect of item 6 on the Executive Agenda in the interests of completeness, Councillor Bennett declared that the Education, Children and Families Select Committee would be undertaking a scrutiny review of the Troubled Families Programme in January 2018.

Members of the Committee are requested to bring their copy of the agenda for the Executive meeting on 7^th November 2017.

The Committee considered the following reports on the part 1 agenda for the meeting of the Executive on 7 November 2017.

(6)  TACKLING TROUBLED FAMILIES PROJECT – UPDATE ON OUTCOMES AND GRANT DRAWDOWN

Report ED18031

Members considered a report setting out expenditure on the Tackling Troubled Families (TTF) Programme being delivered in Bromley.  The report also requested agreement to drawn down grant funding from central contingency.

The TTF programme in Bromley was currently in Phase 2 of the national programme; 2017/18 was Year 3 of the 5 year Phase 2 programme.  TTF remained a payment by results initiative.  The national criteria was expanded under Phase 2; the focus was now more holistic and had been broadened to allow for earlier intervention.

The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) had increased the data collection requirements for TTF in order to evidence the new criteria.  There was a requirement to submit to DCLG data for the national impact study, the Family Progress Data, the national Cost Savings Calculator, and Qualitative in-depth interviews with staff and families, alongside the ongoing audit requirements both locally and nationally.

The TTF Programme remained coordinated through the Bromley Children Project within Early Intervention and Family Support Services (EIFSS).  The intervention and support was delivered through a number of work streams, primarily within EIFSS but also key partners including the Anti-social behaviour unit, Youth Offending Service, the Education Welfare Service, and services that supported families not in work.

In response to a question from the Chairman, the Head of Early Intervention and Family Support reported that the reward payment varied depending on the level of intervention that was necessary but that the attachment payment was a fixed sum.  It was possible for the Local Authority to receive less than £800 for an intervention but this had not yet happened.

The Head of Early Intervention and Family Support also reported that the intervention target for October 2017 had been 75 and the Service had confirmation earlier in the day that in October 76 interventions had been completed.  This figure required verification by Internal Audit.

In response to a question from the Chairman surrounding the £21,000 running costs, the Head of Early Intervention and Family Support explained that these costs related to the overheads of the service such as gas, electricity, water, premises, and furniture.  It would be possible to provide Members with a full breakdown of the running costs on request.

The Vice-Chairman expressed concern about some information he had been given which had suggested that a policy was being operated by some sections of the NHS whereby Ritalin medication was not being prescribed to children with ADHD.  The Head of Early Intervention and Family Support responded that she was not aware of any such policy not to prescribe medication.  Any family who presented to the Service where there was a suspicion of ADHD was asked to attend an ADHD Parenting Programme prior to the commencement of any treatment.  The Vice-Chairman requested that this issue be further looked  ...  view the full minutes text for item 85.

RESOLVED that the Press and public be excluded during consideration of the items of business referred to below as it is likely in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings that if members of the Press and public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information.

The following summaries

refer to matters involving exempt information

Members considered certain reports on the Part 2 agenda for the Executive’s meeting on 19^th July 2017.