Agenda Reports Pack (Public) 15/10/2012, 19.00 - Meetings ...

sought for children rather than wider ‘children in need’ issues whichmust be considered by the core group meetings.5.4 We had discussions with partner agencies about ensuring theircompliance with and attendance to core group meetings. More work isrequired in this regard though we have been able to establish a linkbetween poorly attended conferences followed by poorly attended coregroups. Professional attendance is monitored by the SQA service via amonitoring form completed by the child protection chair at the end ofeach conference. Child protection chairs are also alerted by socialworkers and/or their managers to persistent non attendee’s at coregroup meetings. The follow up is robust and the data/information is fedback to the LSCB. Overall, there has been an improvement in thisarea.5.5 There are ongoing considerations as to how we can improve our childprotection services both in the way they are delivered within the currentorganisational structure, and whether a structural change can lead tobetter outcomes for vulnerable children, (i.e. the single front doormentioned above), and how we can learn about our service throughfeedback from children and their families. This will form part of thework plan for the coming year.5.6 We have implemented a multi-agency CP panel whose primary role isto monitor those children who have remained subject to a CP plan for12 months or more. This panel provide advice and specialist directionfocussing on difficult to reach families and cases where plans havebecome stuck and/or difficult to achieve.5.7 We have also implemented a system that provides social workers andmanagers with feedback on their cases so we can continue to buildconfidence in the workforce through constructive commentary aboutperformance.5.8 The Learning and Development Strategy with particular emphasis onpost-qualifying specialist training has been rolled out and is fullysubscribed. Hammersmith and Fulham is also the lead authority forthe West London Pilot which is aiming to develop a range ofsustainable improvements in both the recruitment, retention andprofessional development of social work staff.5.9 We have made substantial changes to the Integrated Children’sSystem (ICS) which has simplified the case recording requirementsand freed up social workers to devote more time to direct work. Weare also partners in the Department of Education’s pilot, to allow formore flexible approaches to be taken in assessing children and theirfamilies by removing timescales and targets and leaving the authorityto draw up its own good practice expectations.Page 207