There was submitted a report by the Director of Children's Services relative to the progress made across Renfrewshire to date in terms of building capacity for system-wide change and scaling up the delivery of family support services through funding recieved from the Scottish Government as part of the Whole Family Wellbeing Fund.

The report provided an overview of the Whole Family Wellbeing Fund together with a detailed evaluation of the impact of the funding within Renfrewshire in terms of improving family wellbeing; reducing inequalities in family wellbeing; reducing the number of families requiring crisis intervention; reducing the number of children and young people living away from their families; and increasing the number of families taking up wider supports. The key findings were set out in section 5 of the report. The report concluded that the Council was continuing to make very good progress towards the long-term outcomes identified in the Scottish Government’s logic model.

DECIDED: That the very positive progress the new family wellbeing service was making to improve outcomes for families in Renfrewshire be noted.

There was submitted a report by the Director of Children's Services relative to the proposed payment of a maintenance allowance for young people in continuing care who reached the age of 18 on or after 22 August 2024.

The report advised that in October 2023 the Scottish Government introduced a Scottish Recommended Allowance in relation to children who were cared for in qualifying foster and kinship care placements and that this was the minimum level of allowance which local authorities could pay to support children in foster and kinship care. It was noted that many children in foster and kinship care wished to remain in their care setting after their 18th birthday and if the authority deemed this to be in their best interest, these arrangements were converted to a “continuing care” placement where young adults could remain until they reached the age of 21.

It was also noted that the Scottish Government had not set a Scottish Recommended Allowance for the maintenance of young adults in continuing care. The report proposed that Renfrewshire set the maintenance allowance at the rate of £200.00 per week, payable to young people who reach the age of 18 on or after 22 August 2024.

DECIDED:

(a) That the content of the report be noted;

(b) That the payment of a maintenance allowance for young people in continuing care who reached the age of 18 on or after 22 August 2024 at the rate of £200.00 per week be agreed; and

(c) That it be noted the continuing care maintenance allowance rate would be paid up to the young adult’s 21st birthday should they remain in the continuing care placement.

There was submitted a report by the Director of Children's Services relative to the implications of the Care and Justice (Scotland) Act (the Act) which received Royal Assent on 4 June 2024.

The report noted that Act made some significant changes to the laws and regulations in relation to the care of children and their involvement in both the children’s hearing and criminal justice systems together with the future implications for  Renfrewshire Council to meet its statutory duties.  It was advised that some provisions of the Act came into force on 4 June 2024 while others would be set out in the Scottish Government's commencement plan which was being developed.

DECIDED:  That the new legislation referenced within the report be noted and that it be further noted that, if required, an updated report would be brought to this Policy Board where there were future implications for policy, resources or practice.

There was submitted a report by the Chief Social Work Officer relative to children’s looked after statistics for 2023.

The report advised that each year on 31 July the Scottish Government conducted a census of the number of children who were looked after and the number of children on the child protection register. The information gathered during the census was analysed by the Scottish Government and an annual report published. A link to the data was provided in the report.

The 2023 report provided information on the numbers of looked after children and the
number of children on the child protection register on 31 July 2023. Whilst there was a
census on 31 July 2024 the results would not be available until March 2025.

The report provided national and local statistics as of 31 July 2023 together with statistics on the number of children on the child protection register across Scotland, which indicated a reduction of 2% from the previous year. The report also highlighted the number of children on the Renfrewshire child protection register on 31 July 2023 which showed a 8% increase from the previous year. It was noted that the main increase in Renfrewshire had come about following the reclassification of children in historical kinship care arrangements as looked after. When comparing the same categories as the previous year there was an increase of 2%.

DECIDED:

(a) That the information contained in the report on the number of looked after children in Scotland and Renfrewshire on 31 July 2023 be noted;

(b) That the preliminary information in relation to the number of looked after children in Renfrewshire on 31 July 2024 be noted; and

(c) That it be agreed that a report on the latest available data on looked after children in Renfrewshire be submitted to every second meeting of this Policy Board.

There was submitted a report by the Director of Children's Services relative to the Council's revised Managing and Reporting Violence and Aggression Incidents in Educational Establishments policy which was attached as an appendix to the report.

The report advised that the new policy would replace the previous Managing Violence and Aggression in Education Establishments policy and should be read in conjunction with the Council's Violence and Aggression Policy 2001.  Detail was also provided around the significant level of engagement and consultation which had been undertaken to develop the policy.

DECIDED: That the Managing and Reporting Violence and Aggression Incidents in Educational Establishments policy, attached as an appendix to the report, be approved.

There was submitted a report by the Director of Children's Services relative to the results of an inspection of Trinity High School carried out by Education Scotland. The letter sent by Education Scotland to the parents and carers of pupils detailing the outcome of the inspection was set out at Appendix 1 to the report.

The report advised that an inspection of Trinity High School had been carried out by Education Scotland in January 2024 with a focus on four quality indicators: leadership of change; learning, teaching and assessment; ensuring wellbeing, equality and inclusion; and raising attainment and achievement. The inspection report detailed four areas of key strength and three areas for further improvement.

DECIDED:  That the key strengths identified in the Education Scotland report on Trinity High School be noted and celebrated and that the areas for further improvement be recognised.

There was submitted a report by the Director of Children's Services relative to the Council's School Estate Management Plan (SEMP 2024) & Learning Estate.

The report advised that the Council's last SEMP, approved at the meeting of this Policy Board held on 23 May 2019, set out a series of proposals around the learning estate. An update on the progress made towards achieving these proposals was set out in section 3 of the report.

Detail was provided in section 4 of the report around the analysis of buildings in the learning estate based on their condition, suitability, and sufficiency together with a detailed overview of the findings and information on how this would influence the SEMP.  The report also summarised the ongoing roll projection exercise which was being undertaken to assess the future requirements of the learning estate.

DECIDED:

(a) That the current overview of ‘core facts’ relating to the condition, suitability, and sufficiency of the estate be noted and the Core Facts submission to the Scottish Government be homologated;

(b) That the improved arrangements for roll projections be agreed;

(c) That the status of all ongoing learning estate projects and the progress being made be noted;

(d) That the approach to developing a new Learning Estate Strategy which would support development of future iterations of the School Estate Management Plan be agreed; and

(e) That the approach of providing annual updates on the School Estate Management Plan (SEMP) as well as updates on the delivery of the new learning estate strategy be agreed.

There was submitted a report by the Director of Children's Services relative to the development of a Strategic Learning Estate Strategy for Renfrewshire.

The report made reference to the Children's Services Service Improvement Plan 2024/29, approved at the meeting of this Policy Board held on 23 May 2024 and highlighted that one of the priorities in this plan was to “create the best possible learning estate to allow children and young people to thrive”. To achieve this it was intended that the learning estate be assessed in its entirety, utilising data already available within the Council and by establishing a programme to revitalise the learning estate to meet the strategic vision and objectives outlined in the report and provide learning environments suitable for the 21st century.

To define what was considered necessary to deliver the “best possible learning estate” a set of strategic objectives had been established which would inform and drive the programme and which clearly articulated the pragmatic and deliverable requirements for the key elements of any learning establishment. The eight strategic objectives which had been developed around condition; suitability; sufficiency; inclusivity; digital; sustainability and net zero; community facilities and placemaking; and active travel were detailed in the report.

The report provided an analysis of the proposed strategy in terms of the current learning estate; strategic alignment with the Council Plan; governance and delivery; financial modelling; design, development and procurement; engagement; identification of priority projects for investment; and business case and option appraisal - including new build versus refurbishment.  

DECIDED:

(a) That the strategic vision and objectives be agreed;

(b) That the adoption of the objective assessment and prioritisation criteria and methodology be agreed;

(c)  That the governance proposals, as detailed in Appendix 1 of the report be agreed;

(d) That it be agreed to proceed to the identification of priority projects for further consideration based on approved methodology and objectives; and

(e) That the development of a long-term funding model to set out the financial deliverability requirements of the vision be agreed.

There was submitted a joint revenue and capital budget monitoring report by the Director of Finance & Resources and the Director of Children's Services for the period to 21 June 2024.

The report intimated that the projected revenue outturn at 31 March 2025 for Children’s Services was an overspend of £2.287 million (0.9%) against the revised budget for the year. The projected capital outturn at 31 March 2025 for Children’s Services was a breakeven position. A number of revenue and capital budget adjustments were detailed at sections 6 and 7 of the report respectively.

DECIDED:

(a) That the projected revenue outturn position for Children’s Services detailed in Table 1 of the report be noted;

(b) That the projected capital outturn position for Children’s Services detailed in Table 2 of the report be noted; and

(c) That the budget adjustments detailed in sections 6 and 7 of the report be noted.

There was submitted a report by the Director of Children's Services relative to the Children’s Services Health and Safety Action Plan for 2024/25 which was attached as an appendix to the report.

The report set out the requirement under the Council's Health, Safety and Welfare Policy for each service to submit an annual report and an annual Health and Safety action plan to the relevant Policy Board. The Children’s Services Health and Safety Action Plan for 2024/25 outlined the service’s commitment to continuous improvement in health and safety performance in accordance with the People Strategy – Ongoing implementation of key priorities (Health and Wellbeing Plan 2024/29). It was noted that the action plan would be monitored on a quarterly basis by the Service’s health and safety committee.

DECIDED: That the Children’s Services Health and Safety action plan for 2024/25, as set out at Appendix 1 of the report, be approved.

There was submitted a report by the Director of Children's Services relative to the results of an inspection of the Through Care Team - Housing Support Service by the Care Inspectorate. The inspection report was attached as an appendix to the report.

The report advised that an inspection of the service had been carried out in May 2024 with a focus on two areas: how well do we support people’s well-being; and how good is our leadership. Both areas considered by the inspection were assessed as very good.

DECIDED: That the outcome of the inspection of the Through Care Team, Housing Support Service be noted and the key strengths identified by the Care Inspectorate be celebrated.