Children And Families Services Committee - 06/09/2021

At a MEETING of the CHILDREN AND FAMILIES SERVICES COMMITTEE held remotely on 6th September, 2021.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

External members for Articles I to III

Ms M LECK, Roman Catholic Church Representative

Mr D BAXTER, Teacher Representative

Miss F ISHAQ, Pupil Representative

Councillor Stewart HUNTER, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 21st June, 2021 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I DECLARATION OF INTEREST

There were no declarations of interest.

II PARENT, PUPIL AND CHURCH/RELIGIOUS REPRESENTATION ON THE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES SERVICES COMMITTEE

There was submitted Agenda Note AN25-2021 where reference was made to Article V of the minute of meeting of the City Council held on 22nd May, 2017, wherein it was agreed to seek nominations for parent, pupil and church/religious representatives on the Children and Families Services Committee.

With regard to parent representation, John Anderson-McGuinness had been re-nominated as the secondary representative. It was reported that Katie Radkte had resigned as the primary representative and a replacement would be nominated in due course.

With regard to pupil representation, Fatima Ishaq had been re-nominated for Session 2021/2022.

It was reported that Kathleen Mands had resigned as the Church of Scotland representative and a replacement would be nominated in due course.

The nominees had agreed to abide by the Code of Conduct in accordance with the Standards Commissions Guidance.

The Committee agreed the above appointments.

III TAYSIDE PLAN FOR CHILDREN, YOUNG PEOPLE AND FAMILIES 2021-2023

On a reference to Article V of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 25th January, 2021, there was submitted Report No 237-2021 by the Executive Director of Children and Families Service. The report followed the final 12-month update on the implementation of the Tayside Plan for Children, Young People and Families 2017/2020. Full details on the last update were also provided in Appendix 1 of the report. Building on this, the report set out the continued commitment of all three Councils, NHS Tayside, Police Scotland and other organisations to sustain work as the Tayside Regional Improvement Collaborative (TRIC) and implemented a new iteration of the Tayside Plan 2021/2023 (which was included as Appendix 2 to the report). The plan outlined the key regional priorities to be progressed over the next two years in ways which would complement local activities outlined in the City Plan 2017/2026 and the Children and Families Service Plan 2021/2023.

The Committee:-

(i) approved the new iteration of the Tayside Plan for Children, Young People and Families 2021/2023; and

(ii) instructed the Executive Director of the Children and Families Service to submit an update report in 12 months.

At this juncture, external members of the Committee departed.

IV UNACCOMPANIED ASYLUM-SEEKING CHILDREN (UASC) NATIONAL TRANSFER SCHEME (NTS)

There was submitted Report No 236-2021 by the Executive Director of Children and Families Service outlining the current circumstances in relation to the increase in numbers and changes in arrangements for support to Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children (UASC) across the UK. The report included an outline of changes to the National Transfer Scheme (NTS) announced by the UK Government on 10th June, 2021 and its possible implications for Scottish Local Authorities. It recommended that the Council join the new NTS and formally agreed to co-ordinate local arrangements to accept and care for UASC aged 16-17 years on a rota basis along with other areas nationally. It also outlined how these arrangements would be progressed in alignment with the Council response to the rapidly developing emergency situation in Afghanistan.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the developments nationally impacting the lives of UASC;

(ii) agreed that the Council join the NTS as part of a national rota across Scotland; and

(iii) instructed the Executive Director to provide an update on progress in 12 months.

V PROGRESS REPORT ON PAUSE DUNDEE

On a reference to Article VII of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 27th January, 2020, there was submitted Report No 238-2021 by the Executive Director of Children and Families Service providing members with information on the progress of the Pause programme since it began in 2019 and recommending continued funding for the programme, given its critical role in the Council and wider partnership approach to services for women with multiple and complex needs in the city.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the considerable progress made by 21 women who completed the first Pause Dundee programme, as evidenced in the Impact Report attached as Appendix 1 to the report;

(ii) noted and commended the efforts of the Pause Dundee staff team in maintaining engagement with the women during the period of the Covid-19 pandemic;

(iii) approved the continued funding to be provided by the Children and Families Service in the period 2021/2022 and 2022/2023; and

(iv) instructed the Executive Director to keep the outcomes of the programme under continued review and provide an update report in 12 months.

Stewart HUNTER, Convener.