To receive apologies for absence.

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Amil.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Policy Development and Decision Group (Joint Commissioning Team) held on 4 February 2019.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Policy Development and Decision Group (Joint Commissioning Team) held on 4 February 2019 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To consider the submitted report which sets out the annual report of the Virtual School Governing Body.

Members noted the submitted report which set out the eighth annual report of the Virtual School Governing Body (VSGB) since the Virtual School was established in the academic year 2010/2011.  It has been a busy and successful year overall for the Virtual School, with the main focus being on achieving the best outcomes for Children Looked After.

The report highlighted the improvements in national tests at Key Stage 4 with the GCSE results being amongst the best in England for Children Looked After.  However, Early Years Foundation Stage and Key Stage 2 showed a decline but this was for a very small cohort of children. The report also identified a number of priority areas for improvement as follows:

·         To focus on English and Maths outcomes at KS4;

·         To continue the focus of the PRIM (progress, review, intervention meetings) on Y6 and 11 with a view to commence these in Y5 and Y10;

·         To determine the intervention necessary to improve progress in primary writing;

·         To build on the improvement in the quality of Personal Education Plans to bring consistently high quality PEPS;

·         To continue the focus and training on attachment in schools

·         To improve the completion and quality of post 16 PEPS;

·         To continue to strengthen the relationship between the VS staff and foster carers in order to ensure all foster carers have high educational aspirations for all our CLA;

·         Ensure all foster carers have up to date knowledge of the changes within the curriculum at all key stages, life without levels, progress 8 and attainment 8, as well as understanding their role in PEPs, PP+ interventions and the support they provide for children placed in their care;

·         To repeat the training for CLA Governors in schools in Torbay; and

·         To determine the causes of the increase in Fixed Term Exclusions.

To consider the submitted report on a mid-term review of the above strategy.

Members considered the submitted report and noted that the Strategy was a key element in delivering aspects of the Children and Young People’s Plan and Achieving Educational Excellence Everywhere Strategy’s.  By the adoption of the SEND Strategy it is ensures help is offered at the earliest opportunity to support children and young people with what they want to achieve.  The submitted report provided an overview of what has been achieved from the introduction of the Strategy and set out the future direction through a new action plan. 

The Policy Development and Decision Group (Joint Commissioning Team) made the following recommendation to the Elected Mayor:

That the Elected Mayor be recommended:

(i)         to note the progress made on the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Strategy and agree the revised action plan set out at Appendix 3 to the submitted report.

The Elected Mayor considered the recommendation of the Policy Development and Decision Group (Joint Commissioning Team) set out above at the meeting and the record of decision, together with further information is attached to these Minutes.

To consider the submitted report on a mid-term review of the Accessibility Strategy.

Members considered the submitted report and noted the mid term review of the Strategy.

The Policy Development and Decision Group (Joint Commissioning Team) made the following recommendations to the Elected Mayor:

That the Elected Mayor be recommended:

(i)         that the progress made on the Accessibility Strategy be noted; and

(ii)        that further consultation be carried out on the Special Educational Needs (SEN) Capital funding and the Assistant Director, Education, Learning and Skills, in consultation with the Executive Lead/Cabinet Member for Children, be given delegated authority to make appropriate revisions to Torbay’s Special Provision Plan by 31 May 2019.

The Elected Mayor considered the recommendations of the Policy Development and Decision Group (Joint Commissioning Team) set out above at the meeting and the record of decision, together with further information is attached to these Minutes.

To consider the submitted report on the above.

Members considered the submitted report and noted that the strategy supported disadvantaged children’s learning and was a key element of the framework to deliver a vision for the children and young people in Torbay.  Through greater collaboration, it would ensure children and young people were given the best start in life and could grow and prosper within safe families and communities that give them the best start for the future.

The Policy Development and Decision Group (Joint Commissioning Team) made the following recommendations to the Elected Mayor:

That the Elected Mayor be recommended:

(i)         that the Torbay Strategy for Supporting Disadvantaged Children’s Learning: Vision and Priorities 2018 to 2020, as set out in Appendix 1 to the submitted report, be approved;

(ii)        that the Director of Children’s Services, in consultation with the Elected Mayor, Executive Member/Cabinet Member for Children’s and key stakeholders, be authorised to make any final changes to the Strategy; and

(iii)       that the Cabinet receive regular updates on performance against the Torbay Strategy for Supporting Disadvantaged Children’s Learning.

The Elected Mayor considered the recommendations of the Policy Development and Decision Group (Joint Commissioning Team) set out above at the meeting and the record of decision, together with further information is attached to these Minutes.

To consider the submitted report on the above.

Members considered the submitted report and the proposal that Torbay Council becomes a signatory to the prevention concordat for Better Mental Health.

The Policy Development and Decision Group (Joint Commissioning Team) made the following recommendations to the Elected Mayor:

that the Elected Mayor be recommended:

(i)         that Torbay Council signs up to the Prevention Concordat for Better Mental Health;

(ii)        that the Director of Public Health be given delegated authority to make any required amendment to and sign the Torbay Council Prevention Concordat for Better Mental Health Action Plan as set out in Appendix 1 to the submitted report; and

(iii)       that Councillors Stockman and Stocks be appointed as Councillor Mental Health Champions registered with the Centre for Mental Health.

The Elected Mayor considered the recommendations of the Policy Development and Decision Group (Joint Commissioning Team) set out above at the meeting and the record of decision, together with further information is attached to these Minutes.

To note the submitted report on the above.

Members noted the contents of the submitted report which provided an update in respect of the direction of travel for integrating commissioning between NHS Devon Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), Devon, Plymouth and Torbay Local Authorities in 2019/20.

A number of related work streams have been taking place over recent months involving a wide range of staff from partner organisations. For example:

·         Intelligence leads from public health, social care and NHS have developed a common outcomes framework and been planning how to share knowledge, analyse data and provide integrated intelligence to inform planning, prioritisation and decision making.

·         Staff with a role in planning in either Local Authorities or NHS CCGs have reviewed the current planning processes and begun designing how these can be adapted to facilitate a more integrated approach.

·         Commissioning staff, including Heads of Service, senior officers and executives, have undertaken work to design joint processes, teams and meeting structures and, through doing so, have also increased their understanding of different ways of working and started developing a shared culture.

The proposed arrangements developed through this collaborative process take into account of the current position of the organisations, acknowledge and retain clear accountability and are designed in such a way as to enable implementation without significant re-organisation or disruption, whilst retaining the flexibility for further development.

The merger of Northern, Eastern and Western Devon CCG and South Devon & Torbay CCG is an important step in the journey to create a single strategic commissioner for Devon as part of the CCG’s ambition to better integrate health and care services to benefit our local communities. Together with delegated commissioning of primary care, the merger will enable the single NHS commissioner to work consistently and coherently with all local authorities across wider Devon as well as with local partners within each area.

From 1 April 2019, NHS Devon CCG will become a new statutory organisation serving a patient population of nearly 1.2 million people with a budget of more than £1.8 billion. The CCG will comprise a membership of 131 GP practices across Devon, Plymouth and Torbay and will be chaired by a GP with member representation as a core part of its governing body. Through its membership and staff, NHS Devon CCG will work with local communities and partner organisations to improve people’s health and make sure they are able to receive high quality, local services.

Members raised a number of concerns and made a number of suggestions.  The proposal needs to be more open and clear as to the role of Torbay Council, the governance structure (for example the inclusion of officer representation from Public Health and Children’s Services as full members) and our ability to influence the Integrated Commissioning Executive and how local accountability will be safeguarded.  Assurance is required as to how local communities are engaged and informed as further integration of health and care services evolve and consideration needs to be given to the relationship of Health and Wellbeing Boards and the Integrated Commissioning Partnership.