Edinburgh, Lothian and Borders Executive Group Minute of Meeting

Transcription

1 Appendix ecurity classification: Not Protectively Marked Contents may be seen by: General Public Author: DS Hughes Organisation: Lothian and Borders Police Date created: 22/07/10 Telephone: Edinburgh, Lothian and Borders Executive Group Minute of Meeting Date: Friday 9 April 2010 Location: Conference Room, Vega House, South Gyle, Edinburgh Chair: Mr David Hume, Chief Executive, Scottish Borders Council Members present: Ms Michelle Miller Mr Kenneth Lawrie Mr Alan Blackie Mr Alex Linkston Mr Steve Allen Dr Alison McCallum Mr Calum Campbell Ms Sheena Wright Professor James Barbour Ms Lesley Boal Mrs Linda Hughes Apologies: Mr Strang Ms Melanie Hornett Mr Aitchison Chief Social Worker, City of Edinburgh Council Chief Executive, Midlothian Council Chief Executive, East Lothian Council Chief Executive, West Lothian Council Deputy Chief Constable, Lothian and Borders Police Chair, Edinburgh, Lothian Data Sharing Partnership Chief Executive, NHS Borders Director of Nursing and Midwifery, NHS Borders Chief Executive, NHS Lothian Detective Superintendent, Lothian and Borders Police Detective Sergeant, Lothian and Borders Police Chief Constable, Lothian and Borders Police Director of Nursing, NHS Lothian Chief Executive, City of Edinburgh Council 1. Welcome

2 Mr Hume welcomed members to the first ELBEG meeting hosted at Vega House. Mr Hume intimated that item 5. on the Agenda, the walkthrough of the Amethyst Building, would take place first and also indicated that Mr Boyd McAdam from Scottish Government would be attending to deliver a short presentation on GIRFEC. Mr Hume then extended a special welcome to Ms Sheena Wright, Director of Nursing and Midwifery, Scottish Borders, Deputy Chief Constable Steve Allen who was representing Chief Constable David Strang and Averil Duncan and Scott Wood from Scottish Government who were attending as guest speakers. There then followed a walkthrough of the Amethyst Building with members and at the conclusion of the tour Mr Hume thanked Anne Mitchell and David Brady for their assistance. 2. Apologies Apologies were received from Mr Strang, Mr Aitchison and Ms Hornett. 3. Minute of Previous Meeting Mr Hume asked members if they were satisfied the previous minute was a true reflection of the meeting. All members agreed. 4. Matters Arising/Action Register 4.1. Mr Hume to arrange meeting with Dr McCallum and Mr Lowe to discuss data Sharing issues Action 85 Mr Hume informed members that he was yet to organise this meeting, however Dr McCallum intimated that she and Mr Lowe had now had a preliminary and fairly positive meeting. Mr Hume will arrange a meeting with Dr McCallum and Mr Lowe in due course. Outstanding Actions 4.2. Terms of Reference and Responsibilities of Chair for ELBEG Public Protection Office Strategic Steering Group to be formulated Action 78 Ms Boal intimated that this action would be discussed as part of the agenda. Structure of ELBEG (flowchart) to be designed Action 79 Ms Boal stated that this document was presently out for consultation with members. ELBEG budget forecast for Fiscal Year Action 82 Ms Boal informed members that the budget had now been agreed. NOT PROTECTIVELY 2/5 MARKED

3 All other actions had been discharged. NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED ELBEG Strategic Management Update Report 4.3. Mr Hume asked members to consider that content of this report which would allow for the creation of a Strategic Management Group and the development and preparation of a Strategic Assessment which would help prioritise and inform our work for the year ahead. Ms Boal made reference to the benefits of partnership analysts which would better inform our work in relation to public protection both at local authority level and nationally. There followed general discussion between members regarding membership of the Strategic Management Group and the processes of the National Intelligence Model. All members agreed with the formation of the Strategic Management Group and would further consider the proposals regarding analytical support for Level 1 and Level 2 Strategic Assessments. ACTION : Members to consider the recommendations from Detective Superintendent Boal s Strategic Management Update Report that the Level 1&2 Strategic Assessments and ongoing analytical work can be achieved through the prioritisation of local authority funded partnership analysts. (Action 87 for Action Register). 6. Presentations 6.1 GIRFEC Mr Boyd McAdam, Scottish Government Mr McAdam thanked members for allowing him the opportunity to deliver this presentation in relation to the GIRFEC paper. Mr McAdam stated that Scottish Government has recognised that variations of the GIRFEC programme appear to be developjng in different Community Planning Partnerships across Scotland. While it is for CPP s to determine how best to deliver outcomes under the National Performance Framework, there are considerable benefits in areas adopting as consistent and joined up approach as possible within the ethos of GIRFEC. This includes a single system supporting information sharing, shared language, common tools and processes and streamlined support for children and families. Scottish Government has worked with a number of learning partners in the past year, two of these within the Lothian area. Each has developed tools, materials and processes that are reassuringly similar. For agencies that cross these boundaries, implementing 5 separate sets of forms on their systems, 5 different training programmes and 5 different processes to be accommodated by practice staff is causing unnecessary expenditure, duplication of effort and complication. NOT PROTECTIVELY 3/5 MARKED

4 Mr McAdam made reference to the fact that given ELBEG plays a key role in bringing together agencies across Lothian and Borders, Scottish Government would like to explore the possibility of developing a consortium approach across Lothian and Borders with support from Scottish Government. A key aim would be to explore aligning local approaches to Getting it right in each locality and developing a holistic approach across the whole area. Mr McAdam stated that Scottish Government would be interested in exploring how this rationalisation can bring efficiencies in relation to areas like the Police or NHS that already work across multiple local authority boundaries. In order to facilitate this process, Mr McAdam alluded to the fact that Scottish Government would be able to provide some financial support and would also welcome an opportunity to meet with ELBEG and management boards responsible for taking forward Getting it right in each CPP to discuss how this congruence cold be developed and how best Scottish Government could support the work. There followed some discussion among members who were generally supportive of the proposals outlined from Scottish Government, but were keen to ensure that CPP s within their areas were fully consulted. All members agreed to have further discussion with their CPP s and report back to ELBEG Mr McAdam indicated that Scottish Government would also make contact with the CPP s in each local authority and report back to ELBEG. Mr Hume informed Mr McAdam that there was a positive ELBEG commitment to the GIRFEC proposals provided members consulted with their CPP s in the first instance. He then thanked Mr McAdam for his presentation. ACTION : Members to consider proposals outlined in GIRFEC paper which would allow for the development of a holistic approach to GIRFEC across the ELBEG area. (Action 88 for Action Register) Young Runaways Project Grampian Police Pilot Detective Sergeant Averil Duncan and Scott Wood Mr Wood thanked members for the opportunity to deliver this presentation. Mr Wood provided members with some background information in relation to the origins to the pilot of Young Runaways and the concerns from Scottish Government as to how services could be improved. Reference was made to the National Coalition Report and the numbers of recommendations made, which included a pilot of return home interviews of Young Runaways. Scottish Government then agreed to a pilot interview of Young Runaways and in March 2009, Grampian Police was identified to implement this pilot over a 12 month period. Detective Sergeant Duncan explained the methodology to this pilot, the two models of interview technique that were conducted and the specific geographical areas that were involved. Reference was made to the structure of the interview and its relationship to the national practice model for GIRFEC. NOT PROTECTIVELY 4/5 MARKED

5 Training and Protocol was jointly agreed between Scottish Government, Police and other relevant partners. Administrative support was also provided with particular focus on early intervention. The pilot was completed in March Detective Sergeant Duncan summarised the evaluation report as generally positive, with the pilot having achieved its outcomes of developing an improved interview process for dealing with Young Runaways. There was a marked improvement in relation to the intelligence gleaned from such interviews which has greatly assisted the police when dealing with reported missing persons. Detective Sergeant Duncan concluded by stating that the Return Home Interviews are a worthwhile tool in helping identify young people who require support and/or early intervention. The relationship between the Police and Social Work Department has greatly improved with better information sharing with all partners leading to better prioritization and timely, proportionate and appropriate referrals. The Young People who were interviewed found the interview a very positive experience and felt they were being listened to. There followed some discussion in relation to children missing from Education. Mr Wood informed members that Scottish Government were now in consultation with ACPOS and Grampian Police in relation to the evaluation report which will be circulated to all local authorities in due course. Mr Hume then thanked Detective Sergeant Duncan and Mr Wood for their presentation. 7. ELBEG Conference Feedback Mr Hume informed members that the feedback had been extremely positive in relation to the Conference. In particular the presentation delivered by Sir Michael Bichard which had been well received. All the papers in relation to the presentations by the guest speakers will be circulated to members in due course. Mr Hume wished to record thanks to Detective Superintendent Boal, Anne Mitchell, Detective Chief Inspector Adrian Lawrie and all other members of the team who helped organise the conference. 8. Child Protection 8.1 ELBCPO Child Protection Update Ms Boal then provided members with a verbal update of this report making particular reference to the Review of the Guidelines Protecting children in families with problem substance use and the number of recommendations for ELBEG members to note. This included a revision of the guidelines which could be undertaken by a small group comprising the evaluation team and representatives from key agencies. It is also suggested that a lead from Health is appointed to Chair this group. NOT PROTECTIVELY 5/5 MARKED

6 Mr Hume asked if members could review the guidelines, including the formation of a small group and any comments to be forwarded to the ELBEG Secretariat by 15 th May This is in anticipation of the inaugural meeting of the ELBEG Strategic Management Group to be held at the beginning of June 2010 when these comments would be discussed. All members agreed to this request. ACTION : Members to make any comments in relation to the recent Review of the Guidelines Protecting children in families with problem substance use and consider the establishment of a small group of personnel to undertake the review of these guidelines. (Action 89 for Action Register). Ms Boal informed members that the Community Roadshows had now been completed and a considerable number of questionnaires completed which will now be evaluated. 9. Adult Protection 9.1. Adult Protection Update Ms Boal asked members to note the content of this report, making particular reference to the Adult Support and Protection Guidelines which had now been distributed in hard copy Protection for Vulnerable People when service providers are failing - Mr Blackie Mr Blackie provided members with a verbal report on recent concerns in East Lothian where residential care providers within the private sector had removed their contracts. This resulted in a risk to the local authority and health professionals and fundamentally wrong for care providers in the private sector to withdraw their services without proper and informed consultation with the local authority. There were also adult protection issues to consider. Ms Millar informed members that as much as the Care Commission had a duty to quality assure the care provided within the private sector and report back to the local authority, the onus is very much on the councils to quality assure what is going on in the private sector and the mechanisms for monitoring that do not presently exist. There followed much discussion from members regarding how the private sector is managed both financially and from a recruitment perspective which is not included within the National Care Home Contract. Mr Blackie offered to write a short paper to the Directors of Social Work/Chief Social Work Officers outlining this ongoing problem in East Lothian. Mr Hume then stated that this would then allow Social Work to report back to ELBEG who will then provide a report a collective response to COSLA. Mr Blackie agreed to contact Social work and all members endorsed this decision. ACTION : Mr Blackie to write to Directors of Social Work highlighting the East Lothian Care Home issue. (Action 90 for Action Register). NOT PROTECTIVELY 6/5 MARKED

7 10. Children s Services (HMIe) Inspection Process Mr Hume asked members for any update in their constituent authorities. Ms Miller informed members of the recent thematic Prison Inspection across Scotland conducted by SWIA which involved the assessment of high risk of serious harm offenders within the prison environment. There had also been a review by ADSW and SWIA about high risk offenders and a number of recommendations for local authorities from this review included self evaluation. Mr Blackie intimated that East Lothian s Child Protection Inspection will commence in January Mr Linkston stated that West Lothian Council s Child Protection Inspection was due to commence in May Information Sharing Edinburgh, Lothian Data Sharing Partnership Update Dr McCallum provided members with a verbal update of this report and stated that the Child Protection Alert on TRAK continued to work well. Dr McCallum stated that the revised Business Case for the introduction of a Shared Interagency Referral Discussion tool has been accepted by the Child Protection Committee and funding granted. Development work will commence as soon as the funding is released. Dr McCallum made reference to the National e-care Programme in Lothian and how recent discussions with Scottish Government had been more positive in relation to their understanding of the Data Sharing Partnership s concerns Borders Data Sharing Partnership Update Mr Hume provided members with a verbal update from this report making reference to the progress in Child Protection Messaging, and the delays surrounding the progression of the Single Shared Assessment. Mr Hume alluded to the consideration of the expanding role within the Scottish Borders Data Sharing Partnership to include Information Sharing governance. Mr Hume commented on the fact the Information Sharing had been the theme of the ELBEG conference and asked members to consider that there should be a greater focus on information sharing at future ELBEG meetings Borders Data Sharing Partnership Funding Proposal NOT PROTECTIVELY 7/5 MARKED

8 Mr Hume asked members to note the content of this report. 12. AOCB No other items were raised for discussion. 13. Date and Venue for Next Meeting Mr Hume advised members that the group s next meeting would take place on Friday 13 August 2010 at Scottish Borders Council Headquarters, St. Boswell s. Mr Hume thereafter concluded the meeting, thanking those present for their attendance, extending appreciation to the ELBCPO staff for hosting the meeting NOT PROTECTIVELY 8/5 MARKED