Setting

Alexandra House 33 Kingsway London WC2B 6SE T 08456 404045 edhelpline@ofsted.gov.uk

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Mr Andrew Flack Corporate Director for Children and Young People Derby City Council 2 nd Floor Norman House Friargate Derby DE1 1NU

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YOUNG PEOPLE IN DERBY CITY COUNCIL

This letter summarises the findings of the 2006 Annual Performance Assessment process for your local authority. We are grateful for the information which you provided to support this process and for the time made available by yourself and your colleagues to discuss relevant issues.

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Summary

The contribution of the local authority’s children’s services in maintaining and improving outcomes for children and young people. The council’s overall capacity to improve its services for children and young people. 3 The contribution of the local authority’s social care services in maintaining and improving outcomes for children and young people.

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Summary

Grade Service descriptors Capacity to improve descriptors

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Summary

4 A service that delivers well above minimum requirements for users Excellent / outstanding 3 A service that consistently delivers above minimum requirements for users Good 2 A service that delivers only minimum requirements for users Adequate 1 A service that does not deliver minimum requirements for users Inadequate Derby city’s population is 233,200 of which 22.30% are children and young people are under the age of 18. The city has a mix of different cultures with 12.6% from black and minority ethnic communities (BME). Of the children in primary schools 24.9% are from BME communities. Crime and mortality levels are lower than the national average for cities. It has areas of affluence as well as significant deprivation, with four wards ranking among the most deprived areas in Britain. The overall effectiveness of the council’s children’s services to delivering outcomes for children and young people is good across the

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Summary

five outcome areas. There is strong and effective leadership at all levels. The Children and Young People’s Partnership Board is well established with good multi agency involvement. The partnership plan is clearly informed by the views of children and young people. Improving outcomes for children and young people from Black and minority ethnic communities is well prioritised. Outcomes are good and continue to improve.

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Being healthy

The contribution the council’s services make to improving outcomes in this area is good. Health national targets are met in most areas and exceeded in some. Parents receive effective support through a range of multi agency provision. The Youth Service delivers a valued social relationship education programme in schools and work has been done to develop this further. The proportion of all young people with substance misuse problems in treatment is high and better than comparators. Over 93% of young people who offend, and/or who have identified substance misuse problems, receive intervention and support within 10 days which is higher than the national average. The Youth Offending Team is working closely with the drugs team and providers to improve the proportion who receive a specialist assessment within five working days which has reduced and is lower than comparators.

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Being healthy

The council and its partners are continuing to work together to reduce the number of teenage conceptions. Progress is being made but conception rates have increased and are slightly above comparators. The council identifies this as a priority area and plans are in place to widen the take up of sex and relationship education. The authority has a strong commitment to promoting healthy lifestyles through good participation in the Healthy Schools initiative which encourages most children to eat a balanced diet at school. Of the 22 schools inspected between September 2005 to May 2006, 18 were judged good or outstanding and 4 satisfactory in relation to promoting good health. The school fruit and vegetable scheme for Key Stage 1 children has been positively evaluated and shows that as a result more children are eating fruit and vegetables at home. Increasing numbers of children take part in physical activity and participation by disabled pupils in sport is actively

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Being healthy

promoted through termly sports festivals.

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Being healthy

Good progress is being made in developing a comprehensive Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS). Children and young people with mental health difficulties are beginning to have access to support through tier 1 mental health workers based in schools, and they also have access to a crisis service. A model has been developed for a CAMHS service for children and young people with learning difficulties and/or disabilities. Regional work is ongoing to develop support for young people with serious mental health difficulties but progress is slow.

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Being healthy

The health needs of looked after children are well met. At 88%, the proportion who have an annual health assessment and dental check is above both comparator authorities and the national average.

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Staying safe

The contribution the council’s services make to improving outcomes in this area is good and, in most cases, higher than similar authorities. The majority of children and young people consulted report that they feel safe. All children on the Child Protection Register (CPR) are allocated to a qualified social worker. The timeliness of both initial and core assessments has significantly improved and is now better than comparators. Reviews of children on the CPR are all completed on time. Children are now removed from the CPR more quickly than comparators. The number of re-registrations of children on to the CPR has reduced but continues to be higher than comparators. Comparatively lower numbers of children from BME communities receive support as children in need, but they are over represented on the CPR. The council is exploring the reasons for this and has appropriately identified services for children and young people from BME communities as one of its

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Staying safe

The Local Safeguarding Children Board is well established and has undertaken a review of recruitment practices across all agencies to ensure they comply with government guidance on safe recruitment practices. A multi agency safeguarding training programme is in place and is well attended by staff. The number of children adopted is high and above comparators, but there have been delays in placing children for adoption. The council attributes this to their continued commitment to place children with complex needs for adoption. Placement stability is good and above comparators and there is strong commitment to maintaining this. The number of foster carers has increased through significant investment in recruitment and retention. Not all looked after children are allocated to a qualified social worker. Only 68% of reviews of looked after children were held within timescale, which is significantly lower than comparators.

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Staying safe

Children and young people with disabilities are now benefiting from a new integrated service which offers a good range of support to meet their needs more effectively and prevents duplication. Work is progressing well in implementing the Common Assessment Framework. Training has been delivered to a wide range of professionals, parents and carers. This has improved the quality of multi agency information sharing, assessment and referral and ensures that referrals to children’s social care are appropriate. Children and families have access to a good range of preventative support through children’s centres and voluntary provision. There is strong multi agency involvement in developing locality teams. A useful service directory has been developed and is available to staff via e-access. There are effective systems in place to identify children absent from school.

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Enjoying and achieving

The contribution the council’s services make to improving outcomes in this area is adequate with some good features and the authority is working hard with its partners to raise attainment and achievement. The overall quality of early years provision is good and the authority has effective strategies in place to support day care providers.

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Enjoying and achieving

The progress and attainment of pupils throughout their compulsory education are variable. Results at the end of Key Stage 1 are in line with national averages and statistical neighbours with the exception of mathematics, which remains below national averages. Rates of improvement in Key Stage 1 results are below statistical neighbours in reading and in mathematics where they are also below national averages. Results at the end of Key Stage 2 are below national averages but in line with statistical neighbours, with the exception of science which remains below statistical neighbours. Rates of improvement in results are well above statistical neighbours and above national averages for English and above national averages for science. Pupils’ progress between Key Stages 1 and 2 has improved but remains well below the national average. The councils’ strategic planning and funding arrangements continue to prioritise improvements in this key stage and are

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Enjoying and achieving

beginning to have an impact in targeted schools. Standards at Key Stages 3 and 4 have risen to be broadly in line with national averages and statistical neighbours. They are above national averages for the proportion of pupils obtaining five or more A* to C grades at GCSE, the average point scores attained by pupils at the end of Key Stage 4, and young people leaving statutory education with at least one qualification. Rates of improvement in results at Key Stage 3 are good in English and mathematics, being above national averages and statistical neighbours. Pupils’ progress between Key Stages 2 and 4 are above the national averages. The attainment of looked after children is good.

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Enjoying and achieving

Attendance is above the national average. The authority has ensured that it has an accurate picture of unauthorised absence and taken concerted action with partners to challenge unacceptable reasons for absence. Consequently overall rates of attendance continue to improve. The rate of fixed-term and permanent exclusion is declining significantly as a result of effective strategies by the authority and partnership arrangements between schools and the behaviour support team. The Pupil Referral Unit was placed in special measures by Ofsted in 2004.

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Enjoying and achieving

The authority has clearly established procedures to monitor the performance of its schools. However, it has failed to take sufficiently robust action to prevent the number of schools identified by Ofsted as causing concerns rising by two to six this year. Once schools are placed in a category of concern by Ofsted, letters of monitoring visits indicate that the authority’s support is effective.

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Enjoying and achieving

Participation by young people in activities provided by the council’s youth service is good. The achievement of young people and the quality of youth work practice is also good, particularly in project work with vulnerable young people, resulting in them acquiring the crucial skills of independent living and lifelong learning. At least a quarter of 13-19 year olds have access to high quality outdoor education and music recording facilities, youth theatre, sports facilities and residential opportunities. Every secondary school participates in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.

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Making a positive contribution

The contribution the council’s services make to improving outcomes in this area is good. Children and young people were effectively consulted in the development of the children and young people’s plan (CYPP) and their views are clearly outlined in the plan and included in priorities. Four young people are members of the CYPP executive with links to the Youth Forum to ensure that children and young people’s views continue to be widely represented. Young people are well supported to take part in local and national consultation and planning activities. One hundred and twenty two young Pakistani men and women contributed to national research about forced marriages. Young people have been consulted about the Youth Matters Green Paper, and in one area they have contributed to the design and planning of a new youth club. At 36%, the proportion of young people in contact with the Youth Service is the highest of comparator authorities.

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Making a positive contribution

Young people with disabilities were consulted about the development of their new integrated service. Young people are regularly involved in the recruitment of staff within children’s services.

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Making a positive contribution

School inspections found that pupils are well supported to develop socially and emotionally. All secondary and special schools, and the majority of primary schools have active school councils. Most schools were judged to offer good support and 25% of secondary schools offer outstanding support. Increasing numbers of schools are monitoring and reporting on bullying and taking active steps to address it through specific anti-bullying initiatives. However, bullying is still a concern for many young people. A new service has been commissioned via CAMHS to support young people from BME communities whose take up of support is low.

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Making a positive contribution

In areas with preventative schemes, there has been a significant reduction in arrests of young people. Targeted work by the Youth Offending Team has resulted in good progress in reducing re-offending rates to just under the national average.

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Making a positive contribution

Work in reducing the number of first time offenders has been particularly successful and achievement is better than in similar authorities. A wide range of restorative justice options is available for young people.

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Making a positive contribution

Kids in care and control effectively represent looked after children and young people, and have been involved in producing training and information material. Consultations with young people in residential care have resulted in improved approaches to anti bullying and quality of care. The number of looked after young people who receive final warnings and convictions has reduced and is just below comparators. The number of looked after children contributing to their review has increased to 82%, bringing the authority almost in line with comparators.

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Achieving economic well-being

The contribution the council’s services make to improving outcomes in this area is good. Contrary to the national trend, the proportion of 16 to 18 year olds in education, employment or training continues to rise.

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Achieving economic well-being

Overall the quality of education provided for 14 to 19 year olds is satisfactory with some good features. Looked after children, and children and young people with learning difficulties and/or disabilities are supported effectively in making the transition to adult life and economic independence. Achievement by young people aged 14 to 19 in special schools is good. Students entered for GCE/VCE/A/AS levels in schools’ sixth forms make satisfactory progress and the average points score they attain remains broadly in line with the national average.

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Achieving economic well-being

The authority works well with the Connexions service and local Learning and Skills Council to provide strategic direction for 14-19 education. The action taken to address the Ofsted 14-19 inspection has been effective and closely monitored. Collaboration between the college and secondary schools has been strengthened and provision broadened. The number of young pupils pursuing vocational qualifications has risen significantly in the past five years. Developments in work experience provision have been positively evaluated by the Department for Education and Skills and careers education and guidance have been strengthened by the introduction of a good practice guide. Improvements in the provision of post-16 pathways for young people not attaining, or likely to attain, at least five A* to C grades at GCSE, has been a priority. In the last 12 months, the authority has taken robust steps to improve the monitoring of the quality of sixth form provision in schools.

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Achieving economic well-being

It now has useful statistical data to assess the progress of students and has ensured that the school improvement annual review cycle examines the performance of individual schools.

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including its capacity to improve them further

The council and its partners provide effective leadership for children’s services. Strategic planning and management are good. Ambitions for improving outcomes for children and young people are clearly set out in the multi agency CYPP and these are reflected in the Community Plan. The vision for the future is well described. Objectives and targets are identified for each outcome. Meeting the needs of children and young people from BME communities is appropriately prioritised. The plan is well informed by the views of children, young people, parents and carers.

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including its capacity to improve them further

There is strong corporate leadership and good involvement in, and commitment to, children’s services. The Children and Young People’s Partnership is well established with good multi-agency involvement, including the voluntary sector. Priorities for improvement are appropriate and are based on a needs analysis. In some areas the quality of the analysis is weakened by a lack of comparative data, local data or robust analysis. Some budgets are pooled and joint commissioning is developing. A human resources sub group is in place and is making good progress in tackling problems in recruitment and retention. Vacancies of qualified social workers have reduced from 40% to 9%. Business planning and performance monitoring systems support the delivery of improvements. However, effective monitoring of outcomes will be hampered by the lack of specific and measurable targets for some key actions. Good use is made of data to inform targeted

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including its capacity to improve them further

intervention and support to schools. Audit systems are in place within children’s social care services to monitor the quality of practice.

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Key strengths and areas for improvement

Being healthy: • promoting healthy lifestyles in schools • assessment and treatment for young people with substance misuse difficulties • effectively meeting the health needs of looked after children • good progress in developing child and adolescent mental health services. Being healthy: • reduction of teenage pregnancy.

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Key strengths and areas for improvement

Staying safe: • numbers of children adopted • timeliness of initial and core assessments • stability of placements • integrated service for children with disabilities • good progress in implementing the Common Assessment Framework • good multi agency involvement in developing multi agency locality teams. Staying safe: • re-registrations of children who have been on the Child Protection Register • timeliness of reviews for looked after children • number of looked after children allocated to a qualified social worker • delays in placing children for adoption.

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Key strengths and areas for improvement

Enjoying and achieving: • good quality of early years’ provision • rate of improvement at Key Stage 3 • sustained improvement at Key Stage 4 • achievement of looked after children • good participation and achievement in youth service activities • effective actions to improve attendance • significant reduction in exclusions. Enjoying and achieving: • inadequate provision and attainment for excluded children and young people • declining rates of improvement at Key Stage 1 compared to statistical neighbours • low achievement at Key Stage 2. Making a positive contribution: • consultation with children and young people • opportunities to influence planning and decision making • pupils are well supported to develop emotionally and socially • good progress in reducing reoffending • looked after young people are effectively supported to make a positive contribution • reducing the number of first time entrants to the youth justice system.

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Key strengths and areas for improvement

Making a positive contribution: • improve take up of support by children and young people from BME communities ● improve measures to reduce bullying.

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Key strengths and areas for improvement

Achieving economic well-being: • significant improvement in the proportion of 16-19 year olds in education, employment or training • high percentage of looked after children in education, employment or training at aged 19 • improvement in pathway planning • good achievement of 14-19 year olds in special schools. Achieving economic well-being: • the proportion of pupils participating in pathways for young people not attaining or likely to five A*-Cs.

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Key strengths and areas for improvement

Management of children’s services: • strategic planning and management • strong and well established CYPP Board • children and young people’s plan well informed by views of children and young people. Management of children’s services: • identify specific and measurable targets for all key actions in children and young people’s plan • embed performance management and joint commissioning within the children and young people’s partnership.

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Staying Safe

• The incidence of child abuse and neglect is minimised with particular reference to children and young people from black and minority ethic communities who are over represented on the CPR. • Looked after children live in safe environments and are protected from abuse and exploitation:

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Staying Safe

ƒ the availability of foster and adoptive placements to meet local need ƒ the quality and timeliness of care planning and reviews.

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Enjoying and Achieving

• Educational provision is made for children who do not attend school.

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Enjoying and Achieving

• Action is taken to ensure that educational provision 5-16 is of good quality:

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Enjoying and Achieving

ƒ raise attainment at Key Stages 1 and 2.

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Achieving economic well-being

• Progress in developing coherent and co-ordinated 14-19 pathways for all young people and its impact on improving post-16 participation and attainment.

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Achieving economic well-being

We confirm that the children’s services grade will provide the score for the children and young people service block in the comprehensive performance assessment (CPA) and will be published to the Audit Commission. The social care judgement is for CSCI information only.

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FLO HADLEY

Divisional Manager Office for Standards in Education

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JONATHAN PHILLIPS

Director – Quality, Performance and Methods Commission for Social Care Inspection

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