Agenda item

Context:

Prior to submission to Cabinet on 5^th July 2017, to provide the Children and Young People Select Committee Members with an update on the action plan approved by Council on the 20th March 2017 (appendix 2 of the report titled ‘Wales Audit Office report on safeguarding within the kerbcraft scheme in Monmouthshire County Council’).

Key Issues:

·         Following a review by Wales Audit Office (WAO) of the provision of kerbcraft training by Monmouthshire County Council staff on behalf of the Welsh Government, an action plan was reported to Council on 20^th March 2017.

·         Appendix 1 of the report replicates the action plan but in italics under relevant headings an update is provided.

·         One of the actions requires the preparation and implementation of new procedures for the provision of kerbcraft training and that the future operating model be reported to Cabinet. The Children and Young People Select Committee has the opportunity to review the report before it is presented to Cabinet.

·         During March and April 2017, officers reviewed previous and current working arrangements and developed a new procedure for the provision for kerbcraft training.

·         The new policy and working procedures are provided in appendices 2, 3 and 4 of the report.

·         A major weakness highlighted by WAO was the control and recording of volunteers that supported Monmouthshire County Council in the training of children at each school.

·         Since WAO expressed concern over the management of volunteers in August 2016, none have been used and all kerbcraft training has been provided by Monmouthshire County Council kerbcraft trainers, occasionally with assistance from school support staff.

·         The new procedure limits the use of volunteers to six at any one time so the checking and recording of safeguarding information relating to the volunteers becomes much more straightforward (previously records for up to 80 volunteers were required).

·         This change in procedure, along with clear instructions on how the scheme is to be delivered, will offer greater confidence that safeguarding is controlled in the provision of this service.

Member Scrutiny:

·         In response to a Select Committee Member’s question, it was noted that at the moment, the Authority might struggle if the new model was accepted. However, the Authority would be able to use the six volunteers on an area wide basis but with more resources from internal sources, this should be achievable. It is hoped that the core volunteers might be able to provide their services on more occasions, i.e. fewer volunteers but able to provide more of their time for longer.

·         A significant amount of time will be saved by reducing the programme from 12 to 9 weeks.  Officers have advertised through the volunteering network and a number of people have expressed an interest in becoming one of the six core volunteers.

·         Monitoring of the Kerbcraft Scheme will indicate how it is progressing.  The information that is currently reported back to the Welsh Government is limited.  However, it is hoped that by extending the monitoring process to obtain further information and feedback from the children themselves and from the schools, hopefully this will provide more meaningful information to be fed back to Welsh Government.

·         The Welsh Government is updating its procedures with a view to making the scheme more meaningful.