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Children & Young People Scrutiny Panel - Wednesday, 19th June, 2024 6.00 pm

June 19, 2024 View on council website
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Summary

The Children & Young People Scrutiny Panel of Wolverhampton Council met on 19 June 2024 to discuss several key issues, including the approval of the Principal Social Worker Annual Report 2023-2024, the draft work programme for the upcoming year, and the impact of recent policy changes on local youth services. Decisions were made on the adoption of the annual report and the work programme, with detailed discussions on the implications for social work and youth services in Wolverhampton.

Principal Social Worker Annual Report 2023-2024

The panel approved the Principal Social Worker Annual Report 2023-2024. The report highlighted the achievements and challenges faced by social workers over the past year. Key points included the successful implementation of new training programmes and the ongoing issues related to staff retention. One councillor noted, The training initiatives have significantly improved our service delivery, but we must address the high turnover rates to maintain consistency1.

Draft Work Programme

The panel discussed and approved the draft work programme for the upcoming year. The programme outlines the key areas of focus, including mental health services for young people, educational attainment, and safeguarding. The panel emphasised the importance of these areas in light of recent budget cuts. One member stated, We need to ensure that our limited resources are directed towards the most critical areas to support our young people effectively.

Impact of Policy Changes on Youth Services

The panel examined the impact of recent policy changes on local youth services. Discussions centred around the reduction in funding and its effects on service delivery. The panel expressed concerns about the sustainability of current programmes and the potential for increased demand on remaining services. One councillor remarked, The cuts are putting immense pressure on our services, and we need to find innovative solutions to continue supporting our youth.

For more details, you can refer to the Public reports pack and the Agenda frontsheet.

  1. Staff retention refers to the ability of an organisation to retain its employees and reduce turnover. ↩

Attendees

Documents