The meeting began with the election of the chairman and vice chairman, with no other nominations, resulting in David Cole being elected as vice chairman. Apologies were received from several councillors, and there were no declarations of pecuniary or conflicting interest. The minutes of the last meeting were reviewed and approved with minor corrections. The main topics discussed included the enhancement of children's services, the SEND transformation program, and the recruitment and retention of social workers.

The enhancement of children's services was a significant focus. Councillor Grensall, newly in post, provided an overview of the improvement journey for children's services, emphasizing the importance of quality and consistency in social work practice. Key priorities included child protection, education, family hubs, emergency duty teams, corporate parenting, community parenting, and placements for children. Councillor Grensall highlighted the need for timely responses to families and children entering the service and the importance of hearing the voices of children. The council is working on opening new children's homes and recruiting more foster carers, with a goal of becoming a foster-friendly borough.

The SEND transformation program was another major topic. Councillor Grensall mentioned the recent funding approval for a new SEND school with 150 places at the Sans Souci site in Shirley. The program aims to ensure timely assessments for children with special educational needs and to find appropriate placements. The council is also focusing on supporting children who are homeschooled and ensuring they receive a proper education.

The recruitment and retention of social workers were discussed, with an emphasis on the importance of experienced social workers for managing complex cases. The council is addressing the variability in the quality of children's review minutes and plans by providing outcome-focused planning workshops for managers and reviewing officers. The performance report indicated improvements in various areas, including initial child protection conferences and re-referrals, but highlighted the need for further progress in reducing the number of children in care and improving workforce stability.

Other topics included the need for a glossary of terms in reports, the importance of involving the voice of the child in scrutiny, and the potential for joint scrutiny with other boards on issues such as domestic violence and mental health. The work plan for the year was discussed, with suggestions for prioritizing topics and ensuring meaningful discussions. The next meeting will focus on corporate parenting and the SEND transformation plan.