The Children and Young People Scrutiny Panel is scheduled to consider reports on performance monitoring, annual updates on insight and influence, and complaints, compliments, and representations. The meeting will also review the participation, engagement, and co-production activities undertaken by the Insight and Influence team, as well as the annual report on complaints, compliments, and representations received by Children's Services.

Performance Monitoring Report (Q1 2026-2027)

The panel is scheduled to consider a report on Children's Services performance for the first quarter of the 2026-2027 financial year. This report focuses on core Children's Services business and is framed around key areas including: children's educational achievement, support for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), children missing education or at risk of falling out of education, employment, or training (EET), risks outside the home, and children at risk, suffering harm, or in care. The report utilises a RAG rating system to indicate performance levels. It also provides contextual information on the demographics of children and young people in Greenwich, including population projections and school census data, as well as details on cohorts known to the Family and Adolescent Support Service (FaASS), Social Care, and the Youth Justice Service. Specific attention is drawn to areas of current or emerging performance concern.

Insight and Influence Annual Update 2025/26

This agenda item is scheduled to review the participation, engagement, and co-production activities undertaken by the Insight & Influence Team during the 2025-26 period. The report will outline key themes emerging from discussions with children, young people, parents, and carers, and detail the impact of this participation on service development, commissioning, and strategic decision-making. Priorities for the Insight & Influence Team for 2026-27 will also be presented. The report highlights that over 6,500 children, young people, and families contributed their views, influencing strategic priorities and service improvements. Key achievements include strengthening strategic participation through the Greenwich Young People's Council (GYPC) and the ACE Network for children and young people with SEND. The report also details the work of the Children in our Care Council, Care Leaver Forum, Young Advisors, and Parent and Carer Forums, as well as the role of Young Commissioners in shaping services. Recurring themes from consultations include the need to be heard and taken seriously, the impact of the cost of living, a desire for clear, unified information, concerns about mental health and emotional wellbeing, safety, and the need for life skills and independence preparation.

Complaints, Compliments and Representations Annual Report 2025-26

The panel is scheduled to consider the annual report on complaints, compliments, and representations received by Children's Services for the 2025-26 financial year. This report fulfils the statutory requirement to publish an annual report on complaints managed under the Children Act 1989 Representations Procedure, and also covers complaints managed through the Council's Corporate Complaints Procedure, as well as compliments and other feedback. The report indicates a rise in complaint activity across both statutory and corporate procedures, with a significant increase in Stage 2 investigations, which has placed pressure on operational services and the complaints function. Key themes in upheld complaints include Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) services, school transport, communication with families, timeliness of decision-making, and the quality of records and assessments. The report also notes that 84 compliments were received during the year, recognising the dedication of staff. Areas for further attention include improving timeliness, strengthening early resolution, and enhancing the service's capacity to handle complex complaints. The report details the number of representations received, broken down by type and stage, and provides an analysis of Children Act 1989 complaints, including timeliness and uphold rates. Corporate complaints are also detailed, with an increase in both received and upheld complaints. The report includes information on compliments received and themes identified, as well as details on complaints related to Multi-agency Child Protection Conferences and advocacy services. An analysis of the equality characteristics of complainants is also provided.