The Children, Adults, Health and Wellbeing Policy Development and Scrutiny Panel of Bath and North East Somerset Council met on Monday 12 May 2025 to discuss updates on the placement of young people at Fosse Way House, the refresh of the Youth Justice Plan, and an update from the B&NES, Swindon & Wiltshire Integrated Care Board. The meeting also included a report on the placement of young people at Fosse Way House and a review of the Panel's workplan.

Update on Fosse Way House Residential Provision

The Panel was scheduled to receive an update regarding the placement of young people at Fosse Way House residential provision, which is part of Fosse Way Special School in Radstock. The report indicated that the council was unlikely to commission places at Fosse Way House for the following academic year, starting in September 2025. This decision was not due to budget pressures but because no new children from Bath and North East Somerset had been identified whose Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) indicated a need for a curriculum outside of school hours, also known as a 24-hour curriculum or waking day curriculum. The report clarified that a 24-hour curriculum extends beyond the school day and into waking hours, sometimes requiring curriculum delivery through the night, often due to medical reasons. The Statutory SEND team had reviewed the educational elements of the EHCPs for children at Fosse Way House and concluded that the provision could be incorporated into a day curriculum, meaning the residential element was not required to meet educational needs. The report stated that independence skills can usually be taught during the school day and through extracurricular activities, as is the case at other special schools. It was noted that only pupils on roll at Fosse Way School are eligible for its residential provision, and placements are understood to be for one academic year. The children currently placed there would be able to complete their year-long placement. The council stated it had not received any requests for mediation or tribunal resolution from families following this decision. The report also highlighted that Fosse Way House is not a council-run facility, and decisions about its future are ultimately for The Partnership Trust.

Youth Justice Plan 2024-2026 Refresh

A progress report on the two-year Youth Justice Plan for 2024-2026 was scheduled for discussion. The Local Authority has a statutory duty, in partnership with Health, Police, and Probation, to produce this plan, which outlines how services are organised and funded to prevent youth offending and re-offending across Bath and North East Somerset. The plan aims to make the area safer and support children in leading crime-free lives with better future prospects, including working with the Violence Reduction Partnership to address knife crime and other serious violence. The report indicated that a refreshed version of the plan would be presented to the Cabinet and Council in July 2025. The plan adheres to the Youth Justice Board's guidance and has been developed in consultation with the B&NES Youth Justice Service Partnership Board and service users. The vision for the B&NES Youth Justice Service is Working in Partnership to achieve Child First Justice, emphasising a child-focused, trauma-informed, and strengths-based approach. The plan also includes a commitment to being an anti-racist service. The report detailed performance data, including rates of custody, first-time entrants, and re-offending, and highlighted key achievements in 2024/25, such as reducing disproportionality, strengthening participation, embedding child-first principles, and reducing serious youth violence. The plan for the coming year includes continued work on these priorities, with specific actions such as developing an enhanced offer for children in the justice system with Special Educational Needs (SEN) and refreshing key policies to ensure equity, inclusion, and diversity.

B&NES, Swindon & Wiltshire Integrated Care Board (BSW ICB) Update

The Panel was set to receive an update from the B&NES, Swindon & Wiltshire Integrated Care Board (BSW ICB) on current issues. The report highlighted the transfer of community-based care services to HCRG Care Group, which has taken over the day-to-day running of these services in partnership with the NHS, local authorities, and charities. Patients were informed that there would be no immediate changes to current services. Discussions were also underway regarding the future of Integrated Care Boards, with plans to reform the NHS to support frontline services and reduce ICB running and programme costs by approximately 50%. The report also mentioned the ongoing spring booster vaccine drive for Covid-19, with approximately 45% of eligible people in the BSW area having received their vaccine. Additionally, the ICB launched the Big A&E Survey to understand the reasons behind a 5.6% increase in A&E visits, with early data indicating that the highest number of respondents were referred by NHS 111. The ICB has also been engaging with local residents to shape its forthcoming 10-Year Plan.

Panel Workplan

The Panel was scheduled to review its workplan for future meetings. Suggestions for further items included a review of local services for neurodiversity and home education, with a specific focus on children and young people's mental health. An update on free school meal auto-enrolment was also proposed, which the Chair suggested could be included in the Cabinet Member Update. The work of the Music Service was also put forward for consideration.