Councillor John Whitby, Cabinet Member for Children’s Social Care, Learning and Skills looks back on the year and ahead to 2024
As a foster carer for Derby City Council, I know first-hand the challenges some of our most vulnerable children and young people face. So I was very proud to take on this portfolio and drive forward our work to improve the lives and prospects of our city’s next generation.
In November, I was thrilled that our children’s services received a glowing report from Ofsted, following a focused visit. Inspectors looked at the local authority’s arrangements for children in need and child protection planning and described services as ‘strong and effective’. This followed Ofsted’s rating of Derby children’s services in May 2022 as ‘Outstanding’ - one of just three cities in the country with this accolade.
Our Derby Adult Learning Service was rated ‘Good’ by Ofsted in June 2022. The service also runs the Better Together Café, which was Highly Commended in the 'Building Diversity and Inclusion' category at the Municipal Journal Achievement Awards 2023. The social enterprise café is situated at the Council House and offers catering training courses and employability support to adults with learning disabilities and those whose first language isn’t English.
Securing quality outcomes for children and young people with SEND
Derby’s journey to improve provision for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), took significant steps forward in 2023. Earlier in the year, Cabinet approved a new Dedicated Schools’ Grant (DSG) Management Plan, which will continue to transform provision. We’ve worked in partnership with parents, carers, education settings and other stakeholders to develop the plan, which aims to bring expenditure back in line with forecasted budgets while securing quality outcomes for children and young people with SEND, ensuring they are able to live their best life.
Our Family Hubs are continuing to welcome families following their successful launch over the summer. We launched six sites over the school summer holidays which had packed programmes of events and activities, as well as advice for parents and carers.
These launch events were just the start – going forwards, all the hubs continue to offer a wide range of groups, workshops and support to all Derby families. I’m delighted with the progress of the hubs and encourage families across the city to get involved - It doesn’t matter where in the city you live, you are welcome at any Family Hub.
In August, I was delighted to attend the opening of Imbue, a pioneering new centre for children with SEND in Derby city centre. Imbue is a gaming and tech learning hub for young people aged from eight to 18 who have SEND, social, emotional or mental health needs (SEMH) or are struggling to engage with mainstream education. Imbue worked in partnership with the City Council to open the centre following our successful bid for Government funding from the Department for Education’s Short Breaks Innovation Fund.
Recognition for the Families Information Service
Earlier in this month, our Families Information Service (FIS) was named Most Innovative FIS at the National Families Information Service Awards, in recognition of its 52 Things To Do Before You’re 5 project. Parents and carers can sign up for a free start up pack, which includes a booklet of activities and a poster where families can track their progress. Each page in the booklet suggests a free or very low-cost activity for the week, to do either indoors or outdoors.
There’s a lot to be proud of, but lots of work still to do. Next year, a new regional fostering hub will be created in Derby after D2N2 local authorities secured £1.626m in funding. The recruitment hub will engage with prospective foster carers from their initial enquiry through to their application. The funding will also help improve the support available for existing foster carers, both in Derby and across the region.
The D2N2 authorities have successfully applied to join the Department for Education’s Fostering Recruitment and Retention programme. Derby City Council will be leading on the project, building on the great work achieved locally in Derby. I’m really looking forward to seeing how this will progress in the new year.