| 1 | % of EHFW cases closed because desired outcomes have been met | Percentage | 80 | 75 | 80 | Jan 2024 | Quarterly | Green | Green | Up to date | The quarter 4 figure of 80% is an improvement on the annual figure for 2023-24 of 76%. | |
| 2 | % Staff turnover within the social work workforce | Percentage | 12.52 | 15.5 | 12.52 | Apr 2023 | Annually | Green | Green | Up to date | This is a significant reduction and therefore much better than the previous year. This year, we have seen more starters than leavers and the figure is far better than the previous national average of 17%. Recruitment and retention of experienced staff does remain a challenge, however, and the majority of social workers have come through our own successful academy. | |
| 3 | Rate of children and young people subject to child protection plans per 10,000 popn | Rates per 10,000 | 65 | 68 | 65 | Jan 2024 | Quarterly | Green | Green | Up to date | The rate has remained fairly stable compared to the last two quarters, although the figure of 65 is still higher than the national average of 43. Decision-making on individual cases remains the key issue and quality of practice work demonstrates that it continues to be robust. There is a robust process in place to review plans where they have lasted for 15 months to ensure that risk of harm to the child has been reduced. | |
| 4 | Rate of Children Looked After (CLA) per 10,000 popn | Rates per 10,000 | 75 | 73 | 75 | Jan 2024 | Quarterly | Green | Red | Up to date | The number of children in our care has decreased again in the last quarter. Northumberland's figure at the end of March of 75 per 10,000 remains the lowest in the region, but is above the national average of 71. There have been a high number of special guardianship orders for those children who have left care which is a positive. The legal gateway panel ensures that all safe and relevant options are considered and if care is needed, that clear plans are in place to proceed for the child. Tracking and review meetings oversee the timely progression of plans which was noted positively at last Ofsted Focused visit. | |
| 5 | % of CLA who have had 3 or more placement moves in the last 12 months | Percentage | 12 | 10 | 12 | Jan 2024 | Quarterly | Green | Red | Up to date | The position has remained at 12% since the previous quarter and this remains a challenging area of work. Our end of March figure of 12% exceeds the national average of 10%.
ACTIONS: Continued implementation of the sufficiency strategy, the opening of a new children's home, development of satellite units and further recruitment of foster carers through the regional pathfinder are all actions that are expected to improve placement stability for our cared for children. Further development of MockingBird model and targeted support from the emotional well being support team (NEWST) for carers and staff working with children in foster care being further developed to support stability. We have undertaken a further detailed analysis of the figures to ensure we are doing all that we can to understand and support placement stability. | |
| 6 | % of children's care leavers living in suitable accommodation | Percentage | 100 | 95 | 100 | Jan 2024 | Quarterly | Green | Green | Up to date | The figure of 100% is the best ever for this indicator and is significantly better than the national average of 88%. | |
| 7 | % of care leavers in education, employment or training | Percentage | 46.7 | 62 | 46.7 | Jan 2024 | Quarterly | Green | Red | Up to date | The figure remained stable in qtr 4. Northumberland's position is poorer than the regional average of 52% and below the national average of 56%. This area remains a corporate priority for improvement.
ACTIONS: Actions are identified through the NAS service action plan to be taken forward with those in the Virtual School improvement plan. The Pupil Premium Pilot was successful and regular DfE grant funding is available to the Virtual School to support recruitment and retention in FE, HE and training for cared for children and care leavers. A new post 16 ePEP is now in place and a post 16 education intervention worker. Our Care Leavers’ Covenant has just been refreshed, with a focus on EET, and we are benefiting from 2 other Care Leavers’ Covenants from NENC ICB and the Raising Aspirations partnership. EET of young people 16-18 is much better than the national average, the focus of intervention work is from age 19+. | |
| 8 | % of social workers where caseload weighting is within the desired points level | Percentage | 73 | 80 | 73 | Jan 2024 | Quarterly | Green | Red | Up to date | The percentage has increased slightly from the position in December but remains short of where we would like to be. Whilst slightly improved, recruitment and retention challenges continue to impact on our ability to make significant strides, although workers feedback that they feel well supported and management oversight of those workers who are most impacted on remains strong.
ACTIONS: Continue to actively recruit to the academy; analyse exit interviews to understand reasons for turnover and take action to address push factors as required; working with HR to refresh recruitment initiatives; continue to develop varied opportunities e.g. pre-birth team is now operational; CSC Director chairing regional group exploring potential regional responses; looking at a range of options to fully utilise staff who are not social work qualified appropriately. This will also link into preparation for the plans to implement the Independent Review of Children’s Social Care. | |
| 9 | Average response from Children Looked After to how well the Council has performed on the Promise | Number | 8.52 | 8.7 | 8.52 | Apr 2023 | Annually | Green | Amber | Up to date | This indicator is newly-reported for 2023-24. The result continues to be positive and is very similar to 2022-23. It is just short of the ambitious target set | |
| 10 | First time entrants to the criminal justice system per 100k | Number per 100,000 | 164 | 171 | 164 | Oct 2023 | Quarterly | Green | Green | Overdue | The number of first-time entrants to the criminal justice system has increased significantly over the last 3 years, partially because of the increased targeted police operations in Northumberland. However, the latest figure of 164 is lower and therefore an improvement on the previous quarter. Note that first time entrants is also going up nationally. The latest published First Time Entrants (FTE) data shows Northumberland with the 6th lowest rate within our YJS Family, 87th out of all YJS’. This is an improvement in our national rank, but a deterioration within our YJS Family with a 63% increase in FTE rate per 100k versus year previous. Northumberland’s FTE rate has decreased 5% from previous quarter’s cohort. For those who offend, the overall trend for re-offending is that far fewer children and young people are re-offending than was the case five years ago.
ACTIONS: Further promote the use of ‘Turnaround’, which is a project funded by the YJSs which is to provide early intervention and intervene earlier to improve outcomes for children on the cusp of entering the Youth Justice System. | |
| 11 | Number of Family Hub registrations | Number | 1,508 | 503 | 1,508 | Jan 2024 | Quarterly | Green | Green | Up to date | This indicator is based on new data and as such the 2023/24 year will be used to establish the baseline. There will be a target to increase Family hub registrations by 15% from 2024/25. We will further promote the use of Family Hubs across the 0-19 age range (25 SEND) and get children and families registered and accessing the full range of support and services on offer. | |
| 12 | Step Ups to Social Work following closure of Early Help Family Work Cases | Percentage Change | 22.8 | 25 | 22.8 | Jan 2024 | Quarterly | Green | Green | Up to date | This is a new indicator designed to measure how many cases from Early Help Family Work that closed 12-24 months ago subsequently needed to be stepped up to the social work service in the following 12 months. The figure remained stable in qtr 4, and better than the target of 25%. New Family Help procedures are in place to speed up timescales and widen the ‘family help net’, as well as further work being undertaken to strengthen relationships between family help and social care. | |