Agenda item

Shivani Davé advised the board regarding the conclusion of the financial year and the second year of the Three Rivers Community Strategy. The officer emphasised the importance of reflecting on the actions and priorities that have taken place within each organisation as part of this strategy, and requested board members to be vigilant for upcoming messages that will require feedback on these actions and encouraged them to share this information with their teams as necessary.

Paraic McKenna provided an overview of the quarter 3 performance at Hertfordshire County Council (HCC), focusing on adult and children’s care services. Key points included a significant increase in referrals for adult care services, nearly 20% higher than pre-Covid levels, and a 10% increase in children’s social care referrals. Progress was noted in education, employment and training for children and young people, with an emphasis on improving turnaround times for education health care plans. Despite challenges, such as budget constraints and rising mental health needs, the Council is working to enhance service accessibility. Additionally, the impact of Covid – 19 on school attendance and the increasing number of children missing education were highlighted as ongoing issues.

Rebecca Young advised the board that the funding for the complex needs service, provided by Herts Mind Network, had been extended for another year, and emphasised the importance of this support for the community in Three Rivers.

Elizabeth Borg spoke about the series of family art courses funded by Step Two Skills, aimed at engaging parents, carers and their children during the Easter holidays. The courses offered provide a supportive environment for children, particularly those who are neurodivergent or facing social challenges, such as bullying or reluctance to leave their homes. The speaker highlighted the importance of these activities in helping young people regain social interaction and routine, especially after periods of isolation. Additionally, there was mention of collaborative to re-integrate home educated young people into social activities, preparing them for potential return to school.

The board discussed the availability of district comparison reports, particularly in relation to educational services for young people. Enoch Kanagaraj enquired about the existence of such reports, to which Paraic McKenna responded by confirming the existence of various comparison reports and mentioned the need for more detailed discussion to clarify which specific services should be focused on.

Karen Watkin addressed the board and spoke about the services provided by Home Start, including empowering parents, assisting with referrals, and helping older children transition into school. The speaker reassured that their team has the capacity to take on new referrals, and stressed that their services are designed to addressed the pressures faced by families, and encouraged the board to signpost families in need of support.

Jo Barrett enquired about the trends of educational disconnection across various age groups, specifically focusing on whether this is prevalent among young people or spans all age groups. Paraic McKenna responded by noting that disconnection appears to be particularly significant in later years of education, and suggested a more detailed look at these trends to better understand the situation and how it affects different age groups.

Debbie Stone highlighted the increasing number of primary school aged children waiting for diagnosis, particularly for ADHD and ASD, and the impact of reduced timetables on families. Collette Garland added that a pilot program in Dacorum has revealed significant dropout rates, especially among girls around the age of 13, who often become disaffected.

In response to a question raised around demographic differences related to the data on young girls who become disaffected, Paraic McKenna stated that a deeper understanding of this issue is needed, and offered to collect data on demographics and regional spread.