Members are asked to consider whether they have any disclosable pecuniary and / or any other relevant interests in connection with any item(s) on this agenda and, if so, to declare them and state the nature of the interest.

Members of the Committee were requested to declare whether they had any disclosable pecuniary interests and/or any other relevant interest in the item on this agenda and, if so, to declare it and state the nature of such interest.

No such declarations were made.

To approve the accuracy of the minutes of the meeting held on 25 July, 2016.

The Committee were requested to approve the accuracy of the minutes of the meeting of 25 July 2016.

Resolved – That the minutes of the meeting of 25 July, 2016, be approved.

The Committee considered the report of the Chief Executive proposing a Chief Officer structure for Children’s Services following the outcome of the Ofsted Inspection. It was reported that the Director of Children’s services would report directly to the Chief Executive on an interim basis.

The report introduced by the Head of Human Resources and Organisational Development set out the issues and risks associated with grading, recruitment and retention of senior Children’s Services management posts.

She indicated that recommendation (2) as detailed within the report was a  recommendation outlined within the Ofsted report as the department had been unable to recruit and retain the post on a permanent basis and it was felt that this would provide the longer term stability required for the service.

A benchmarking exercise had been undertaken and that compared to other local authorities, Wirral Council needed to consider a higher grade for the role to attract someone with the experience required. 

The Director of Children’s Services (DCS) highlighted the significant work ahead for the department and stressed the importance of retaining a person who would take Children Services forward. To improve outcomes for vulnerable Children children’s social care and early help and intervention needed to work together to prevent children, wherever possible, needing social care. Going forward there would be an increased focus on prevention and intervention to reduce the number of children in care. The approach in Children’s services needed to address the needs of children across the spectrum of vulnerability.

The DCS also referred to benchmarking the structures of other Councils such as Knowsley and Sunderland who were in a similar position. The Chief Executive commented that in looking at what had worked well elsewhere it was evident that the Chief Executive had played an active role in the improvement journey; therefore as set out within the recommendations to the report, the Director of Children’s Services would report straight to him.

In relation to the recommendations set out within the report the Chief Executive explained that he felt this was the right structure for Children’s Services at Wirral and it was imperative that Wirral now secured the right people for the posts. He further emphasised that the proposed titles of the post and salaries were comparative in the market to attract the right people.

In response to a Member’s question, the Chief Executive indicated that the structure would be reviewed at a later stage, following the longer term delivery of the Improvement Plan. 

The Chair indicated that he was very supportive of the recommendations and agreed with the need to appoint the right person with experience to the post.

In response to a Member’s concern, the Head of Human Resources and Organisational Development indicated that the retained recruitment consultants had a good national reputation and would conduct a wide ranging search.

Feedback from the recruitment consultants has previously been that the pay at a senior level was not always at a level to compete in the market. 

The Head of Human Resources and Organisational  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.