The following challenges were being managed during quarter 1, 2025 to 2026.
Social care pressures
Increased complexity in need across Children’s and Adult’s services is testing the resilience of both systems and workforce, and adding budget pressures. These risks are managed by a department risk register which is undergoing a review at an operational level to make sure it reflects current risks.
Critical risks are escalated through the corporate risk register which is governed by the strategic risk management group and Corporate Management Team.
Care leavers not in education, employment or training (NEET)
The percentage of care leavers aged 19 to 21 years not in education, employment or training (NEET) is higher than target, but is following an improving trend. This is in response to the work being undertaken to improve outcomes, including a range of activities to showcase opportunities and support available.
Forest View School
An update from the Department of Education on the delivery of the Forest View School on the Bucklers Park site is still awaited and in the meantime the project remains on hold.
Recruitment
Procurement team recruitment
Significant recruitment efforts for the Corporate Procurement team have only been partially successful: 2 Business Partner roles remained unfilled at the end of quarter 1.
The vacancies mean that the team is unable to provide the level of support planned to deal with the new requirements of the Procurement Act 2023.
Detailed training and guidance is available for managers and interviews for further potential candidates are scheduled early in July.