Children’s services praised by Ofsted for work with vulnerable children

Sutton Council has been praised for its work to protect vulnerable children by a new government report.

A national report by Ofsted that reviewed leadership in England’s children’s services, praised the council’s senior children’s social work team and the way they work with children in care.

The report, Joining the dots… Effective Leadership of Children’s Services, featured Sutton Council as one of nine English local authorities which are beacons of best practice.

The nine councils were praised for the tenacity of their staff and for including children and young people in decisions.

Ofsted also credited managers as being keen to listen and to learn about the experiences of children and young people and their approach had led to better recruitment and retention of staff.

It went onto say: ‘Leaders were passionate about children and young people and knowledgeable about services, and worked collaboratively with staff to facilitate improvements. They retained a relentless focus on improving outcomes for children and their families.’

Inspectors also highlighted Sutton’s mentoring scheme for senior managers which was created to meet the individual needs of children who are looked after or who are care leavers.

The recognition comes one month after Sutton held a Child Sexual Exploitation Conference that brought together 100 delegates from agencies responsible for the safety and well-being of children in the borough. The conference marked the launch of Sutton’s multi-agency Child Sexual Exploitation Strategy and Speakers included the Metropolitan Police, Rotherham LSCB, Barnardos, Jigsaw4u and the council’s Children, Young People and Learning Directorate.

Cllr Wendy Mathys, Chair of the Children, Family and Education Committee, said:

“Our Children’s Services team work incredibly hard to support vulnerable young people. We are always looking for ways to improve the service so we can achieve the best outcome for those in our care.

“Our corporate mentoring scheme is a great example of that. It does not cost anything for council staff to offer support and guidance to young people, yet it can make a huge difference to their lives.”

Health Watch Sutton Survey

This month Health Watch Sutton are launching our new feedback system called What matters to you? When it comes to health and social care for you and your family, what do you think is most important?

HWS want to hear your views and recent experiences of using local health and social care services. You can share these with them by completing a new “What matters to you?” form.  You can do this online www.whatmatterstoyou.org.uk it literally only takes a minute and all feedback is anonymous.

You can complete the form as many times as you like.

The information you give HWS will help shape our work plan and ensure local people have a strong voice. By sharing your views and experiences they can build a picture of the services that are doing well and those that need some improvements. Your input will help build strong evidence that will support them in influencing decision makers to improve local services.

Please ask all your friends and relatives who live or work in Sutton to fill one in too.

London Borough of Sutton is 50 – Residents encouraged to share stories of life in the borough since 1965

Sutton High Street c1962. Photograph from the Sutton Archives.

Residents are being encouraged to share their memories of the borough in the 1960s.

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the London Borough of Sutton on 1 April, the council is looking for local people to take part in a short film.

The idea is to record Sutton’s past for future generations.

These could be reflections on how the borough was, ‘then and now’, your fondest or earliest memory of the borough or how the council or Sutton’s voluntary sector has helped you through the years.

The first people to be married in the new borough of Sutton in 1965 are also being sought. This would have been on 3 April 1965, when three couples were married in Sutton’s Registry Office.

Cllr Ruth Dombey, the leader of Sutton Council, said:

“Our borough has changed a lot over the last 50 years and we have a lot to be proud of.

“We want to preserve the memories of our fantastic residents who have seen so many changes in the borough over the last 50 years. Our wonderful sense of community is at the heart of everything that makes us the quietly brilliant borough. Now is the time to speak up. So please, share your memories of our wonderful borough, and help us to celebrate our anniversary in a way that will leave a lasting legacy for many generations to come.”

If you or someone you know has a story to share, please email Sutton50@sutton.gov.uk with information about your story and contact details.

Join the conversation about the anniversary of London’s boroughs on Twitter using #boroughs50.

The first council meeting when the London Borough of Sutton was formed in 1965.

Sutton’s Customer Service rated as excellent for 17th year running

Sutton’s Future website praised for ‘harnessing new technology to improve consultations’

Suttons-future-smallSutton Council has been praised for its approach to customer service including its campaign to involve residents in shaping the future of services.

The Customer Service Excellence standard, which is monitored by the Cabinet Office, was awarded to Sutton after a visit by inspectors in February.

Their report found that staff-customer interactions in the reception area and calls monitored in contact centres “demonstrated the team’s overall professionalism”, “sound knowledge” and “interactive skills”. “The commitment was displayed from Senior Management levels through to operations front-line staff,” it said.

It also singled out the council’s Sutton’s Future site (www.suttonsfuture.org) as “an impressive example of how the borough is harnessing the website to improve consultation practice in line with new technology.”

Sutton’s Future’s was launched in July 2014 to encourage residents to “join the conversation” about the council’s challenge to find £40m worth of savings from its annual budget in the next five years.

The report singled out the consultations on the future of Green Garden Waste and Sutton’s theatres for praise. So far, almost 5,000 Sutton’s Future surveys have been completed across seven different services and there have been more than 29,000 page views on the website.

More than 600 people have attended Sutton’s Future events and 2,500 people have taken part in telephone surveys.

Ruth Dombey, Leader of the Council, said:

“In Sutton, our ethos is to put residents first and to do that we need to provide excellent customer service. I am delighted that for the 17th year running we have been awarded the Customer Service Excellence status.

“What is really pleasing is the recognition of the Sutton’s Future work we are doing to encourage residents to take part in helping to make savings to the council’s budget by changing services. Anyone can give their view or take part in a service-based consultation by visiting www.suttonsfuture.org.”

The report also praised Sutton’s customer service team for employing apprentices which it says ‘demonstrates the council’s commitment to the community.’ There are currently three apprentices in the customer services team.

Sutton among best in London for secondary school places

Sutton has achieved one of the highest preference rates in London for secondary school places. Parents in the borough last week were told which schools have made offers of places for the September intake. Despite a 5% increase in applications this year, 97% received a preference school – which is above the London average of 93.5%. […]

Read the full story online: http://www.newsroomsutton.co.uk/?p=1338

Approximately 3% of applicants have not received an offer because they had not named eligible schools on their applications.

  • Parents in this position are urged to read the information they have received in the post and name additional schools, seeking advice from the Council if needed.
  • Admissions law does not permit a Local Education Authority (LEA) to prioritise its own residents. Schools make offers of places according to their criteria. If, for example, distance is one of those, then whoever lives closer gets the place, regardless which borough they live in.
  • Parents are always advised to consider naming additional schools both inside and outside of Sutton.

For media enquiries please contact Chris Smith, Media Manager at Sutton Council Press Office on 020 8770 5606, or email chris.smith@sutton.gov.uk

Oyster Cards – Tom Brake sends us a message…

Hamish

At the start of this year, off peak rail passengers using Oyster or contactless Pay As You Go outside zone 3 were stung by a massive increase of up to 38% in the cost of their journeys.

For part-time workers, people who only occasionally have to travel into London for meetings or families making day-trips, this is a massive increase. 25,000 Londoners a day have been stung by this fare increase – which was personally signed off by the Conservative Mayor of London.

Finally and after a lengthy campaign lead by Caroline Pidgeon, Leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group, the Mayor has been forced to make some concessions.

Automatic refunds will now be provided to those people who incur a higher fare than the former off-peak in outer London (Zone 4 – 6) twice or more in a week.

I don’t think it’s fair that Outer Londoners were penalised in this way, especially because they are vital part of London’s economy. Together with my colleagues I will keep on fighting to make sure that people living outside of central London are not discriminated against in our transport system.

Best wishes,

Tom Brake MP

PS: Full details of these changes can be seen here. I will also be sending an update on the situation with the works at London Bridge station shortly.

 

Sutton libraries welcome top professional artists as part of London-wide festival

Artist Andy D’Cruz.
Attention all younger creative types – libraries across the borough are gearing up to bring you a fortnight jam-packed with cultural events for budding artists and performers.
Kicking off alongside World Book Day tomorrow Thursday, 5 March, the SPINE Festival will see Sutton libraries host free arts events. SPINE is London’s first ever pan-London libraries festival for children and young people.
As part of the programme, Sutton has been chosen as one of five boroughs across London to host an artist-in-residence. It is the first time Sutton libraries have hosted an artist.
Andy D’Cruz will bring his engaging artwork to Circle Library from today, Wednesday, 4 March.
A practising artist for 20 years, the internationally successful D’Cruz will use sound installation and even Lego to run interactive workshops.
His project explores the concept of ‘Home’, given the Circle Library is on the St Helier Estate, where all the houses look the same on the outside.
Cllr Jill Whitehead, Chair of the Environment and Neighbourhoods Committee, said:
“I am delighted that Sutton is hosting this fantastic festival which will provide children and young people with a diverse range of exciting, creative events and activities.
“It is particularly exciting that Sutton has been chosen as one of just five London boroughs to host an artist-in-residence – this is a unique opportunity for our youth to get involved in some very engaging workshops which give new meaning to the term ‘art’.
“It is never too early or too late to embrace the arts and our libraries are just the place to do that, so please come along.”
SPINE was developed by Apples and Snakes, as part of its work as an Associate Bridge organisation funded by Arts Council England, in partnership with library authorities across London.
Events happening in Sutton Libraries include:
  • Library Live: Spoken Word Workshop with Rachel Sambrooks, Sutton Central Library, conference room, Saturday 7 March, 10am to 4pm and Saturday 14 March, 2 to 5pm, places limited, book at libraryliveworkshops.eventbrite.co.uk
  • Library Live: Open Mic Night, using the skills developed in the workshops, Sutton Central Library, conference room, Saturday 14 March, 7 to 9pm.
  • Andy D’Cruz at Circle Library, Green Wrythe La, Carshalton SM5 1JJ, Wednesday 4 March and Thursday 5 March and Wednesday 11 March to Friday 13 March.

Displays at Circle Library.

Sutton Careers Fair set to help young people up the work ladder

The London Borough of Sutton’s career fair for young people is on Wednesday, 18 March from noon to 4pm at The Pulse Centre, Carshalton College, Nightingale Road, SM5 2EJ.

Not sure whether university is the right path for you?
From construction and catering to plumbing and banking, the London Borough of Sutton’s Young People’s Careers Fair will provide insights into alternate paths to rewarding careers.
Workshops will include:
·         Apprenticeships and how to apply
·         Improving your interview skills
·         Building your CV
·         Using social media and networking to progress
·         Starting your own business
·         Applying for university as a “mature” student.
There will also be 20 minute “drop-in” sessions where you can discuss the options best for you; a CV help desk; and plenty of information about current vacancies for apprenticeships, full and part-time jobs and volunteering opportunities.
All up, there will about 50 local and national employers and representatives from colleges and training providers at the event.
The careers fair is organised by Sutton Council, with the help of local schools, colleges, employers and training providers, and is aimed at youth from Sutton and Merton aged 15 to 24.
It is useful to anyone who is: in years 11 to 13 at school; attending college; in part or full-time work but wants to progress their career further; or not currently working or training.
Cllr Jayne McCoy, Chair of the Housing, Economy and Business Committee said:
“Youth unemployment in Sutton is falling faster than the averages for both London and the UK, and events like this will help us maintain this trend.
“We have a talented pool of young people in Sutton and we want to help them to tap into their full potential to become to best they can be.
“Sutton is a great place to study, train and work, so please come along and find out how you can help us build a more prosperous borough.”
For more information about the careers fair, contact Charlotte Owens on 020 8770 6963 or charlotte.owens@sutton.gov.uk

Understanding Immigration in London

Understanding Immigration in London

A Special Newsletter

March 2015   

                                    
All is fair, in love, war and immigration – changes at Registrar’s officesAs of 2nd March 2015, the notice period for all marriages in the
UK will increase from 15 to 28 days. However where one of the parties is a non EEA national, they will have to both attend in person at the Registrar Office to provide the appropriate evidence. Where the registrar suspects that ‘an immigration advantage maybe gained by one of the parties’ the notice of the marriage must be referred to the Home Office. It is worth noting that Registrars are already obliged under the Section 24 of the 1999 Immigration Act to refer any ‘reasonable suspicion’ to the Home Office.Where the Home Office agrees with the Registrar that their maybe an ‘immigration advantage’ the notice period will be extended to 70 days, during which time the Home Office will investigate the authenticity of the relationship, and can if so required ban a wedding from taking place. The Government estimates that 35,000 sham marriages will be prevented through the new legislation. It is worth reading the Home Office guidance on investigation of Genuine and Subsisting relationships. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/263237/section-FM2.1.pdf

Having taken a courtesy quick look at a number of London borough websites, it is clear to see that a large number think this will mean business as usual. There are no public statements from any local authority on how they are going to manage this or the number of complaints that arise from mistaken reporting to Immigration Enforcement.

Also for those registrar offices like Newham, who also house immigration enforcement teams, the reputational impact of being complicit with the Home Office may have consequences for standards of customer care, and public confidence in registrar services. Let us also not forget there are also certain communities where ‘community’ based midwives supporting mothers to give birth at home, means that some births also go unregistered. It is rare, but does happen, and causes a barrage of safeguarding and legal complications for families.

Interestingly,  the new emphasis on ‘sham marriages comes at a time when the Home Office have also been forced to abandon a number of high profile cases accusing ministers of religion of engaging in sham marriages. In October 2014, an Imam from north west London’ was put on trial for allegedly facilitating 580 sham marriages. The case collapsed because the Home Office failed to present any evidence. At the same time a vicar in Croydon was also subject to investigation and a criminal trial accused of enabling sham marriages. His trial also collapsed when officers from the Home Office were accused of fabricating evidence. Earlier in January 2015 this year the police acting on behalf of Immigration Enforcement were forced to pay out £21,000 to a couple wrongly accused of engaging in a sham marriage. And so the list goes on….

How long before such liability is passed down to local authorities? Just a  thought for all you councillors out there, and with dual heritage relationships the norm in London  it’s highly unlikely any local authority will come out of this unscathed.
Migration Statistics Quarterly 
The latest Migration figures were published on 27th February 2015. http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/dcp171778_396645.pdf
The last set of figures to be published before the General Election, the data shows both the numbers of people migrating to the UK and emigrating from the UK.Headline data

  • 624,000 people immigrated to the UK in the year ending September 2014, a statistically significant increase from 530,000 in the previous 12 months. There were statistically significant increases for immigration of non-EU citizens (up 49,000 to 292,000) and EU (non-British) citizens (up 43,000 to 251,000). Immigration of British citizens increased by 4,000 to 82,000, but this change was not statistically significant.
  • An estimated 327,000 people emigrated from the UK in the year ending September 2014. Overall emigration levels have been relatively stable since 2010.
  • 271,000 people immigrated for work in the year ending September 2014, a statistically significant increase of 54,000 compared with a year earlier. This continues the rise since the year ending June 2012. The increase over the past year applied to both non-EU and EU (non-British) citizens, as well as British citizens. However, only the increase for non-EU citizens was statistically significant.
  • Latest employment statistics show estimated employment of EU nationals (excluding British) living in the UK was 269,000 higher in October to December 2014 compared with a year earlier. Over the same period, British nationals in employment also increased (by 375,000) while non-EU nationals in employment fell by 29,000.
  • In the year ending September 2014, work-related visas granted (main applicants) rose 8,833 (or 8%) to 115,680, largely reflecting a 6,142 (or 14%) increase for skilled work.
  • National Insurance number (NINo) registrations to adult overseas nationals increased by 24% to 768,000 in the year ending December 2014, when compared with the previous year.
  • 37,000 Romanian and Bulgarian (EU2) citizens immigrated to the UK in the year ending September 2014, a statistically significant increase from 24,000 in the previous 12 months. Of these, 27,000 were coming for work, a rise of 10,000 on year ending September 2013, but this increase itself was not statistically significant.
  • Immigration for study increased from 175,000 to 192,000 in the year ending September 2014, but this change was not statistically significant. Over the same period, visa applications to study at a UK university (main applicants) rose 2% to 171,065.
  • The number of immigrants arriving to accompany or join others showed a statistically significant increase, from 66,000 to 90,000 in the year ending September 2014.
  • There were 24,914 asylum applications (main applicants) in 2014, an increase of 6% compared with 23,584 in 2013, but low relative to the peak of 84,132 in 2002. The largest number of asylum applications in 2014 came from Eritrea (3,239), Pakistan (2,711), Syria (2,081) and Iran (2,011).
  • The UK had the 5th highest number of asylum applications within the EU, (with German Sweden, France and Italy, all receiving more asylum applications)
  • There were 13,311 enforced removals from the UK
  • There were 24,001 voluntary departures
  • 15,943 individuals were refused entry at the port

All of which leads to the conclusion that Net long-term migration to the UK was estimated to be 298,000 in the year ending September 2014, a statistically significant increase from 210,000 in the previous 12 months, but below the peak of 320,000 in the year ending June 2005.

Whilst the debates about immigration caps, and the net migration figure rages, what the data also shows is that whilst there has been some increase in the number of people coming to settle, work and study in the UK, immigration is in no way comparable to peak periods around 2005 and that far from non British  workers taking British jobs, unemployment amongst non British citizens actually fell… and before anyone says it, in most cases they would not be able to claim benefits either. What the figures also confirm is that for those who hide behind the relatively safe cloak of asylum as acceptable immigration, asylum is statistically a very small part of the immigration story, we have to get a better understanding of the diversity of immigration routes to the UK.
International Women’s Day & the No Recourse Sisters Campaign
The 8th March is International Women’s Day. Apart from the usual rows about where to place the apostrophe, the day is usually characterised by local celebratory events, that in many cases do nothing more than shine a momentarily spotlight on gender inequality.

New online form means young athletes can apply for the 2015 London Youth Games with ease

Champion David Weir

Champion David Weir

Attention Sutton’s budding sports stars – applications are now open for the 2015 London Youth Games.

This year, Sutton Council has made the application process even easier, implementing an online form for the first time.

You can apply to represent Sutton in the games if:

You’re aged between 11 and 17
You live in the borough of Sutton or attend a Sutton school
If you enjoy competing in, and are competent at, your sport
The Balfour Beatty London Youth Games 2015 is Europe’s biggest youth sporting event.

Past Sutton competitors have included:

Joanna Rowsell MBE: World Champion Carshalton-born cyclist, now on the Great Britain Cycling Team

David Weir CBE: Six-time gold medallist Paralympic wheelchair athlete and seven times winner of the London Wheelchair Marathon.

Councillor Jill Whitehead, Chair of Sutton Council’s Environment and Neighbourhoods Committee, said:

“The London Youth Games are a tremendous opportunity to represent our borough in more than 30 different sports and follow in the footsteps of some of Sutton’s great sporting successes.

“You don’t need to be an Olympian to try out. All that is required is a passion for your sport and, of course, our wonderful borough. With the new, easy online application process now in place, there is no excuse not to apply.”

For more information, go to the youth games section of the council website.