Agenda and minutes

Start of meeting to Item 11

Item 11 to end of Meeting

Apologies were received from Councillors M Beanland and R Fletcher.

To provide an opportunity for Members and Officers to declare any disclosable pecuniary interests, other registerable interests, and non-registerable interests in any item on the agenda.

No declarations of interest were made.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 2 September 2025.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 2 September 2025 be approved as a correct record.

To receive a presentation from the Cheshire East Shadow Cared for Children and Care Leavers Committee on work being undertaken.

The committee received an update on behalf of the Cared for Children and Care Leavers Shadow Committee.

The presentation provided an overview of the participation in recent activities involving care leavers and cared for children.  Key points included:

• A programme of activities for National Care Leavers Month had been co?designed with young people.
• A Local Offer Review had taken place on 12 November 2025; young people reported feeling their ambassador roles were making a difference and external partners praised their contribution.
• Continued progress was reported in amplifying young people’s voices within services.
• Care Leaver Ambassadors had delivered training for social workers and contributed to the Voice of the Child Conference.
• The Care Leavers Survey was launched; multiple participation routes were offered. Initial findings would inform service recommendations and updates to the Local Offer.
• The Care Experience Housing Charter was launched with young people’s involvement.  Ambassadors produced supportive videos for those moving into independent accommodation.
• Ambassadors would take part in co?production of the Cheshire and Merseyside Threshold Decision?Making document and toolkit.
• Young people had shared their views and experiences with Ofsted inspectors, including views on education, placements, and social worker consistency.  The importance of stable, long?term social worker relationships was highlighted.
• The My Voice group was developing a Pen Profile Project for all professionals working with cared for children, which intended to reduce anxiety and support relationship?building.

The committee supported the Pen Profile Project, recognising its potential to reduce anxiety for children meeting new professionals, and agreed that continuity of social workers was essential for building trust and providing stability.

Members thanked the Care Leaver Ambassador for their contribution to the meeting and acknowledged the importance of their work and experiences.

RESOLVED:

That the update from the Cheshire East Shadow Cared for Children and Care Leavers Committee be noted.

To receive a verbal update from the November 2025 meeting of the Corporate Parenting Executive Board.

The committee received a verbal update on the work of the Corporate Parenting Executive Board.  Key points included:

• The Board had received an update on Integrated Care Board (ICB) changes and discussed use of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) for assessing emotional health. A working group would focus on improving the quality and impact of SDQs.
• The Good Education and Skills workstream discussed the post?16 offer, including support for young people transitioning from care into Education, Employment or Training (EET). A deep dive was underway to understand barriers for those not in EET.
• The Board had noted progress on the Care Experience Housing Charter and wider work within the Good Homes for All workstream.
• Members were updated on the previously approved 18–25 Accommodation Strategy, including developing block purchase arrangements and exploring partnership with a local charity (operating nationally) to provide bespoke accommodation with wraparound support.
• Future assurance on accommodation sufficiency and quality would be monitored through:

-       Ofsted inspection activity (the next monitoring visit was expected in early 2026).

-       Statutory Department for Education (DfE) reporting.

-       Children and Families Committee scrutiny.

-       Feedback from young people,

-       Commissioning quality assurance processes.

• Work continued to ensure appropriate sufficiency in 18–25 accommodation; specification development was almost complete with tendering expected early in 2026.

The committee commented on the following matters:

• The availability and suitability of housing options going forward.
• Councillors were encouraged to support identification of apprenticeship opportunities through local networks.  Officers confirmed increasing numbers of young people accessing apprenticeships and highlighted ongoing work to expand opportunities inside and outside the Council.
• The impact of trauma on those undertaking apprenticeships.  It was indicated to Members that training in trauma?informed practice could be offered to employers supporting apprentices, linked to cared for champions across teams.
• Members emphasised the importance of apprenticeships as long?term opportunities and reinforced the corporate parenting principle of supporting young people as they would their own children.

RESOLVED:

That the update from the Corporate Parenting Executive Board be noted.

To receive the Adoption Counts Cheshire East Annual Adoption Report 2024-25.

Consideration was given to the Adoption Counts: Cheshire East Annual Report 2024-25.

The key data and highlights from the report included:

• The statistics around children requiring adoption; those placed for adoption; and granted adoption orders.
• The timeliness of adoption; comparison to national performance; and the delays experienced due to complex individual circumstances.
• Statistics in relation to early permanence; adoption disruption; and performance by year-end.
• Performance around adoption planning and administration.
• Performance regarding adopter recruitment and assessment timescales.  It was acknowledged that this continued to be an area for development.
• Service development work, including ongoing campaign and outreach activities, targeted recruitment, and continued multi-agency tracking and strategic matching activity had taken place.
• Strong multi?disciplinary support was provided through the Adoption Psychology Service and the Adoption Support Advice Team.
• 723 applications had been made to, and £2.7m drawn down - a 25% increase - from the Adoption & Special Guardianship Support Fund (ASGSF).  There was an anticipated reduction next year due to national funding caps.
• Regarding training and events, a successful education transitions conference had been delivered with virtual schools; another was planned for 2026.

• There had been a strong programme of adopter?led support groups, workshops, youth groups and community events.

The committee commented on the following matters:

• The presentation of delays and outlier cases within the statistics.
• Concerns around variable Child Permanence Report (CPR) quality; Officers confirmed strengthened quality assurance and supervision processes.

• Improved initial assessment timescales and adopter support were highly welcomed.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

To receive the Cared for Children and Care Leavers Committee Quarter 2 Scorecard for 2025-26.

Report To Follow.

Consideration was given to the Quarter 2 Scorecard which covered the period July and August 2025.

The key highlights from the Scorecard were:

• Work continued to support children to remain safely at home where possible, with strengthened oversight of decision?making.
• Improvement in cared for children’s reviews, with 98% of children participating in their own reviews.
• The increase in the number of care leavers entering apprenticeships, with a commitment to further expansion.
• Improvements in the timeliness of Children and Families Assessments following focused work.
• Placement sufficiency remained a challenge, with increases in young people placed in residential and out?of?borough settings; actions were underway to address this.
• The increase in the number of care leavers Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET).

The committee commented on the following matters:

• Concerns were raised regarding Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) performance and inconsistencies between local and national measures.  Members heard that a working group had been established to review SDQ processes, data quality and thresholds.  Discussion highlighted the complexity of SDQ reporting and the need for clearer indicators; statutory requirements were in place, but national guidance was under review.
• The sufficiency of foster carers and ongoing work with Reconnect to support recruitment and specialist matching.
• Concerns regarding NEET figures among care leavers aged 19–21. Members heard that work underway to address this included deep?dive analysis, stronger multi?agency support, and improved mental?health pathways.
• The importance of early support, resilience-building, and the role of corporate parents in ensuring consistent, nurturing networks for young people.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

To receive the Cared for Children and Care Leavers Committee Annual report for 2024-25.

Report To Follow.

Consideration was given to the Cared for Children and Care Leavers Committee Annual Report 2024-25.

Key highlights of the report included:

• Care Leaver Hubs had opened in Crewe and Macclesfield, providing strengthened local support.
• A dedicated EET Team had been established, offering personalised support for young people.
• Improved monitoring and progress tracking of permanence planning for children.
• There had been an increase in Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children (UASC) requiring bespoke support.
• A new court team had been developed.  Early challenges had been noted, but confidence was expressed in its future impact on timely permanence decisions.
• Oversight of children entering care was strengthened, with all entries reviewed at director level.
• Progress continued on the 16–25 accommodation programme.
• Sector?led improvement support from North Tyneside helped strengthen cared for and care leaver services.
• Health colleagues had gained access to LiquidLogic, which had improved multi?agency information?sharing and joint working.
• 100% of eligible young people had received their health passports at or before age 18.
• Significant improvements were seen in services for care leavers, validated by sector partners.
• Young people were increasingly involved in recruitment processes and foster carer training, supporting co?production and lived?experience?led practice.

The committee commented on the following matters:

• Discrepancies in performance reporting across partner agencies; there was a need for greater consistency and clarity in data and narrative.
• Members emphasised the importance of reporting outcomes and impact, not just numerical performance indicators.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

To receive The Children’s Society - Cheshire East Advocacy and Independent Visitor Service - Annual Report October 2024 - September 2025.

Consideration was given to The Children’s Society - Cheshire East Advocacy and Independent Visitor Service - Annual Report October 2024 - September 2025.

Key highlights of the report included:

• The service continued to support a wide range of eligible children, including cared for children, care leavers, young people on Child Protection Plans, homeless 16-17?year?olds, Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children (UASC), and children with disabilities.

• 98 advocacy referrals had been received, up from 94; cared for children and care leavers remained the largest referrer groups.  Self?referrals had increased slightly.
• A significant reduction in re?referrals, indicating improved self?advocacy skills among young people.
• A decrease in referrals for UASC due to the end of specific funding for asylum?related advocacy.
• Staffing changes had led to a temporary waiting list for advocacy; urgent and high?risk cases continued to be prioritised.
• An increased complexity in referrals, particularly among young parents on child protection plans.
• All advocacy staff now held Level 3 qualifications; strong partnership working had been established with local agencies and SEND advocacy groups.
• Several long-term matches highlighted the positive impact of the Independent Visitor (IV) Service despite continued challenges in recruitment, particularly for out?of?area placements.  This was due to the need for stringent safeguarding checks and the two?year volunteer commitment.
• Use of Children’s Society internal funding had supported access to activities for young people.
• In terms of achieved goals, there had been increased promotion of the service within SEND and specialist provisions, and a significant increase in advocacy referrals for children on Child Protection Plans.
• In terms of future work, activities would include establishing a youth participation group to focus on reducing waiting lists; introduction of goal?based outcomes; embed solution?focused practice to better evidence impact; and recruitment activities to increase numbers of IV volunteers.

The committee commented on the following matters:

• The importance of collaboration between advocacy and social care teams, particularly in terms of preventing young people from falling through gaps and being overlooked.
• Strong support was expressed for the IV service and its role in providing stable, positive adult relationships.
• Transitions and safeguarding during periods without an allocated Personal Advisor.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

The meeting adjourned for a short break.

Councillor L Crane left the meeting at this point and did not return.  Councillor J Saunders took the Chair.

To receive the Cheshire & Merseyside Integrated Care Board (ICB) Children in Care Annual Report 2024-25.

Consideration was given to the Cheshire and Merseyside ICB Children in Care Annual Report 2024-25.

Key highlights of the report included:

• Key achievements, challenges, governance, and performance across nine local areas, including Cheshire East.
• NHS reporting differed from local authority reporting; data related to health assessment requests received by the ICB, not all children in care.

• Improvements in Initial Health Assessments (IHAs) had been observed across Merseyside following sufficiency work.  Cheshire East performance remained variable, affected by non?attendance at appointments and delays for children placed out of area.
• 93% of Review Health Assessments (RHAs) were completed for Cheshire East children placed in?borough; completion rates were lower for those placed out of area.
• Providers submitted quarterly quality reports to the ICB, including case studies and evidence of young people’s engagement.  These were shared with the local authority for Ofsted assurance.
• There had been improvements to health assessment processes and performance indicators.

• The Children in Care and Care Experienced Young People Strategy had been developed, although publication was delayed due to national ICB changes.
• Learning had been strengthened following inspections and reviews.
• The dental access pathway had been expanded to care leavers, with a positive uptake being reported.
• There had been a 92% completion rate in Annual Health Assessments, which was a slight increase on the previous year, and close to national and statistical neighbour averages of 94%.
• Immunisations had decreased from 98% to 93%, mirroring a national downward trend.

• Dental check rates had improved to 91%, the highest level in several years.
• Development checks for under?5s were maintained at 100%.
• Annual performance in respect of Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaires (SDQs) had improved; national reporting aligned to children in care for 12+ months, which explained the differences with internal scorecard figures.
• 100% of health passports were issued at or before age 18.
• Work had taken place with young people to redesign “My Health Summary”, which was now more accessible and available in digital and print formats.

• Sexual health training had been delivered to Personal Advisers and staff in 16+ accommodation, including culturally?sensitive approaches.
• Improved data recording for dental outcomes, with lessons to be replicated across other indicators.
• A Health and Wellbeing Workstream had been established and had met regularly since April 2025.

The committee commented on the following matters:

• The drop in immunisation rates.  Officers advised that work was underway to understand the causes, with factors including new arrivals from overseas and out-of-area data gaps.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

To receive the Virtual School Head Teacher Annual Report for 2024-25. 

Report To Follow.

Consideration was given to the Virtual School Head Teacher Annual Report 2024-25.

The report outlined educational outcomes and progress for cared for children and care leavers; it was indicated that some of the attainment data remained provisional pending national validation.

Key highlights of the report included:

• There had been improvements in GCSE outcomes, Key Stage 4, in English and Maths standard pass.  No permanent exclusions had been made for over seven years, though suspensions had increased, which mirrored national trends.
• 99.6% of school?age children had at least one Personal Education Plan (PEP); over 95% had at least two PEPs, which demonstrated improved consistency and multi?agency engagement.
• Combined reading, writing and maths attainment at Key Stage 2 had increased significantly from 16.6% to 46.2%.
• Post?16 Outcomes: 14 young people completed Level 3/A?Level or equivalent qualifications (grades up to Distinction and A*).  Several had progressed to first?choice universities; others chose alternative pathways by preference, not due to lack of opportunity.

• A broad range of other qualifications, including Functional Skills, BTECs and ASDAN had been achieved, which demonstrated demonstrating diverse educational progress.
• Case studies and poems authored by young people illustrated lived experience and the impact of support.
• Schools were supported with trauma?informed practice and training for children with a social worker, including partnership work with school improvement teams on raising attainment for disadvantaged pupils.
• Areas for future focus included:
  • Early Years: the Good Level of Development (GLD) gap had widened.  A deep?dive was planned with Early Years services as part of the Best Start for Life strategy.
  • Attendance: overall attendance had declined; year?end figures included the Year 11 study?leave period. Suspensions, particularly in secondary schools, remained an area for concern and would be examined further with Education Psychology and Inclusion services.

The committee commented on the following matters:

• There were discrepancies in the Year 11-13 cohort totals; some school data had not yet been received.  Updated figures would be provided in due course.
• Concerns were raised in respect of persistent/severe absence and high numbers of secondary suspensions.  Officers advised that work was underway via the Inclusion Strategy and targeted school support to help address this.
• Literacy and numeracy gaps and where support was needed to assist at key transition points.
• Access to therapeutic learning opportunities, such as animal therapy.  The Virtual School welcomed support from Members in identifying additional community?based providers.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.