Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors G Hayes, G Wait and M Warren.

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

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 6 September 2016 as a correct record.

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the meeting held on 6 September 2016 be approved as a correct record.

To receive a presentation from Sheila Williams, Designated Nurse for Children in Care, on the health and wellbeing of children and young people in care.

Sheila Williams, Designated Nurse for Children in Care, gave a presentation on the health and wellbeing of children and young people; an overview of the annual report due to be considered by the Health and Wellbeing Board formed the basis of the presentation. 

Statutory guidance from the Department of Health was that children were required to have an initial health assessment by a doctor within 20 working days of entering care in order to prepare a health plan which then had to be reviewed every six months for under fives and annually thereafter.

Particular problems were highlighted with regard to older young children not always wishing to co-operate, children moving in and out of the area and there being a higher than average incidence of health care problems in cared for children.  Particular risk areas were at points of transition and on leaving care.  Care priorities centred on emotional and mental health and relationships between the various agencies involved were considered to be good.  Systems to support the shared health and social care processes were now in place with the full benefits expected to be realised in the forthcoming year.

Statistics showed continuing improvement in meeting the statutory guidance and the Committee asked for an item to be added to its work programme on the range of actions that needed to be taken, monitored, and considered, when taking a child into care.

RESOLVED

That the presentation be noted and an item be added to the Work Programme on the range of actions that needed to be taken, monitored, and considered, when taking a child into care.

To consider an update on the national and local developments in relation to cared for children and young people, and care leavers.

The Committee received an update on national and local developments in relation to children and young people, and care leavers.  The report included a resume of a recent independent review ‘In Care, Out of Trouble’.  This had been established by the Prison Reform Trust to examine how best to tackle the over representation of children in care, or with experience of care, in the criminal justice system in England and Wales; its recommendations and associated actions were detailed.

Local developments on the following matters were also given: 

·         Children’s Home Recommissioning

·         Regional Adoption Developments

·         Education and the Virtual School

·         Unaccompanied Asylum Seeker Children

·         Involvement of Young People in the Committee

·         November Children’s Rights Month

·         Children and Young People’s Improvement Plan

·         Elected Member Training Around Corporate Parenting

·         Corporate Parenting Strategy Key Priorities and Actions 2016/17 (Appendix 1)

·         DfE Children’s Social Care Innovation Programme Expressions of Interest Update

In considering Children’s Rights Month a number of Members expressed an interest in spending a day at a children’s home, and the Director of Children’s Services reported he would be taking up the £21 challenge to experience what it was like for a care leaver to purchase a weekly shop for that amount. 

As requested by the Committee at its last meeting the Corporate Parenting Operational Group had pulled together a range of measures for a scorecard to enable the Committee to monitor, scrutinise and challenge performance across a range of services for cared for children and young people.  Members endorsed the measures detailed in Appendix 2 of the report and it was noted that the first populated scorecard would be presented at the next meeting of the Committee, and quarterly thereafter. 

RESOLVED

That the report be noted and the proposed scorecard measures set out in Appendix 2 of the report be endorsed.

The reports relating to the remaining items on the agenda have been withheld from public circulation and deposit pursuant to Section 100(B)(2) of the Local Government Act 1972 on the grounds that the matters may be determined with the press and public excluded.

The Committee may decide that the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items pursuant to Section 100(A)4 of the Local Government Act 1972 on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 and public interest would not be served in publishing the information.

RESOLVED

That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items pursuant to Section 100(A)4 of the Local Government Act 1972 on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 and public interest would not be served in publishing the information.

To consider the Fostering Panel Annual report.

Consideration was given to the Annual Report of the Fostering Panel, presented by its Independent Chair.  Members had the opportunity of asking questions on any points of interest or clarification.

RESOLVED

That the report and its conclusions be noted.

To consider the Adoption Panel Annual report.

Consideration was given to the Annual Report of the Adoption Panel, presented by its Independent Chair.  Members had the opportunity of asking questions on any points of interest or clarification.

RESOLVED

That the report and its conclusions be noted.