Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor O Hunter

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

Councillor Merry declared a personal interest on item 10 on the grounds that she is a member of the Fostering Panel.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 4 July 2017 as a correct record

That the minutes of the meeting held on 4 July 2017 be approved as acorrect record.

To consider the Independent Reviewing Officer Annual Report

Consideration was given to the Independent Reviewing Officer’s 2016/17 Annual Report and the IRO’s contribution to quality assuring and improving services for cared for children and care leavers, which included the following:

• The statutory functions of the IRO
• Impact of the IROs on the outcomes for children and service provision in 2016/17
• Profile and staffing:

ØLocation and independence of the service

ØStructure and characteristics

ØSpecialist skills

ØCaseloads and additional duties

ØCPD, learning opportunities and contributing to the learning of others

• IROs’ oversight of cared for children’s care plans

ØIncrease in population and number of reviews – 3 year comparison

ØTimeliness and child participation in reviews – 3 year comparison

• IROs and their role in improving child participation and advocacy

ØComparison of advocate and Independent Visitor allocations in 2016

• Consultation – cared for children and care leavers’ case reviews
• IRO issue resolution process – IRO alerts total and type of alert (DRP Level 1 and DRP Level 2)
• Distribution of alerts and good practice notification across relevant services
• Thematic data – themes within alert summary 2016-17

• IRO oversight of care leavers’ matters

ØCare leavers living out of area

ØNumber of pathway plan reviews and young people participation

ØQuality of pathway plans

ØEthnicity

ØDisability

ØEducation, employment and training

ØUnaccompanied asylum seekers

ØAccommodation for care leavers

ØParenting

• The year ahead – IRO team targets and priorities for 2017/18

In considering the report Members of the Committee made a number of comments and asked questions about the care leavers living out of the area, how virtual schools fit in with care plans, the increase in caseloads of the IROs and how the workload was being addressed by the 9 full-time permanent posts.

RESOLVED

That the report be noted.

To receive a presentation updating the Committee on the health of cared for children and care leavers.

Moira McGrath, Designated Nurse, Children’s Safeguarding, gave a presentation to the Committee on the Health of Looked after Children and drew attention to:

• Key achievements – roles and structures
• CQC Inspection
• How healthy are our cared for children
• Developments for 16+ and transition cared for children and care leavers
• Care leavers health passport
• Initial Health assessments
• IHA action plan
• Priorities for 2017-2018

The Committee asked questions during the presentation and welcomed the comprehensive and valuable piece of information in the Care Leavers Health Passport that was now being included in the Pathway Plan as well as the IHA action plans and 2017-18 priorities that are now in place.

With regard to the percentage data for 2017, it was agreed that it would be helpful if the figures provided could be compared to the general population up to age 25, in the next report.

The Chairman thanked Moira for the presentation and asked for the presentation to be circulated to Committee members.

RESOLVED

That the presentation be noted.

To receive an oral update on the health of cared for children and care leavers

Kerry Birtles provided the Committee with an update following the last meeting of the Shadow Board for Young People when the following three areas relating to services were discussed:

• Accessing services (geographical challenges) – services that are available, but not visible
• Having access to GP services with support
• Receiving advice to make an informed decision

The Committee agreed that it would be helpful if the signposting of services available could be increased.

RESOLVED

That the report be noted.

To consider an update on Corporate Parenting

The Committee received an update in relation to cared for children and young people and care leavers as follows:

National Developments

• Outstanding inspection reports from other local authority areas

Local Developments

• Rising demand in Children’s Social Care
• Star Awards and November Children’s Rights Month
• National Adoption Week 2017
• National Care Leavers Week 2017
• Overview of Education Results
• Official Schools Adjudicator Report
• Independent Visitor Standards
• South Cheshire College Awards – Cared for Winners

RESOLVED

That the report be noted.

To consider the Corporate Parenting Scorecard Quarter 1

Consideration was given to the scorecard for the first quarter of 2017/18, which covered the following six measures of performance:

• General
• Involve me
• Provide me with a good safe home
• keep me healthy
• Help me achieve
• Support me to move into adult life

The scorecard compared the current quarter with the year end 2016/17 and indicated the quarterly direction of travel.

In considering the scorecard, the Committee felt that it would be helpful if the figures could be recorded as either a percent or a figure, but not both.  They also thought that a date the information was recorded on the system should be included within the table.

RESOLVED

That the content be noted.

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.

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 report

Consideration was given to the Independent Fostering Panel Chair’s Annual Report.

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 report

Consideration was given to the Independent Fostering Panel Chair’s Annual Report.

Members had the opportunity of asking questions on

any points of interest or clarification.

RESOLVED

That the report and its conclusions be noted.