Agenda item

To receive an update on the corporate parenting strategy.

Mindful of that fact that there were a number of new Members on the Committee, Lorraine Butcher provided a general overview of ‘Corporate Parenting’ as a concept. It was explained that ‘Corporate Parenting’ emphasised the collective responsibility of Cheshire East to achieve good parenting for children and young people in its care. It was reported that this was done by ensuring that every time a Cared for Child or Young Person interacted with a Cheshire East Service, the principle of ‘Corporate Parenting’ was considered and acted upon.

Attention was drawn to the newly formed Corporate Parenting Board whose role was to bring together a number of services to look at all aspects of a child’s life and to work out how that life could be improved. It was noted that there were two members of the Children in Care Council who sat on the Board.

Lorraine Butcher continued to outline the outcomes following the implementation of the Corporate Parenting Strategy. It was reported that there had been an overall improvement in outcomes for children cared for by Cheshire East. For instance, they were performing better at school, having their health needs met and were in more stable care placements.

After congratulating the service on their performance, particularly in improving educational attainment, a number of queries were raised.

It was questioned how long Cheshire East were responsible for Cared for Children and Young People. It was confirmed that the authority were statutorily responsible until the age of 18 unless the young person was in further education in which case, support continued throughout this period. Having said this, it was noted that Cheshire East thought it good practice to maintain support post 18 and that the post 16 service had a role in this.

With reference to the graph on p.25, attention was drawn to the way that the percentage of placements in external provision was increasing. It was queried why this was so and whether there was a cost implication. Lorraine Butcher confirmed that due to Cheshire East having to close inadequate internal provision; use of external provision had gone up. It was reported that this did have a cost implication but that the service were confident in reducing this as more internal provision was made available.

It was queried how Cheshire East worked with the health authorities in terms of Cared for Children. In particular, it was questioned how well the authority worked with CAMHS. It was reported that Cheshire East mainly relied on health visitors to refer cases. It was contended that relationships with GPs and the CAMHS service could improve and that Cheshire East was being proactive in trying to achieve this.

In terms of the figures demonstrating the improvement of educational attainment, it was suggested that it would be useful to have the average attainment figures for mainstream pupils so that comparisons could be made.

It was also suggested that the minutes of the Corporate Parenting Board could be circulated to the Members of the Committee.

As a final point, the Chairman asked if there had been any progress of the recommendation made as part of the Fostering Review which suggested that on every report or policy document there should be a heading asking the writer to consider the impact on corporate parenting. Lorraine Butcher confirmed that she would take up the issue to Corporate Management Team.

RESOLVED –

a)    That the report be received.

b)    That when receiving future reports on the educational attainment figures of Cared for Children, the average figures of mainstream pupils be included for comparison.

c)    That the Committee receive the minutes of the Corporate Parenting Board.

d)    That the Director of Children’s Services suggests to Corporate Management Team that a ‘Corporate Parenting’ heading be added to all corporate reports and policy documents.