Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Cllr D Clark. Cllr L Braithwaite attended as a substitute.

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.

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 30 September 2024.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 3 December 2024 be agreed as a correct record.

To receive an update and presentation from the Cared for Children and Care Leavers Shadow Committee.

The committee received a presentation from the Care Leaver Ambassadors on the local offer. The presentation focused on feedback and recommendations following the local offer review event which took place on 13 November 2024.

Some of the feedback and recommendations from the event included:

-       The need to expand out of hours support

-       The leisure pass could instead be offered as a leisure budget to widen the scope of available activities

-       The need for financial support with childcare for care leavers who were parents to secure work or training

-       Support with gaining qualifications in English and maths, including online or at Care Leaver Hubs

-       ‘Starter kits’ for young people moving into their own homes

-       More support with the Homechoice process, such as a dedicated Housing Officer who could work with the Care Leavers Service

-       The Setting up Home Allowance to be standardised regardless of age

-       More emotional support and social events to build networks

-       The need for laundry and personal hygiene facilities in Hubs

-       Independence preparation to be gradual and begin before the age of 16 to allow for sufficient support in advance of independent living. Also to consider the ASDAN model for independence packs

The committee thanked the Care Leaver Ambassadors for sharing this feedback and recommendations and asked for assurances from officers that work would be undertaken in response. Officers advised that an update on the progress and impact of the implementation of these suggestions would be provided at subsequent meetings.

To receive a verbal update from the Corporate Parenting Strategic Board.

The committee received a verbal update from the Executive Director of Children’s Services on the Corporate Parenting Strategic Board. New terms of reference had been agreed to ensure clarity around the work of the board and how it reports into the Cared for Children and Care Leavers Committee for scrutiny. Work streams were due to go live in January. There would be formal reporting into this committee on the progress of the work streams.

To receive the Virtual School Head Teacher Annual Report for 2023-24.

The committee received the Virtual School Headteacher Annual Report 2023/24. The report presented an overview of the operation and impact of the virtual school during 2023/24.

The committee raised a number of queries including highlighting a scheme in Scotland to ensure that cared for children who received the required grades would be guaranteed a place at university. It was suggested that the Council have a discussion with MPs to lobby on this being extended to England.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

To receive the Care Leavers Annual Report 2024.

The committee received the Care Leavers Service Annual Report 2024. The report highlighted the progress since the Ofsted inspection which concluded in March 2024.

Members asked for a progress update on the recruitment of social workers as concerns were regularly raised around recruitment challenges and high caseloads. The committee were advised that the issue was being addressed as part of the improvement plan and this included looking at international recruitment, converting agency social workers and looking at the retainment offer. It was noted that the Department for Education had recently raised its risk assessment from moderate to critical in relation to the number of social workers nationally.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

To receive the Cheshire East Advocacy and Independent Visitor Service Annual Report 2023-24.

The committee considered the Cheshire East Advocacy and Independent Visitor Service Annual Report 2023-24 which provided an overview of the work undertaken between 1 October 2023 – 30 September 2024.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

To consider the performance of the Cared for Children and Care Leavers service for quarter 2 of 2024-25.

The committee considered the Cared for Children and Care Leavers Scorecard which set out the performance of the service for quarter 2 of 2024-25.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.