Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillors L Durham, M Grant and A Kolker.

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

No declarations of interest were made.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 3 July 2018.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 3 July 2018 be confirmed as a correct record.

To receive a verbal update on the Input from Children and Young People.

The Head of Cared for Children and Care Leavers reported on the successful launch event for the My Voiceand on the young people’s views on the visual identity for corporate parenting.  They made a clear distinction that Option 2 was their preferred option.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

To consider the Independent Reviewing Officer Annual Report, 2016-17.

Consideration was given to the Independent Reviewing Officer’s 2017/18 Annual Report and the IRO’s contribution to quality assuring and improving services for cared for children and care leavers.

The Report detailed what had gone well during the year, areas identified for future development, progress against priorities from last year and set out the priorities for 2018/19.

The Committee welcomed the positive report.  Members asked questions on the use of technology to support note taking and it was confirmed that Dragon software, which converted speech to text, would be further tested via other devises to see if this would enable direct recording to a child’s file.  Questions were also asked in relation to asylum seeking children who go missing from the care system.  In response it was stated that this was a rarity and that a support package was put in place for each young person.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

To consider the Corporate Parenting Performance Scorecard.

Consideration was given to the Corporate Parenting scorecard for the fourth quarter of 2017/18, which included 43 separate measures covering all areas of the service.  

The Committee noted the two areas of performance which were red rag rated – the number of children adopted, and the number of permanent exclusions of cared for children and sought clarification on the support offered in relation to behaviour and exclusion. In response it was stated the virtual school would be involved and relationships built with both the child and schools.  Schools would be told what they were expected to do to help support the child.

In response to a question on education attainment, it was reported that this had been removed from the Scorecard and would be included in the Virtual Head’s Annual Report, which would be considered by the Committee.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

To receive a presentation.

Councillor Gillian Merry gave an update on the work undertaken by the Being a Good Corporate Parent working group.

The first meeting had been held in August 2018 and had looked at ways of involving councillors in the corporate parenting role and how to raise awareness and expectations of what corporate parenting was. Suggestions included:

·       Inclusion in Members Induction Packs

·       Use of eLearning

·       Members reporting back to Committees

·       Members visits

·       Involvement in events for November Children’s Rights Month

·       Skills audit of Members to provide a resource for cared for children

·       Use of contacts at external agencies e.g. Fire Authority

·       Attendance at key events e.g. Star Awards

The Corporate Parenting Committee Annual Report would be going to Cabinet in October and it was suggested that the Report should go on to full Council as being a corporate parent was the responsibility of all councillors.

RESOLVED:

That the report be received.

To receive an update.

Members received an update on relevant national and local developments.

A resume of the following national developments was given:

·       Fostering Better Outcomes

·       Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children

·       The Admission into School of Children previously in state care outside of England (DfE guidance)

Local Developments reported on included:

·       Local Offer for Care Leavers

·       Being a Good Corporate Parent

·       Changing the Language for Young People in Care

·       Corporate Parenting Identity

The Committee’s attention was drawn to the meeting of the Children and Families Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 24 September 2018 which was considering the Adoption Annual Report and Formal Review of the Regional Adoption Agency.

Sam Akers, Team Leader Care Leavers shared with the Committee the successes of a number of care leavers, which included playing in the annual care-leavers football tournament; the take up of an apprenticeship, and moving into their own accommodation.

The Committee was reminded that the member training session would be taking place on 12 October in Macclesfield and Westfields. 

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.