Agenda item

Purpose of report: Scrutiny of Services

The Lead Member’s annual report provides an overview of the Corporate Parenting Board and its work through the previous year. The Committee is asked to review this alongside the accompanying reports for the Adoption Agency and Fostering Service.

The Committee is asked:

To review the Lead Member’s report

To scrutinise Adoption Agency and Fostering Service activity as presented in the Annual Reports

To note the Statements of Purpose for both Adoption and Fostering Services as required

Witnesses:

Sheila Jones, Head of County Wide Services, Children, Schools and Families

Caroline Budden, Deputy Director, Children, Schools and Families

Mary Angell, Cabinet Member for Children and Families

Linda Kemeny, Cabinet Member for Schools and Learning

Key points raised during the discussion:

1.       The Cabinet Member for Children and Families introduced the report and informed the Committee that the aim of the Corporate Parenting Board was to achieve permanency for Looked After children by providing the right services for each child; this would ensure stability moving to independency.  It was noted that once these were factored in, there would be a better chance of positive outcomes for looked after children. 

2.       The Committee were informed that extra funds such as the bursary awards and Celebration Fund made a difference to Looked After children by acknowledging achievements, it was added that the savings fund matches any savings made by the child rewarding their dedication.

3.        The Committee queried the emphasis of collective responsibility; the view was expressed that the service and Members should ask if they are doing enough to support Corporate Parenting.  The Cabinet Member for Children and Families responded that the Corporate Parenting Board offers training on an annual basis for members, this was under three levels of understanding;  one for all Members and higher levels for Children and Education Select Committee Members and Cabinet Members.  It was expressed that
Members had a good level of Corporate Parenting understanding but more engagement could always be undertaken.

4.       There was a discussion around safeguarding and the investigation of child sexual exploitation; it was commented that this was constantly changing and that there was a multi-agency approach and a renewed focus on old cases.  The Committee were informed that the new Child Sexual Exploitation Strategy Group where arrangements and governance were reviewed at a senior level receives monitoring reports of the numbers of missing children and those causing concern.  The Strategy Group, it was noted, is chaired by the Assistant Chief Constable and challenges operational work by determining a level of joint concern.  The Strategy Group was currently working on protocols by finding commonalities in areas of concern and offering support to looked after children most at risk.   It was added that processes and focus had become considerably more robust in the last 6 months.

5.      The Committee were informed that Surrey’s children homes offered training on drug misuse and child sexual exploitation.  Ofsted reported that the homes effectively assessed and had comprehensive risk monitoring procedures; it was noted that return interviews for missing children were all conducted on time.   Historically, the data for young people who ran away was collected differently.  The service now had one list of names and information for children who were Looked After which was reviewed each month. It was noted that in the last three to four months the number of instances where young people had gone missing had fluctuated between 100 and 150. This was inclusive of young people who went missing for short periods of time. Officers added that there was currently a clear baseline that was evaluated for trends and patterns, the service could bring information on trends and patterns back to the Committee later in the year.

6.      Officers responded to a query on placement numbers, typically a looked after child should have 2-3 placements from birth.  The risk indicator is for more than 3 placements: children who have had more than 3 placements in the year were a cause for concern.  It was added however that Surrey was ahead nationally for placement stability with 9% compared with 11% nationally moving three or more times in the year.

7.      The Committee were informed that the health of looked after children was a high priority of the Corporate Parenting Board and the need for an increase in clinical support was being addressed.  School stability however was the starting point for looked after children and area heads were monitoring school behaviour and attendance; emphasis was placed on the importance of a looked after child remaining in one school.

8.      The Committee raised concern regarding children and young people that were ‘sofa surfing’ and expressed that there needed to be a sense of duty to safeguard these young people.  Officers explained that it was to be hoped the re-commissioning of housing options would give young people more permanent housing options.  Although the young people in this category were a focus, it was generally difficult to identify people who are living this way.  However, once the service is made aware of individuals it would then be possible to give the young person an appropriate assessment.  

Recommendations:

The Committee commends the Lead Member for Children’s Services for her outstanding dedication and commitment over the last six years and thanks her for her report.

The Committee recommends that:

•        The learning from the evaluation of data on CSE risk to children and young people in Surrey and the statistics on the numbers of missing children, including completion of return interviews, are reported to the Committee in six months time.

•        The timescales for completion of health checks and the quality of care plans are scrutinised by the service and the improvements reported to the Committee in six months time.

•        In recognition that placement stability is crucial to the Corporate Parenting Strategy, the Committee recommends that in future the LMCS annual report on Corporate Parenting includes data on both long and short-term placement stability.