Agenda item

Report of the Executive Director, Community & Children’s Services.

The Sub-Committee received a report of the Executive Director, Community & Children’s Services concerning updates on service performance across the Children and Families Service. It demonstrates where performance meets our statutory obligations and targets and identifies where action was taken for improvement in specific areas.

Officers presented the report, highlighting that it covered the full 2024–25 year. They noted that while contacts, referrals, and assessments had slightly decreased over the year, they remained proportionate to the population. A more balanced mix of contacts from partners was attributed to recent awareness-raising efforts. Early help services remained consistent, and there was a slight reduction in the number of children in need, children in care, and care leavers. These trends were seen as interconnected and partly the result of effective early intervention and prevention work.

On care leavers, Officers explained that some reductions were due to young people “ageing out” of the system. However, the service had introduced a light-touch ongoing support offer for care leavers who still required assistance beyond statutory thresholds.

A Member queried the general downward trend in figures and whether this warranted further discussion in the non-public section. Officers clarified that the apparent reduction in children in need was due to many of these children now being supported through the long-term disability offer via short breaks. This approach, aligned with the Council for Disabled Children’s recommendations, avoids unnecessary reassessments and statutory processes. Families benefit from consistent support, including access to a qualified disability therapist through early help services.

Regarding care leavers, Officers noted that the national transfer scheme for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children had improved placement speed, contributing to the decline in local care leaver numbers. The service’s growth area was now focused on early help and short breaks.

RESOLVED – That, the report be noted.