Agenda item

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

The Sub-Committee considered a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services detailing Corporate Parenting developments, activity and performance for the year 2014-15. Members noted that majority of Children Looked After (CLA) in the City were unaccompanied asylum seekers. This cohort were more likely to be older and male compared to the CLA populations of other local authorities, and it was recognised that their profile is markedly different form that of the City’s wider population of children and young people.

How do the CLA numbers compare to those of other authorities and what does this say about the threshold levels?

Officers explained that although levels were slightly higher than London levels of CLA, the small size of the cohort meant that this variance was the equivalent of a single child. Quality assurance processes, both internal and independent indicated that the threshold levels had been applied appropriately in decisions to take children into care.

How has the consultation of CLA been used to improve the service?

Young people had asked for better information on their entitlements and a welcome pack was being developed with current CLA as a result. CLA were noted to be integral to the development of the Corporate Parenting Strategy and the City’s “pledge” to CLA. A report on consultation with young people would be coming to a future meeting of the Sub-Committee.

How many CLA are in placements that meet their ethnic or cultural needs?

The ethnic and cultural needs of the young people were assessed and efforts made to get placements with the closest cultural fit. The Corporation used independent fostering agencies to maximise the range and choice of potential placements to meet such needs. The suitability of the placements was reflected in their long term stability. In response to an enquiry by members, officers undertook to investigate whether the City’s boarding schools could play a bigger role in the placement of looked after children.

How do CLA and Care Leavers know what they are entitled to?

This was achieved through the work of social workers, the independent reviewing officers and foster carers. A welcome pack of information for CLA was also being developed in consultation with young people.

How many CLA medicals are done within the specified timescale from reception into care?

Officers explained that medical assessments were contracted to Whittington Hospital.  All CLA had a medical assessment and whilst the medicals were seen to be completed within the required timescales, the reports could sometimes take longer to be sent to the Social Worker.  The issue had been raised with the Whittington at the Children Executive Board. A report on the issue would be coming to the Sub-Committee at their meeting scheduled for  17 December 2015.

What work is being done to ensure that our CLA have a health passport?  

Work on the health passport was due to be carried out by Whittington although there had been delays in the commencement of the project at both the Corporation and Hackney Borough Council. The need for progression had been raised with the Whittington at the Children Executive Board, and the Corporation had made themselves available to pilot a system if this would assist in this. Members advised that they would be happy to be a pilot for the project.

What progress has now been done to ensure that our CLA have all got life story work?

Quality assurance processes had identified that life story work was not complete for all CLA; this was now being addressed and the City’s recording system was being amended to better record and monitor life story work. Specialist training for staff had also commissioned to ensure the quality of life story and maximise its value to understanding and meeting the needs of CLA. It was felt this work could be more challenging to complete for unaccompanied asylum seekers as relationships between practitioners and the young people could take slightly longer to develop and support the building of trust.

RESOLVED – that officers undertake to investigate the potential inclusion of City Boarding Schools in the care package and that the report be noted.