Issue - meetings

To consider specified performance data for Looked After Children.

The Committee received a report setting out the July performance monitoring data in relation to CiC within the Children and Families Service and details of statistical neighbour comparative data collected by central government on a national basis for 2007/08 for a range of CiC outcome indicators based around health and education.

Concerns were raised regarding performance against the health assessments and dental check indicators for CiC. It was confirmed that improvements to reporting mechanisms and the assignment of a dedicated paediatrician for CiC health assessments should improve performance against this target in the future.

In response to concerns raised regarding the number of Personal Education Plans for CiC that were out of date, the Committee were advised that significant work would be undertaken at the start of the academic year to review Plans and meet the target. Additional concerns were expressed regarding the progressive decline in educational attainment of CiC from Key Stage 1-3 and whether this could be attributed to factors such as time spent in care etc. It was proposed that the Committee consider a random sample of CiC selected by the CiC Education Team to look at educational attainment at a more detailed level. 

In relation to concerns identified regarding offending rates amongst Haringey’s CiC and the lack of information on re-offending rates, it was confirmed that improving the relationship between the Youth Offending Service and the council was an important area of work currently underway. In addition, the value of benchmarking offending and re-offending rates in CiC with statistical neighbours was noted, providing a comparable method of measuring data could be used.

RESOLVED:

·      That the July 2009 performance monitoring information for CiC within the Children and Families Service be noted. 

·      That up to date educational attainment information for CiC be provided at a future meeting of the Committee, in addition to more detailed consideration of educational progress for CiC through examination of attainment for a random sample of children.