Issue - meetings

To provide the Committee with feedback from a young person who attended a recent ministerial event held for Children in Care.

The Committee received feedback from the Children & Young People Participation Strategy Officer and Kieran Thomas, a Haringey care leaver, following attendance at a recent national ministerial event to facilitate the sharing of views of CiC. The event included an interactive voting session and discussion of key care issues, as part of reviewing progress in improving outcomes for CiC, with findings to be compiled into a summary report to be submitted to the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF).

RESOLVED:

·      That the Committee receive a report to a future meeting exploring the feasibility of hosting an event to obtain the views of a statistically significant sample of CiC in Haringey, to allow comparison with the national picture and to identify areas of concern and for future focus.

·      That feedback be provided to the Committee at the December meeting from a steering group meeting to be held on 28 October with Leaving Care managers and a number of young care leavers.

In consideration of the generally poor results obtained from the voting session relating to the perception of CiC on how well councils are doing at helping CiC prepare to get good jobs in the future, the Committee requested an update on the situation in Haringey. It was advised that the current focus of attention in terms of future attainment for CiC and care leavers was on education, including support through specialist services such as the CiC Education Team. Itwas recognised that improvements were required to support young care leavers in obtaining employment including apprenticeships, although the recession impacted on available opportunities. There was agreement that linkages with employers and other Council departments needed to be developed to maximise opportunities in relation to jobs, work experience placements and apprenticeships for care leavers. Committee members emphasised the value of being proactive in approaching local businesses to scope opportunities and also liaising with Neighbourhood Management teams to raise awareness through local area networks. 

RESOLVED:

·      That an action plan setting out work to be undertaken to improve employment opportunities for care leavers, including access to apprenticeships, both within and external to the Council be received at the next meeting of the Committee.  

The Committee expressed dissatisfaction with anecdotal evidence that CiC moving placements were not always using suitcases to move personal effects. Confirmation was provided that although a store of suitcases was available, blanket compliance had yet to be achieved for a number of reasons.

RESOLVED:

·      That the Committee receive a report scoping the level of non-compliance with the procedure for suitcases to be used to move possessions of CiC and identifying actions to be undertaken to ensure compliance where necessary.