Issue - meetings

To provide a verbal update and proposals for moving forward on the participation of children in care and the “Ministerial Stocktake”.

The Committee considered a tabled report setting out proposals for obtaining the views of CiC in the coming year, to be led by recruitment to the newly created post of Participation and Children’s Rights Officer for CiC. Mechanisms for engagement proposed included the organisation of a consultation event in the autumn, the use of an online forum or telephone surveys and the creation of a film or book.

The Committee recognised the importance of developing long-term mechanisms of engaging and seeking the views of CiC including the establishment of a CiC Council. However, the Committee strongly emphasised the importance in the short term of organising and hosting an annual CiC stocktake event locally as a matter of urgency, in order to capitalise on the recent national event and the commitment made by the Committee to run a similar event in Haringey. The replication of themes used at the national event could be used to allow a comparison to be drawn with views expressed by CiC in the borough. It was requested that this event be hosted by June 2010 which would allow time for informal consultation with young people.