Issue - meetings

To consider a report summarising performance against Children in Care National Indicators during 2010/11.

The Committee considered the above report summarising the performance outturns for Children in Care (CiC) national indicators for 2010/11. The current version of the report included a number of new outcome measures such as analysis of the length of time children remained looked after in Haringey to enable challenge and further consideration of the support services provided.

The Committee discussed the format of the current performance reports as concerns were expressed on the value of looking at performance data in isolation of ‘the bigger picture’ and that more value could be derived from the Committee gaining greater understanding of underlying trends and the key plans of the service to address these. It was also felt that in general more detailed narratives should be provided within the reports to accompany performance data to help further develop the understanding of the Committee. The Deputy Director responded by proposing the trial of a new format for future reports based on RAG (red amber green) status assessments to make information more accessible and underlying trends more apparent.

The level of Looked after Children (LACs) in Haringey remained of continuing concern for the Committee and it was agreed that providing the trend line in the next performance report would be useful. This would then enable the Committee to then look at inter-relationships such as the length of time children remain in care which had a knock on effect on the overall number in the system. The Committee were also assured that this would remain an ongoing focus for the service particularly in light of the findings of the Munro Review of Child Protection. The Council’s strategy for early intervention and thresholds of care would be revisited as part of a planned service redesign once the new Children’s Services director had taken up post in November. The Committee stated that it would be useful for a brief outline diagram to be produced identifying the key work streams for the service going forward.

In relation to the stability of LAC placements, the Dep. Director proposed that suitably anonymised casework scenarios could be provided to assist the Committee in developing their understanding of the complex reasons underpinning placement move decisions.

The Committee requested in future reports that a further breakdown be provided under the analysis of reasons for children ceasing to be in care section for the ‘other reason’ category as this figure was large in comparison to the other categories listed.

The Committee also requested that a narrative be provided to underpin the statement made within the report that the largest proportion of children coming into care were the under ones, and in particular baby boys.

The Committee were advised that a low number of Haringey LAC had been involved in recent rioting across London. 

The Committee noted the report.