Issue - meetings

Members of the committee will be asked to consider an  interim report on the direction of the Independent Reviewing Officers (IRO) service for Looked after Children in Haringey. The report contains initial findings on the work of the service for the period up to 31^st March 2012.   

The committee received an interim report from the Independent Reviewing Officers service for looked after children.  The report contained initial findings on the work of the service for the period up to March 31^st 2012. A full report was expected to be produced in September 2012.

The legal context within which the IRO (Independent Review Officers) operated was set out.  Recent regulations had strengthened the role of the IRO and further enabled their independence to challenge and scrutinise children’s cases to ensure that the child’s interests were protected throughout the care planning process.

Currently there were seven IRO posts of which three positions were covered by agency staff and these were in the process of being permanently recruited to.  In response to a question about the relationship between IRO's and social workers, it was noted that social workers valued the independence of the IRO   as they understood that their advice and direction was in keeping with the best interests of the child/young person.

The IRO’s  had completed a number of audits throughout the year and were able to use the information collated to understand if there were any emerging themes about the care of looked after children and  where improvements could be made.  One of their successful recommendations was the Children’s service agreeing to pay a foster care allowance when the LAC was still in education at 18.  Also the service supported LAC seeking to obtain indefinite leave to remain in the country.  The committee noted that the Children’s service did not pay for naturalisation as this was a choice and it was more important for the young person to be helped to obtain indefinite leave to remain in the country.  Members of the committee were interested in gaining a more detailed understanding of the process that the service adhered to in assisting LAC gain indefinite leave.  Examining this process may help gain an understanding of where local councillors can help in dealings with the Home Office, on a political level, with more difficult cases.

The IRO’s facilitated Family Group conferences,   a process led by the family members to plan and make decisions for vulnerable child/children who were at risk. This year, the IRO’s were aiming to increase the profile of these meetings because they would help identify alternatives to foster placements and adoption outside the family.

 In response to a question, the advocacy role of the IRO was explained as well as how their interaction with children/ young people on understanding their wishes and views at LAC reviews. 

 In terms of the timeliness of assessments, decision making and action, clarification was sought on whether forward planning had improved.   It was noted that there had been service wide training   on the effectiveness of early planning and the permanency policy to ensure there was an understanding of how each service area contributed and had a role in permanency planning for children in care.

The Chair and Committee thanked the IRO service for this useful and insightful report.