Issue - meetings

This report sets out performance data and trends for an agreed set of measures relating to looked after children. Appendix 3,  of the report is to  marked to follow.

The Committee considered performance information and trends for measures relating to looked after children.

Against the ongoing downward trend, the number of looked after children  went up by three last month.  This was associated with the new requirement to  provide placements for  young people classed as  being in youth detention.  The committee asked that these additional  numbers in young people, under this new requirement  are signalled  separately in the report  under a new category. This is to enable  the Committee   to monitor the number of young people entering care through this new route.

A map was included at appendix 3 of the report which illustrated that 27% of  looked after children are placed in the borough  and 73% placed outside the borough. The map  provided Committee members with an  indication of the proximity of the placements to the borough . In terms of the places  that were more than 20 miles outside the borough, the Chair asked that the Director for Children’s services verify   how many were foster placements and how many were in Residential Care.

Cllr Reece would email her questions about the performance report after the meeting.

The Committee continued to  query the costs to recruit foster carers . It was noted that the consortium had completed work on what boroughs are prepared to spend on foster carers and how  much they cost to recruit.   The Committee agreed that Wendy Tomlinson report back on this.

An example of the effort made by a neighbouring borough  to recruit local foster carers was shared . It was noted that  the council will visit a prospective foster carer within 2 weeks of showing interest and invite them to an event to learn more about  becoming a foster carer.

Care leavers in suitable accommodation - An explanatory note would be provided in future on this figure because the number of care leavers which accommodation was not assigned was three and this was due to extenuating circumstances. Although this was a small figure, it showed as a greater percentage when assessing if the target had been met.

 OP419 -  Number of children  missing/absconded from care  at  any point in the month. It was noted that the Director for Children and Cabinet Member for Children continued to receive weekly briefings on this matter.