The
Chair advised that she recently attended a London Councils meeting
with other Lead Members for Children’s Services from across
London. Colleagues advised that during recent inspection visits
Ofsted were keen to speak to members of
corporate parenting committees to ensure that the arrangements
around corporate parenting were robust and that members were
engaged. The Chair emphasised that the she wanted the Committee to
be able to demonstrate its engagement if asked by Ofsted and so would be maintaining performance as a
standing item on future agendas.
RECEIVED the report on Performance for the Year to the end of
August 2016. Report included in the agenda pack (pages 13 to
18).
NOTED
in response to discussion:
-
An overall improving trajectory in relation to the
majority of performance indicators.
-
430 children were in careon the last day of August
2016 or 72 per 10,000 population including 32 unaccompanied asylum
seeker children. There had been a gradual increase in the level of
children in care in comparison to the position at the end of March
2016 - 23 more children in care. However reduction in
Haringey’s rate of looked after children in 2015/16 placed
LBH within the inter-quartile range of our statistical neighbours
(a rate of 69 per 10,000 population), although the current rate
remained above the London (52) and national average (60)
rates.
-
At the end of August, 91% of looked after children
had an up to date Care Plan. Performance in this area consistently
remained above target since February 2016 as a result of activity
tracking in weekly meetings held by the Head of Service for
Children in Care.
-
At the end of August, 82% of looked after children
aged 16-17 had up to date Pathway Plans. Performance in this area
dipped slightly since June 2016 where 96% of pathway plans were up
to date however completion of pathway plans was much higher than
that reported at the same period last year. Although performance
remained short of the 90% target, it was hoped that with further
effort from the 16+ children in care team, the 90% target would be
achieved.
-
Performance of PEPs was slightly short of the target
(87% up to date at the end of August). This area continued to be a
priority of performance tracking.
-
40% of LAC achieved 5 A*-C grades at GSCE including
English Literature and Maths. The Committee was informed that no
local authority had ever achieved over 38% in previous years. The
Committee passed on their congratulations to the Virtual Schools
and all of the others involved.
- Indicators around stability of placements for looked after
children remained in line with statistical neighbours and targets.
In the year to August 2016, 9% of children had three or more
placement moves, below the statistical neighbour average (10%). 76%
of children under 16 who had been in care for at least 2.5 years
had been in the same placement for at least 2 years, slightly above
our statistical neighbour average (67%).