Issue - meetings

NOTED the presentation by the AD Safeguarding on LAC numbers and demand levels which was included in the agenda pack at pages 55-69. The Committee was advised that Children’s Services had seen a 30% increase in the number of proceedings, which comprised of two main groups of babies and young children, and troublesome teenagers whose parents were unable to look after them. The AD Safeguarding elaborated that a judgement in a case brought by Southwark Council had resulted in local authorities being responsible for taking into care older teenagers who did not want to live in the family home.

The Committee was also advised that there were around 520 LAC around two years ago and there were currently 430 LAC which was about on trend with statistical neighbours. Haringey continued to receive its quota of Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children as per the arrangements for London boroughs, with placements allocated by Croydon via a rota. The AD Safeguarding advised that Haringey’s allocation was likely to total 40 UASC.

The Chair requested that a Member training even be set up to go through some of the key background information in relation to current performance in Children’s Services and the additional pressures that the service had experienced.

Action: Neelam Bhardwaja/Jon Abbey