Issue - meetings

To provide an update to the Committee on current performance levels, LAC numbers, a reduction in placements and the statistical profile of care leavers.

RECEIVED a report from the Director of Children’s Services setting out the performance data and trends relating to looked after children.  Report included in the second dispatch agenda pack (pages 1 to 18). 

NOTED in response to the discussion:

• The Committee was advised that the biggest reason behind children ceasing to be looked after was because they had returned home. The DCS estimated that there was around a 50% churn rate within LAC, which was suggestive of an underlying care population.
• In response to a query around 82% of visits to CIC recorded as being completed within the relevant timescales, officers advised that of the remaining 18%, the visits had taken place in the vast majority of cases but the report had not been written up due to the social worker having court commitments.
• In response to a query around Social Worker caseloads and whether these were considered manageable, officers advised that overall levels were reasonable but some individual social worker caseloads were too high. The service had a number of newly qualified social workers and some staff on restricted caseloads on health grounds, which resulted in experienced staff having additional workloads. 
• In response to a further enquiry, officers advised that newly qualified social workers had a protected caseload and it was estimated that if they were performing well this would likely be in place for one year.
• In response to paragraphs 2.12 and 2.15, officers advised that performance figure to February 2017 was a typographical error and that the report should read February 2018.
• The Committee commented that performance levels overall were positive and that significant progress had been made overall during the four-year term of the administration.
• The Chair thanked the officers present for their hard work in supporting the Committee.

AGREED to note the report.