Issue - meetings

Report of the Director for Children’s Services. To be introduced by the Cabinet  Member for Children, Education and Families.

Cabinet to consider scrutiny review findings and  agree responses to the recommendations.

(c)        Cabinet Response to Scrutiny Review on Support to Children from Refugee families

The Cabinet Member for Children, Education and Families introduced the report which reinforced the commitment of the Council to providing the right support, at the right time to children, young people and families in Haringey.

The report highlighted the many issues that affect NRPF families living in Haringey. It considered the current experience of children and families in light of the provision available, the support provided by the third sector and voluntary agencies in advocating for families and the interface with other government departments. In doing this, the report gives a clear account of the complexity and challenges involved in delivering services to families.

Haringey has been hit hard by the budget cuts imposed by central Government. The borough was home to some of the most vulnerable families in the country had lost over 40% of its funding since 2010. One in three children in Haringey lived in poverty, and NRPF families are disadvantaged further by being precluded from much of the welfare system and delays in Home Office decisions on their immigration status. In this context, the Council were keen to ensure that these children and families were supported, and would work with organisations like NELMA and Project 17 to achieve this.

RESOLVED

To consider the Scrutiny Review Report in Appendix 1 and approve the responses to the Scrutiny recommendations as outlined in Appendix 2 of this report.

Reasons for decision

The evidence supporting the Panels’ recommendations on the enhancements that could be made to the support provided to children from refugee families is at (Appendix 1).

Alternative options considered

The evidence supporting the Panels’ recommendations is outlined in the main body of the report (Appendix 1). The Cabinet could choose not to accept the recommended response by officers to them as outlined in Appendix 3. The potential implications of alternative courses of action are referred to within this as appropriate.