Issue - meetings

RECEIVED a report from the AD Safeguarding and Social Care, Sarah Alexander, which set out an analysis of performance data and trends for an agreed set of measures relating to looked after children. Report included in the agenda pack (pages 7-23).

 NOTED in response to the discussion:

• The Committee sought clarification on what constituted unsuitable accommodation for care levers. The DCS agreed to email the Committee with details of what constituted suitable and unsuitable accommodation, as well as the number of care leavers this involved. (Action: Ann Graham)
• The Committee enquired about the difference between children in care who were absent and those who were missing. Officers characterised absent as when the location of the child was known but they had not returned home at a designated time. Whereas, missing was more serious and the child had failed to return and their location was unknown. The Chair advised that missing children was a key indicator and reflected a high level of risk for the young person/s involved. Cases of missing children were monitored closely, involved multi-agency input and a full report was prepared for the Chair in each case.
• The Committee sought clarification on the seemingly disproportionate ethnic background of children represented by the adoption figures. Officers acknowledged that data was not reflective of wider demographics and agreed to come back to the Committee with further details. The DCS agreed to feed back further information on the numbers and ethnic make-up of children up for adoption/placement orders, as well as the reasons behind this. (Action: Ann Graham)