Issue - meetings

This report provides an analysis of the performance data and trends for an agreed set of measures relating to looked after children on behalf of the Corporate Parenting Advisory Committee.

Mr Richard Hutton, Senior Performance Officer presented the report. Members queried the report throughout the presentation. The Committee heard that:

·      The unaccompanied asylum seekers that near the age of 18 would have continued support under care leavers rights. There were some that lost confidence when there were delays from a response from the Home Office. The average age range of new arrivals were usually from 15-16 years of age. 

·      It would be useful for the Committee to have a brief report about the overview and progress of pathway plans. It would also be useful for the Committee to see a pathway plan.

·      There was a challenge regarding the cohort that did not live in the local authority or came to care late.  Social workers would have to put in concentrated effort to document the aspirations of young people when they had been limited involvement with services.

·      Suggestions regarding using digital technology for automated dictation or transcription.

·      Haringey was a large consumer of the Regional Adoption Agency.  Generally speaking, older children are  more challenging to adopt along with larger sibling groups.  Work was done with adoptive parents who had previously adopted children from the same biological family to maintain their sibling relationships.

·      There were no children in care due to families suffering as a direct result of the cost-of-living crises.

·      The borough had good systems regarding how families were supported. For example, there had not been complaints from Ukraine families or families with NRPF. Officers worked hard to link officers into the right services.

·      More information about the situation of the young people such as young people, living out of borough and in different types of accommodation would provide more detail and context for councillors. This may be a separate report to be agreed for CPAC champion.

·      Semi-independent units would be regulated. The Committee requested that a briefing be provided to the Committee regarding the implications regarding the requirements around accommodation regulation.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.