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. This will include updates on performance of schools and health and education performance data for looked after children.

The Senior Performance Officer ran through the report. The main points are summarised below.

· There were 334 Children in Care at the end of the first quarter. This was the same number as June.

· There were 26 Unaccompanied Asylum Seekers (UAS), this figure increased slightly but the Senior Performance Officer commented the figure was steady overall.

· The ‘Children Coming into Care Aged Three and Under’ category was at 42. The Senior Performance Officer commented that this was slightly up on March, but down on levels in 2022-23.

 · The number of ‘Families Under Acute Stress’ as a reason for coming into care had fallen to 6% this year. However, the numbers for ‘Abuse and Neglect’ as a reason for coming into care were much higher at 60%.

· As of September, 77% of Looked After Children under 16 had an up-to[1]date care plan. · Of the 116 Children in Care aged 16 and 17 years, 67% had an up-to-date pathway plan.

· The number of Personal Education Plans (PEP) that were up to date was 95%

· Eight percent of children had three or more moves with the past two years. The Senior Performance Officer explained that this was down on the previous period which had the category at 10%.

 · Children under 16 who had been in care for at least 2.5 years and were in the same placement for at least two years was now at 57%.

 · The number of up-to-date health visits was 94% and the number of those in care with up-to-date dental visits was 79 %. The Senior Performance Officer commented that this was below expected figures.

· All care leavers under 21 have an allocated personal advisor. Ninety five percent were counted as ‘in touch’ with the service.

· Those in Education, Employment and Training (EET) were divided into two cohorts. Forty eight percent of the older cohort was in EET and 52% of 17 and 18-year-olds are now in education, employment, or training.

 · Those in suitable accommodation was 95%.

· There had been 142 EHCP requests, which had been a similar rate to last year. Twenty eight percent already had an EHCP.

 · Virtual School progress - the annual achievement figures were still to be released, the Senior Performance Officer stated that there was an update planned for future meetings.

 · Twenty percent of the current Youth Justice cohort are also Children in Care, 13% are currently ‘Children In Need’ and 4% had an active Child Protection Plan. Ninety eight percent had an Asset Plus plan. The floor was opened to questions. A question was raised by the panel about the number of young people who had an EHCP and how many were waiting for them. The Senior Performance Officer replied that they had 2,086 active plans, 146 were being assessed for a plan and so far, this year the team had issued 316 EHCP plans. Another question was asked as to how long on average Looked After young people are having to wait for their EHCP.

The Senior Performance Officer replied  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6