Agenda and minutes

Venue: Civic Centre, High Road, Wood Green, N22 8LE

Contact: Glenn Barnfield, Principal Committee Co-ordinator 

Items
No. Item

60.

FILMING AT MEETINGS

Please note this meeting may be filmed or recorded by the Council for live or subsequent broadcast via the Council’s internet site or by anyone attending the meeting using any communication method.  Although we ask members of the public recording, filming or reporting on the meeting not to include the public seating areas, members of the public attending the meeting should be aware that we cannot guarantee that they will not be filmed or recorded by others attending the meeting.  Members of the public participating in the meeting (e.g. making deputations, asking questions, making oral protests) should be aware that they are likely to be filmed, recorded or reported on.  By entering the meeting room and using the public seating area, you are consenting to being filmed and to the possible use of those images and sound recordings.

 

The Chair of the meeting has the discretion to terminate or suspend filming or recording, if in his or her opinion continuation of the filming, recording or reporting would disrupt or prejudice the proceedings, infringe the rights of any individual, or may lead to the breach of a legal obligation by the Council.

Minutes:

The Chair referred Members present to agenda Item 1 as shown on the agenda in respect of filming at this meeting, and Members noted the information contained therein.

61.

Apologies for absence (if any)

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Sakina Chenot; Cllr Justin Hinchcliffe substituted.

 

62.

Urgent Business

The Chair will consider the admission of late items of urgent business. Late items will be considered under the agenda item they appear. New items will be dealt with at item 11 below.

Minutes:

There were no items of urgent business.

 

63.

Declarations of interest

A member with a personal interest in a matter who attends a meeting of the authority at which the matter is considered must disclose to that meeting the existence and nature of that interest at the commencement of that consideration, or when the consideration becomes apparent.

 

A member with a personal interest in a matter also has a prejudicial interest in that matter the interest is one which a member of the public with knowledge of the relevant facts would reasonably regard as so significant that it is likely to prejudice the member’ judgement of the public interest.  

Minutes:

No declarations of interest were made.

 

64.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 197 KB

To consider the minutes of the meeting held on 23rd April 2019.

Minutes:

RESOLVED

The minutes of the 23rd April 2019 were agreed as a correct record.

 

65.

Matters arising

Minutes:

The Committee queried the attendance of Cllr Mark Blake and requested for further information in relation to the three points mentioned in pages 3-4 of the minutes of 23rd April 2019. Beverley Hendricks, Interim Assistant Director for Children’s Social Care, mentioned the report could not be brought to the meeting as the report was scheduled to be prepared by August 2019.  It was further mentioned that the Youth Justice Board would be leading the report to ensure all partners were not only part of the remedial measures, but also maintain and monitor practice. The Chair requested that a report be provided to the next meeting, and it was agreed that Cllr Mark Blake will be invited to the next meeting. (Action: Beverley Hendricks/Ann Graham/Clerk).

 

Regarding page 4 of the minutes of 23rd April 2019, the Chair enquired when an update would be provided on the Ofsted action plan. The Director of Children’s Services noted that an Ofsted ‘Keeping in touch’ meeting was due to take place in July 2019. It was requested that an update be provided at the CPAC meeting on 15th October 2019 (Action: Ann Graham). 

 

66.

Performance for the year to May 2019 pdf icon PDF 499 KB

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.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered this report which provided 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.

 

Beverley Hendricks took the Committee through the report as set out. In addition, the following was highlighted:

 

·         Regarding children in care, the Committee was assured that their needs were being met. It was acknowledged that there are some challenges with the data, which is continually being worked on. It was noted that at the close of business on 2nd July 2019, there were a total of 427 children in care. 

·         In relation to unaccompanied asylum seeker children, it was projected that Haringey would have 2 new asylum seeker children per month, but it turned out to be 8 new unaccompanied asylum seeker children at the end of the month. In the last few months, 6 age assessments were undertaken that determined young people as adults. There are currently, 6 age assessments outstanding. The main issues to health for the unaccompanied asylum seeker children include accessing GPs, emergency health and infectious disease. The service were working closely to make sure young people are accessing services as soon as possible and ensuring young people are kept as local as possible.

·         The Chair commented positively on the amount of placement orders in relation to the total population of Children in Care (2.4 at page 8). The Chair highlighted that 27 placement orders out of a population of 424 was a great achievement. 

·         Regarding 2.5 at page 8, it was highlighted that the Care Plan target was being achieved.

 

Following discussion it was noted that:

 

·         In response to safeguarding concerns, particularly around some secondary age individuals at primary school, Officers mentioned that it could happen, but it was noted that there were certain criteria that need to be followed through casework and legislation, which means that until the age assessment was accepted, the needs of the child had to be responded to.

·         In terms of networks and links, it was mentioned that there are plans to create a hub in the service to look at what the Service can do alongside charities.

·         Regarding unaccompanied asylum seeker children, The Chair recommended for there to be a more focused report on this area, such as some slides, and have an extensive discussion on the subject matter at the next CPAC meeting on 15th October 2019, including the point raised by the Committee Member on funding and whether there is a London-wide strategy on funding. Officers agreed (Action: Beverley Hendricks/Ann Graham).

·         In regard to FGM, Officers advised that the data was based on referrals received. If there was evidence of FGM then mandatory reporting was required and it would be treated as a crime against the child.

·         The Chair enquired the definition of ‘suitable’ as set out in 2.15 page 10. In response, the Assistant Director for Safeguarding and Social Care clarified that it around work to identify accommodation to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 66.

67.

EUROPEAN UNION AND LOOKED AFTER CHILDREN pdf icon PDF 179 KB

Briefing note on the broad overview of the ways that EU law can affect children. To be introduced by the Assistant Director for Safeguarding and Social Care.

Minutes:

The Assistant Director for Safeguarding and Social Care introduced this briefing document which provided a broad overview of the ways in which EU law affected children and what could happen in the event of a no deal scenario between the United Kingdom and the European Union on the Council’s looked after children. 

The Chair noted the seriousness of the contents of the briefing note and suggested it be distributed to members of parliament in order that questions could be asked of the civil service regarding the preparations made. Officers agreed on the seriousness of the implications for the Council in the event of a no deal scenario but advised that further research would be carried out before Haringey’s members of parliament were consulted on the issue to ensure that all the relevant information was presented. 

The Members agreed the implications for Haringey’s looked after children from European countries was a serious and pressing concern. It was therefore important f      or the Council to know, in so far as possible, the potential impact on those children and how the Council would be able to assist them.

The Director of Children’s Services confirmed that the matter would be raised further at the next one-to-one with the Cabinet Member for Children and Families (Action: Ann Graham).

The Chair requested this item be placed on the Corporate Parenting Advisory Committee Forward Plan to be considered in greater detail with Members at a future meeting (Action: Clerk).

 

68.

Any other business

 

 

Date of next meeting

 

15th October 2019

Minutes:

Dates of the next meeting

15th October 2019

16th January 2020