Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

There were no apologies for absence.

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 8 below.

There were no items of urgent business.

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.  

There were no declarations of interest.

To consider the minutes of the meeting held on 2 July 2009 as a correct record.

RESOLVED:

·      That the minutes of the meeting held on 2 July 2009 be agreed as an accurate record.

Matters arising:

CPAC27 – that the proposed leaflet for Children in Care (CiC) setting out the role of the council as a corporate parent and the complaints process be forwarded to Committee members before the next meeting.

The Committee were advised that a scrutiny review was currently underway on the transition from child to adult social care services, with a specific focus on Children in Care (CiC) at the Chair of Cllr Newton. 

In relation to the issue raised at previous meetings regarding the feasibility of providing laptops to CiC, confirmation was provided that a protocol was currently being drafted covering the financial implications and issues such as arrangements for monitoring appropriate internet access of users etc.  

RESOLVED:

·      That an update report on the provision of laptops for CiC be received to the October meeting of the Committee.

A presentation will be given on the impact of the new Lettings Strategy on Care leavers.

The Committee received a presentation on the review of the Allocations Policy which is currently out for consultation, with implementation planned for April 2010. Details of the proposed new allocations system were set out against the wider strategic context and the current situation in Haringey, with the aim of ensuring the best use was made of a limited supply of properties. The proposed new system would be based on a banding structure used as best practice in a number of London boroughs and would replace the current complex points system to prioritise allocations according to need through a more transparent and fair system.

Confirmation was provided that the new Policy would allocate a specific quota of properties for care leavers in line with arrangements adopted in other boroughs. Further research would need to be undertaken to determine the size of the quota although it was emphasised that it was unlikely that all demand could be met. The new Policy would also encourage close working with the Leaving Care team and support agencies to provide settlement support to care leavers to encourage sustainable tenancies. Concerns were raised regarding care leavers aged 16-17 being unable to sign tenancy agreements and the impact on ability to achieve sustainable tenancies.

In relation to consideration of the housing needs of foster carers and adopters, the Chair requested that the Policy recognise the strict adoption criteria requiring adopted children to be provided with their own bedrooms.

Concerns were raised by Members regarding the quality of private sector housing provision used by the Council in the borough. Confirmation was provided that a revised accreditation scheme for landlords was now in place, setting out environmental health endorsed accommodation standards and ‘fit for purpose’ tests based around checks of the property and the landlord.

RESOLVED:

·      That a briefing note on the revised standards and tests for private sector housing provision used by the Council be circulated to Committee members. 

·      That the summary document for the new Allocations Policy be circulated to Committee members and that any further comments be passed onto the Head of Housing Needs and Lettings.

To consider specified performance data for Looked After Children.

The Committee received a report setting out the July performance monitoring data in relation to CiC within the Children and Families Service and details of statistical neighbour comparative data collected by central government on a national basis for 2007/08 for a range of CiC outcome indicators based around health and education.

Concerns were raised regarding performance against the health assessments and dental check indicators for CiC. It was confirmed that improvements to reporting mechanisms and the assignment of a dedicated paediatrician for CiC health assessments should improve performance against this target in the future.

In response to concerns raised regarding the number of Personal Education Plans for CiC that were out of date, the Committee were advised that significant work would be undertaken at the start of the academic year to review Plans and meet the target. Additional concerns were expressed regarding the progressive decline in educational attainment of CiC from Key Stage 1-3 and whether this could be attributed to factors such as time spent in care etc. It was proposed that the Committee consider a random sample of CiC selected by the CiC Education Team to look at educational attainment at a more detailed level. 

In relation to concerns identified regarding offending rates amongst Haringey’s CiC and the lack of information on re-offending rates, it was confirmed that improving the relationship between the Youth Offending Service and the council was an important area of work currently underway. In addition, the value of benchmarking offending and re-offending rates in CiC with statistical neighbours was noted, providing a comparable method of measuring data could be used.

RESOLVED:

·      That the July 2009 performance monitoring information for CiC within the Children and Families Service be noted. 

·      That up to date educational attainment information for CiC be provided at a future meeting of the Committee, in addition to more detailed consideration of educational progress for CiC through examination of attainment for a random sample of children. 

To receive an information report updating on progress with the fostering campaign.

The Committee received a brief update on progress with the recent fostering campaign based on the year to date position. Whilst it was recognised that the campaign had resulted in increased levels of enquiries and initial visits, the monthly carer approval rate remained fairly low. Members were advised that concerns existed around the performance of the fostering team in managing enquiries and it was recognised that improvements were required to how enquiries were received and progressed to maximise the number reaching approval stage.

It was suggested that an exercise be undertaken to examine the reasons provided from prospective foster carers not completing the approval process, such as housing, financial issues. This could also feed into negotiations for determining the quota of properties allocated for adopters/fosters under the Allocations Policy.

RESOLVED:

·      That progress of the fostering campaign be noted.

·      That a report be received to a future meeting of the Committee setting out work underway to improve the fostering service.

To consider proposals for introducing a series of appropriate performance monitoring indicators for the Service.

The Committee received, as requested at the last meeting, proposals for a series of suitable performance monitoring indicators for the Leaving Care and Asylum Service to be reported on a regular basis to the Committee. 

The Committee requested that their thanks to Roger Smith for his work with the Committee and best wishes for the future be noted.

RESOLVED:

·      That the proposed performance indicators for the Leaving Care and Asylum Service be approved and reported to the Committee on a frequent basis.

·      That the intention to join the Leaving Care ‘benchmarking group’ be noted, with regular updates provided to the Committee. 

·      That an update on progress with establishing the proposed CiC Council be provided at the next meeting of the Committee.

To consider recent independent visitor and Ofsted inspection reports for the two Children’s Homes and subsequent action plans developed.

(Further exempt information is set out under Item 11).

The Committee received inspection reports from recent statutory Ofsted visits to Muswell House and Haringey Park Children’s Homes to assess compliance with registration requirements. Also provided were the subsequent action plans produced to address areas of non-compliance within the provision. 

RESOLVED:

·      That the Ofsted inspection reports and subsequent action plans for Muswell House and Haringey Park Children’s Homes be noted.

To consider any Items admitted at 2 above.

None.

That the press and public be excluded from the meeting for consideration of Items 9-10 as they contain exempt information as defined in Section 100a of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended by Section 12A of the Local Government Act 1985); paras 1 & 2; namely information relating to any individual, and information likely to reveal the identity of an individual.

RESOLVED:

That as Items 12 and 13 contained exempt information (as defined in Section 100a of the Local Government 1972; namely information likely to reveal the identity of an individual, and information relating to any individual) members of the press and public should be excluded from the remainder of the meeting.

RESOLVED:

·      That Cllrs Weber and Hare receive an update briefing on the situations at Muswell House and Haringey Park following their frequent Regulation 33 visits to the Homes.

·      That the Ofsted inspection reports for Muswell House and Haringey Park for the last year are forwarded to Committee members.

·      That an update report on progress at Haringey Park be provided at the December meeting of the Committee.    

A verbal update on safeguarding issues pertinent to the remit of the Committee will be provided.

RESOLVED:

·      That a report regarding the Emergency Duty Service Team be provided at the next meeting of the Committee.

To raise any items of AOB.

RESOLVED:

·      That the following items be considered at the October meeting of the Committee in addition to those identified under previous items:

o       An update report on Special Guardianship Orders.

o       Feedback presentation from a group of CiC that attended a recent ministerial event looking at the views of CiC.

o       Summary report of budget management issues for CiC.

To note the dates of future meetings set out below:

• 20 October 2009
• 7 December 2009
• 25 January 2010
• 2 March 2010
• 12 April 2010

Noted.