Agenda item

To consider key performance data concerning looked after children as at the end of February 2012.

OP200 - Cost of Service per looked after child -  Agreed  that  more detailed information on how the service were managing this cost be added to the  forthcoming report to be considered by the committee in June.

OP409 - Foster carer recruitment - Committee requested that the   number of kinship carers recruited be separated out to provide an idea of how many  stranger foster carers( people without a connection to the child/ young person)  were being recruited over the year. Agreed that any  positive news on the efforts to recruit foster carers  should be added.

OP414 – Percentage of Children becoming looked after previously subject to a Child Protection  Plan -  There would be an audit in relation to this area in April which would try an uncover the  main routes  of children  into care  and   look further at  the reasons for children, on a care plan, coming into care.  Agreed that information on the audit findings be added to the commentary.

OP414 percentage of children becoming looked after previously subject to CP plan – Agreed that further   clarification be provided in the minutes on the value attached to this indicator and the total that it is applicable to.

OP389 – Children in care including unaccompanied minors . The  Chair requested a report to the next meeting on the efforts by the service to take children out of care. Previously the Committee had learned about the options being taken forward such as adoption, supervision care, LAC allowed to go home (whilst remaining on care orders) and the committee wanted  reassurance that this work was  having an impact on the number leaving care.  The report  should not include children who were turning 18.   

A committee member recalled that,  in  a previous report to  committee, 80 children were identified by the service as being in care too long and it was  requested that the above report include information on their progress  and a further  update on the number of children currently deemed to be too long in care.  It was further agreed that  issues impacting  on how quickly a child could  leave care such as  delays as a result of  court proceeding should also  be included to provide an understanding of the timescales.

OP386 Children in care cases reviewed on time – All cases had been reviewed but  as some were not done within the set time limit, the target could not be calculated as being met. The delay in completing the visits  and reviewing cases had  been due to   vacancies   in the IRO team. These posts were  in the process of being filled and performance should improve for this indicator.

Agreed overall that there should be exception reports, on the performance figures that had a red status, explaining the activities to address this performance rating.

Agreed  overall that  there should be  increased commentary  attached to the   performance figures  and an indication  of the status  by adding R, A or G to the report  as  they were printed in black and white.

OP148 – care leaver in education employment or training - Further investigation of these figures by the Head of Children in Care indicated that some figures had been incorrectly input. This information would be updated and performance figure updated and supplied to the committee.