Agenda item

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.

RECEIVED the report on Performance for the Year to August 2015. Report included in the agenda pack (pages 9 to 18). 

NOTED in response to discussion:

• An overall improving trajectory in relation to the majority of performance indicators.

• As of the 5^th October there were 450 Children in Care, which was 76 per 10,000 population including 36 unaccompanied asylum seeker children. Haringey’s rate of LAC remained significantly above the London (54) and National average (60) although the gap had closed to the statistical neighbour rate of 70.  

• Permanency was secured for 18% of children who ceased to be Looked After. In the year to August 2015 there were 9 adoptions and 7 Special Guardianship Orders.

·         The downward trajectory of the average amount of time taken for children being placed for adoption (438 days). The committee noted significant improvement in performance for this indicator compared to last year. This figure was above national average but was in line with statistical neighbours.

·         Adoption was down 24% this year nationally.

·         79 children were placed 20 miles or more from Haringey at the end of August 2015. This equated to 18.3% against a 16% target but on an improving trajectory.

·         At the end of August, 96% of LAC, in care for over a month, had an up to date health assessment, a sustained improvement which compared favourably with the London average.

·         Following concerted effort, including technical input and data cleansing, 74% of LAC had an up to date Care Plan at mid-September, improved from the position of 49% at the end of May but remaining below the expected level.

·         The average care proceedings duration in 2014/15 was 34 weeks with trends towards a longer duration than the statutory minimum. In quarter 1 this trend had been reversed towards shorter duration and an average duration of 32.4 weeks.

·         There had been a decline (57%) in the number of Personal Education Plans (PEP) being completed since the 71% achieved in July, but the Committee noted that this was partially attributable to the school summer holidays. The Committee noted that advice from the DfE on reporting timescales was that the PEP’s should be held three times a year and that could either be 3 school based meetings or 2 school based meetings with a review in between. It was clarified that at present the figures were based on six-monthly reviews and that the new guidance of 3 reviews per year was implemented as of September. Virtual Schools needed to establish a process for recording any reviews and their inclusion into the performance figures.

Action: Fiona Smith

·         The Committee noted that the social worker was responsible for initiating the PEP and for recording it on the child’s file but when the meetings took place in school the teacher would chair the meeting and record the actions taken. The effect was that it could be difficult to then get the paperwork back from the schools.  Virtual schools to revisit the issue of bringing in electronic PEP’s, Virtual School Head to bring a copy of an e-PEP to the next CPAC for discussion.

 Action: Fiona Smith

·         27% of LAC aged 16 and over had pathway plans less than 6 months old which although better than levels achieved earlier in the year, was below the expected levels. Focused attention had increased performance on pathway plans to 40% by mid September. The new Head of Service was putting a performance review system in place with team managers to attend a session to review all relevant care and pathway plans and agree dates for timely completion. It was clarified that a pathway plan was for LAC who were 16 and over, whilst care plans were for those under the age of 16. The Committee NOTED that there was a training need for managers on Mosaic because plans were being done but they were not being correctly recorded and that this had a significant effect on performance.

Action: Annie Walker/Dominic Porter-Moore

·         In August five children were recorded as missing from care in the month and 16 were away from their placement without authorisation.

·         Performance for LAC children with an up to date dental visit was on a downward trajectory with current performance at 76% which had dipped from 91% in March. Performance had improved slightly since the end of July.

·         The latest published educational attainment data showed that 305 of Children in Need achieved reading, writing and maths at Level 4+, a decline from 44.25 the previous year and below the average for both London and nationally.

·         In response to a question, around the number of foster carers attracted by the banner campaign across Haringey, the Children’s Service Manager advised that since April 2013, 31 carers had been approved which was below the target of 40, which was considered as an ambitious target. The Children’s Service Manager also advised that she had discussed with NRS that a number of banners had been removed due to their deteriorating state and it was considered that this had an impact on the number of foster carers coming forward.

·         The Committee noted that the contract with NRS was based on a fee per child that was successfully placed in foster care.

·         In response to a question about whether the Council were satisfied with NRS, the AD Safeguarding and Social Care advised that the experience had been mixed and that quality of reports received was often low. The Council did not specify the need for foster carers for a mixed age group when establishing the contract with NRS.

·         Cllr Berryman commented that a couple he knew had given up trying to foster a child in Haringey due to difficulties in the process and had instead fostered through Barnet.

·         The Children in Care Service Manager advocated undertaking a mystery shopper approach to get a better understanding of the quality of service offered by NRS. The Children in Care Service Manager also advised that the organisation needed to look at the offer and support offered to potential foster carers. The Committee AGREED to undertake some mystery shopper analysis.

Action: Dominic Porter-Moore

• Children in Care Service Manager advised that he would be reviewing the NRS contract with the AD Commissioning to agree next steps. 

Action: Dominic Porter-Moore

• In response to a question around poor performance of Children in Care & placements on their 19^th birthday, the Committee noted that this was a very small cohort and that the figures could be significantly affected by a negative result.

AGREED to note the report.