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.

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.

Bev Hendricks, Interim Assistant Director for Children’s Social Care, took the Committee through the report as set out. In addition, the following was highlighted:

• There was concern nationwide that the National Transfer Scheme (NTS), which aimed to ensure the care responsibilities of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children was shared by local authorities, was not working. Haringey looked after 50 unaccompanied asylum seeker children. This figure was above the nationwide average, which was approximately 42 per local authority. Haringey had agreed to a request from Croydon Council to take on unaccompanied asylum seeker children on their behalf.
• In response to a question from the Committee, Officers informed that unaccompanied asylum seeker children had no on arrival entitlements but by virtue of the fact they were unaccompanied, the local authorities were required to discharge duties to them as corporate parents. If the children sought to apply for citizenship, then they would have to apply for this through the Home Office and the Council supported them throughout that process. However, there was concern by the Committee that this provided the children with only a short period in which they could apply for citizenship before they turned 18 and were then eligible for deportation by the Home Office. Officers encouraged the children to apply for indefinite leave to remain over settled status. However, Officers found the Home Office usually granted temporary leave to remain over settled status, which would then be subject to review every 12 months.
• There were issues around Personal Education Plans (PEPs). These were transitioning to the new e.PEP system which was praised for allowing a more collaborative approach in their production. Guidance was continuing to be provided to the educators and social workers but the figures of completed e.PEPs had been improving, as well as their quality. Officers were confident that the system was beginning to be better understood and that proposed targets would be attainable.
• Homes for Haringey were praised on their work in helping to provide permanent accommodation for care leavers and the training they provided on independent skills.
• The Chair and Director of Children’s Services paid a special tribute to Denise Gandy for all the work she had done with the Homes for Haringey Pledge for Care Leavers.

In response to questions from Committee Members, the following information was noted:

• Regarding the ‘Reason episode of care ceased’ – ‘any other reason’ on page 17, it was clarified that the system social workers used, Mosaic, was restrictive in the options it listed. For example, not all forms of permanency options were listed on Mosaic. Officers would take the 109 cases under ‘any other reason’ and list those in a separate grid to demonstrate what those reasons were. (Post meeting note: A review of Mosaic established that the 109 cases under ‘any other reason’, are all children who achieved their 18th birthday).
• The two zero recordings for ‘CLA placements out of borough’ in 2013-14, 2014-15 was an error likely due to information not being available.
• If the young person was unable to find anywhere to live, then he/she may be accommodated by the Local Authority. This was known as Section 20 accommodation (S20 Children Act 1989) and the young person acquired ‘looked after’ status. Children’s Services had a duty to take such steps which were reasonably practicable to accommodate the young person.
• It was explained that Residential accommodation was typically for older children, whilst Children’s Homes were typically for younger children who might have significant needs, such as mental health challenges or not being ready to live in a family setting.
• Regarding the chart on page 17 - ‘Comparing the primary need of CLA starters’, Officers clarified that the missing details were - ‘Parents illness or mental health’, and ‘family in acute distress’. Officers confirmed a footnote would be provided in the future (Action: Bev Hendricks).

The Chair thanked Officers and was reassured by the positive trajectory of the performance indicators overall.