Agenda item

To follow

The Panel received a presentation, which provided a progress update on the Looked After Children Sufficiency Strategy 2022-26. The strategy had previously been considered by Corporate Parenting Advisory Committee in February. The presentation was introduced by Keith Warren, Head of CIC & Placements as set out in the additional report pack. The Director of Children Services, along with the AD Early Help and Prevention were present for this item. The Cabinet Member for Children, Schools and Families was also present. The following arose during the discussion of this item:

a.    The Panel sought clarification around unaccompanied asylum seeking children (UASC), the psychological impact on those children and the carrying out of age assessments. In response, officers advised that the service followed all of the relevant guidelines and legislation. Age assessments were carried out in line with the relevant guidelines and were carried out by trained staff. These assessments were also open to challenge by the child’s family. The DCS emphasised that the process was absolutely carried out in a child-centric way.

b.    The Panel queried the age cut-off point for children in care and the transition arrangements for when they were no longer children. In response, officers advised that young people were classed as children in care up until the age of 18. After 18, they leave care and become young adults. The Council continued to support care leavers, according to criteria, up until they are 25, such as supporting them with a disability or if they go to university. The DCS advised that from 14 onwards, social workers would begin to have conversations with young people, about them getting older. It was noted that the Council had a statutory duty to know where its care leavers were after 18, and that all support did not just stop on the advent of their 18^th birthday.

c.    The Panel sought clarification about the reduction in LAC numbers and the reasons behind this. In response, the DCS advised that significant improvement in the early years’ service had an impact, but that there were a number of factors involved. The Director emphasised that the number of children in care was the number, and that it didn’t really matter if it went up or down. The key thing was that the right number of children, who needed to be in care were in care. If the numbers increased or decreased significantly, she would be asking her staff to do an audit of every child in care to make sure the right number of children were in care.

d.    In response to a question around training for foster carers for UASC, officers advised that that the care needs of a child were universal and that training was provided to foster carers. The key difference would be when that child had suffered trauma and specialist support was available for those children.

e.    The Panel emphasized the importance of overnight respite care for parents, particularly those with SEND children. Officers advised that previously there had been overnight care arrangements available, officers were working to find alternative provision and would update members when they had something in place.

RESOLVED

Noted