MIDDLESBROUGH COUNCIL

AGENDA ITEM 4

CHILDREN AND LEARNING SCRUTINY PANEL

5 August 2015

SAFEGUARDING AND CHILDREN IN CARE
Further Information

PURPOSE OF THE REPORT

  1. To provide the Children and Learning Scrutiny Panel with further information in respect of its scrutiny topic of Safeguarding and Children in Care (Looked After Children).

BACKGROUND

  1. Children in care of the local authority are one of the most vulnerable groups in society. The majority of children in care are there because they have suffered abuse or neglect.Since 2009/2010, Middlesbrough has had significantly more children in care, and children requiring protection plans, than all other North East local authorities and most of its statistical neighbours.
  1. The scrutiny of local authority activities, to support children in care, covers many different areas and responsibilities. Services are directly provided through children’s services and social work, foster care, adoption services and children’s residential care. It also covers other areas such as commissioning processes, education and health.
  1. The purpose of this review is to investigate the many different areas that impact on outcomes for children in care, therefore, providing the panel with the information required to highlight what is working well and identify any gaps and barriers.
  1. In February 2015, the scrutiny panel held two meetings to explore the reasons why Middlesbrough has consistently high numbers of children in care, and identify measures that could assist in reducing numbers.

4 February 2015

  1. At the meeting that was held on 4 February 2015, the scrutiny panel received:
  • Data and information, including comparisons with neighbouring authorities and statistical neighbours, pertaining to the number of:
  • Children in care.
  • Children requiring protection plans.
  • An outline of how the Local Authority supports children in care and children requiring protection plans.
  • An overview of the actions in place to reduce the number of children in care and children requiring protection plans.
  • An outline of the implications if the number of children in care continues to increase.
  • Details of the measures in place to ensure there is adequate budget provision, to support children in care and those children requiring protection plans, without resorting to contingencies.

25 February 2015

  1. At the meeting held on 25 February 2015, the scrutiny panel received:
  • An overview of the Peopletoo research study that was conducted in respect of safeguarding and children in care, including:
  • An overview of the work undertaken.
  • An outline of the findings.
  • Details of the strategic recommendations put forward.
  1. In respect of the two meetings detailed above, an interim report was prepared, collating the evidence received by the scrutiny panel. The report was presented to the Overview and Scrutiny Board, for information, on 31 March 2015. The report can be found at Appendix A. Members are asked to note that any updates in respect of the information contained in the report, will be conveyed at today’s meeting by the Assistant Director of Safeguarding and Children’s Care.

PURPOSE OF TODAY’S MEETING

Evidence Gathering

  1. Neil Pocklington (Assistant Director for Safeguarding and Children’s Care) is in attendance at today’s meeting to provide the scrutiny panel with:
  • A brief overview of the evidence submitted to the scrutiny panel on 4 February and 25 February, including any updates on the information previously conveyed.
  • An outline of Middlesbrough’s children in care in terms of age, gender, ethnicity, religious or cultural background, disabilities, and what needs and challenges this profile presents.
  1. A written paper has been prepared by the Assistant Director and is attached at Appendix B.

Setting the Terms of Reference

  1. Following receipt of information at today’s meeting, the scrutiny panel is encouraged to consider, discuss and agree the aim and terms of reference for the review.
  1. The draft aim and terms of reference are outlined for the panel’s consideration and approval:

Aim

To review the impact of services for children in care, both in terms of what is working well and any gaps and barriers, whilst ensuring the needs of each child are paramount.

Terms of Reference

a)To examine how the Local Authority commissions services that reflect the needs of children in care.

b)To assess the quality of placements, how stable they are and whether they work well for children.

c)To determine how well children in care do at school, how this is monitored and whether there is sufficient support to raise aspirations and educational outcomes.

d)To identify how the Local Authority:

  • Promotes physical, emotional and mental health of children in care.
  • Acts on any early signs of health issues.

e)To examine the performance of the Local Authority in finding appropriate adoptive families and establish how outcomes of local adoption processes are monitored?

f)To identify how the Local Authority promotes an effective local fostering service.

g)To assess the quality and standard of residential care provided/used by the Local Authority.

h)To determine the range of support that the Local Authority provides to assist young people leaving care with the transition to independent living.

i)To examine the profile of the professional workforce of social workers and the effectiveness of care planning across the Local Authority.

j)To determine the responsibilities of corporate parents and how the role can be enhanced.

Appointment of Added Member/s

  1. Added Members can be invited, by the scrutiny panel, to act as ‘expert witnesses’ for the duration of a particular scrutiny topic.
  1. Listening to children and placing them at the centre of this review is of the utmost importance. There is a need to highlight the experiences of children in care and champion their voices across the Local Authority. Children in care are experts in using services and have valuable insights into how the system works on a day-by-day basis[1]. With this in mind, the scrutiny panel is asked to consider the proposal to approach the Children in Care Council (CICC) and ask that they nominate the appropriate representative/s to become added members of the scrutiny panel, for the duration of this review.

RECOMMENDATIONS

  1. That the information presented at the meeting be considered in the context of the scrutiny panel’s investigation.
  1. That the scrutiny panel consider and agree the aim and terms of reference for the review and the proposal to approach the CICC.

BACKGROUND PAPERS

  1. The following background papers were used in the preparation of this report:

-Agenda papers of the Children and Learning Scrutiny Panel meeting of 4 February, 25 February and 19 March 2015.

Contact Officer:

Georgina Brown

Scrutiny Support Officer

Legal & Democratic Services

Telephone: 729711(direct line)

e mail:

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[1] The Local Government Association and the Centre for Public Scrutiny – 10 Questions to ask if you’re scrutinising services for looked-after children (May 2015).