Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors G. A. Russell, Jackson and Whysall.

Following the recent CSCI inspection of the Fostering Services it was reported that the outcome was extremely positive, the service likely to be upgraded from good to excellent.

There was only one area for recommended action.

Corporate parenting aspects were classed as being excellent and the role of the LAC Scrutiny Sub-Panel was commended.

Agreed:-  That the report be received with pleasure.

The Senior Operations Manager reported that children and young people who are ‘looked after’ are at greater risk of offending than the general population, with those individuals cared for within residential children’s homes representing the higher percentage of children who are involved in offending behaviour.

In 2006 a report was presented to Members on the rates and patterns of offending amongst looked after children who were placed within residential units.  This was in response to national and local concerns by Magistrates that this group were being prosecuted for offences that could be dealt with by disciplinary measures within the residential unit.  That report which was also the subject of a presentation to local Youth Magistrates found that L.A.C. were over represented in the criminal justice population locally.

Since this presentation a number of steps have been taken by Youth Offending Services and Children and Young People’s Services.  In addition national guidance has been issued by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) on the prosecution of young people resident in children’s homes.

The report submitted compares figures for April to December 2005 with those for April to December 2006 and reveals an overall decline in frequency of offending by L.A.C., particularly in residential care.  However other placements do not benefit from this trend.

The report also takes the opportunity to inform members of the more general work of the YOS to reduce re-offending.

Comments on the content of the report were in respect of:-

a)      the percentage of looked after children who have had no prior offences before coming into care, and then offending;

b)      the liaison work between the police and the Youth Offending Service, further development of this work and involvement of the Police with Residential Unit workers along with improved community policing;

c)      initiatives which focus on offending behaviour;

d)      lessons to be learned and the support available to carers who have young offenders, such as behaviour management;

e)      organisational/management responses to avoid all young people in care having the stigma that they are likely to offend;

f)        intervention work undertaken, between the Bridge Project and YOS, for care leavers which tends to be positive.

Agreed:-  1) That the content of the report be noted and the actions outlined therein to further reduce offending by Looked After Children, be supported.

2)     That a report be submitted in six months time on the actions being initiated to ensure continued improvements.

3) That arrangements be made for a police representative to attend a future meeting to discuss how the service can best work with looked after children to deter them from offending.

The H.R. Manager submitted a report which outlined a framework to encourage the provision of work placements for Looked After Children within the Authority.

The report set out in detail:-

• proposals for offering meaningful work placements for looked after children
• a placement model
• scale of activity i.e. estimated number involved
• manager awareness and commitment
• potential work placement areas
• support offered to young people to enter mainstream employment

It was proposed that Strategic Human Resources perform a link role between the Bridges Leaving Care team and managers across the Council who may be able to offer work placements.  This will utilise the contacts developed in Strategic Human Resources as part of the Investors in Education project and the Investors in Education Co-ordinator within Strategic Human Resources will be the initial point of contact for the Bridges team.  The Bridges team will then be able to deal directly with service managers to make necessary arrangements prior to the commencement of placements and to resolve any issues which subsequently arise.

Particular comments on the report were made in respect of:-

a)                  the involvement of HR as a link between young people and departments/employers; the support available regarding vocational/training work and risk assessment, all having regard to the interests of the young person.

b)                  In light of the Local Authority’s corporate parenting responsibilities that CMT is urged to remind all managers to consider providing work placements for looked after young people or care leavers and to make available such placements;

c)                  encouraging looked after children to go into further education;  working with Hallam University and local Colleges was in hand; 

d)                  expenses for young care leavers who engage in work placements.

Agreed:-  1) That the proposed framework for work placements be strongly supported and submitted to CMT for endorsement.

2)           That Strategic Leaders report back to this Scrutiny Sub-Panel on action being taken regarding work placements for Looked After Children in six months time.

3)  That progress reports on work placements for looked after children be a regular item on future agendas.

The Senior Scrutiny Adviser gave an update to members of developments regarding access to benefits for care leavers and how the intervention of this Sub-Panel had helped improve links between the local agencies to facilitate better communications and reduce delays in claims being processed.

A report was submitted which gave the background to the issue, along with correspondence to local MPs and a response from the National Office of Job Centre Plus.

It was noted that there had been a great improvement in claims being processed and resolved quicker.

Agreed:-  1)  That the progress made to date be welcomed.

2)     That the response from the Department of Work and Pensions (Job Centre Plus) be noted.

3)  That progress be reviewed at a future meeting of this sub-panel.

The Service Manager reported that as at 15^th March 2007, Rotherham had 343 children in care.

The details submitted set out:-

• the number of looked after children in the various types of care available, with comparative figures for 2006
• the gender and ethnicity breakdown of children in care
• the school attendance record of children in care along with commentary on reasons for them missing school.

Agreed:-  1)  That the report be received.

2)     That the report to the next meeting include information in respect of:-

-                      ‘internal’ truancies

-                      how many looked after children are not on a school roll and the reasons for this.

Consideration was given to the content of a report which summarised the main findings arising from Regulation 33 visits to the following children’s homes in Rotherham during the period September to November 2006:-

            Creswick Road

            St. Edmund’s Avenue

            Goodwin Crescent

            Studmoor Road

            Hollowgate

It was noted that aspects of the Improvement Plan for Creswick Road were still being worked upon.

Agreed:-  1)  That the report be received.

2)  That further reports are submitted to this Sub-Panel on key themes emerging from future Regulation 33 visits.

The Senior Scrutiny Adviser submitted a draft work programme for the Looked After Children Scrutiny Sub-Panel for the 2007/08 municipal year.

Agreed:-  That the draft work programme as submitted be agreed at this stage, Caroline Webb to be informed of any additional items for possible consideration.

Agreed:-  That the minutes of this Scrutiny Sub-Panel held on the 13^th December, 2006 be received.

It was noted that the next meeting of the Looked After Children Scrutiny Sub-Panel would take place on Wednesday, 27^th June, 2007 at 2.00 p.m.