Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Cath Wright, Councillors Dodson and Gosling. The meeting was informed that Cath Wright’s absence was due to serious illness.

Agreed:- That on behalf of the Panel, a letter be sent to Cath Wright wishing her a speedy return to good health.

Agreed:- That Councillor Gosling be appointed as Vice-Chair of this Scrutiny Sub-Panel.

The Senior Scrutiny Adviser submitted a paper which set out the background to and Terms of Reference for, the Looked After Children Scrutiny Sub-Panel.

Agreed:- That the Terms of Reference for the Scrutiny Sub-Panel be accepted.

Margaret Murphy of the Rotherham PCT commented on the content of a report submitted which set out the progress made in developing health systems to meet the needs of Looked After Children and Young People in Rotherham.

The report provided information about health services and outcomes for the period from April 2006 to March 2007. The information included :-

• facts and figures on the number of children looked after by Rotherham Local Authority as at the 24th April, 2007
• guidance on Promoting the Health of Looked After Children. This was to be reviewed in 2008 and some aspects of the guidance would become statutory
• the health framework in Rotherham; a Looked After Children Health Group provides a strategic direction and is working towards the implementation of the Healthy Care Programme.

The report submitted set out the elements included in the Programme and the support available to looked after children and young people;

• the difference Health Care can make locally
• the achievements in 2006/07, objectives and outcomes
• the aims for 2007/08

Subsequent discussion included comments on:-

(a) the involvement of Chatham House in the process and the funding, required to help develop its own team to deal with issues involving looked after children

(b) annual health assessment from which all children should benefit.

The benchmarking situation for health assessment, how the figures can be quantified and improved upon having regard to the input process.

(c) addressing mental health issues, substance/drug misuse; awareness programmes for the latter;

(d) the support package available in respect of teenage pregnancies; ongoing work was outlined;

(e) the challenging nature of implementing the Progamme, the main constraint being time;

(f) the new non smoking regulations which also affect children’s residential units. It was acknowledged that the position in respect of looked after children needed to be dealt with sensitively. Signage regarding no smoking needed to be suitably sited and should refer to ‘no smoking in our home’ rather than ‘no smoking on these premises’. 

Agreed:- (i) That the report be received and an update position be presented in 12 months time.

(ii) That the Service Manager, Looked After Children, submit a report to the Cabinet Member for Children and Young Peoples Services reflecting the Panel’s views on the implications of implementing aspects of the ‘no smoking’ regulations  in children’s residential homes.

The Service Manager, Looked After Children, reported that the Care Matters Green Paper was published by Government in October 2006, and the consultation process was closed on 15th January, 2007. The Department for Education and Skills published a White Paper (Care Matters: Time for Change) on 21st June, some months earlier than originally envisaged. It takes forward the majority of the Green Paper’s proposals and is informed by both the consultation process and the working groups.

The consultation indicated that the Green Paper had been generally welcomed as the start of a long overdue focus on children in care and an opportunity to effect long term change. The main concerns were to do with implementation; resourcing, ensuring the initiative does not become diluted, and how to prioritise policies which will make a real impact.

The report submitted provides a summary of the key points and recommendations from the White Paper, and a proposal for the realignment of the services provided to Looked After Children in Rotherham as part of a local response to Care Matters to create a Borough wide integrated Looked After Children’s Service.

The various chapters of the White Paper covered :-

-          Corporate Parenting issues

-          family and parenting support aspects

-          care placements

-          education proposals

-          improving the health needs of children in care

-          transition to adulthood

-          the role of the practitioner

-          next steps arising from the proposals.

Particular reference was made at the meeting to :-

(a) development of a ‘Pledge’ for children in care, covering the services and support they should expect to receive including provision of high quality education;

(b) formation of a Children in Care Council in order for young people to express their voice and influence;

(c) financial implications of the proposals;

(d) involvement of and impact of the proposals for partner agencies;

(e) the LAC support services, the work of the Get Real Team being highlighted;

(f) training provision for all staff as appropriate;

(g) the proposal to alter the term ‘Looked After Children’ back to ‘Children in Care’.

The report submitted set out the proposal for the Looked After Children’s Strategy in Rotherham which essentially entails developing one service which directly manages the various teams involved with looked after children. The advantages of this were outlined in the report.

Agreed:- (i) That the contents of the report be noted and the proposals endorsed.

(ii) That an update report on progress of the proposals be submitted in six months’ time.

The Service Manager, Looked After Children, submitted a report which set out the recommendations following the review of corporate parenting activities, progress on the recommendations as at June 2007 and risks associated with each recommendation.

Substantial progress has been made in consolidating corporate parenting activities and this was reflected in comments from the JAR 2006 “Looked After Children are a Key Priority for the Council which is excellent at carrying out its Corporate Parenting Role”.

Comments on the report made particular reference to :-

1. funding for celebration events; this was to be investigated and hopefully progressed

2. members of the Scrutiny Sub-Panel, in very small groups, to visit Residential Centres and also to meet with foster carers on an informal basis

Agreed:- (i) That the report be received and an update be presented to the Scrutiny Sub-Panel in twelve months’ time.

(ii) That the Service Manager make appropriate arrangements regarding (b) above.

The Service Manager reported that as at 3rd July, 2007, Rotherham had 334 children in care.

The details submitted set out :-

-          the number of looked after children in the various types of care available

-          the gender and ethnicity breakdown of children in care

-          the school attendance record of children in care for the period September 2006 to 2nd July 2007, along with commentary on reasons for them missing school

Agreed:- (a) That the report be received.

(b) That work take s place to improve the reporting format and this be reflected in the next report to the sub-panel.

Agreed:- That the minutes of this Scrutiny Sub-Panel held on the 28th March, 2007 be received with the addition of Councillor Jack’s apologies.

It was noted that the next meetings of this Scrutiny Sub-Panel would take place on Wednesdays at 2.00 p.m. on the following dates:-

19th September, 2007

12th December, 2007

26th March, 2008