Agenda and minutes

There were no Declarations of Interest made.

Agreed:- That the minutes of the previous meeting of the Looked After Children Scrutiny Sub-Panel, held on 24th September, 2008, be approved as a correct record.

With regard to Minute No. 3.3 the Chairman confirmed that a meeting was to be arranged shortly.

It was also confirmed that with regard to Minute No. 6 the Fostering Inspectorate was to revisit Rotherham on the 8^th and 9^th January, 2009.  An update report on the inspection was to be presented to the next meeting in March, 2009.

Consideration was given to a report presented by Martin Smith, Manager of the Get Real Team, which detailed the focus of the Get Real Team in raising the attainment, achievement and aspirations of young people in care in Rotherham, mainly via short term intervention work, in addition to monitoring and supporting attendance at school across all key stages.

One of the performance indicators for the Get Real Team was to support the raising of attainment of looked after children.

The report set out in detail:-

·              The percentage numbers of children who had been looked after continuing for twelve months who had missed twenty-five days or more school for any reason during 2007/08. 

·              Current procedure for school attendance monitoring of looked after children by the Get Real Team.

·              What additional short, mid and long term action and improvements have and would be taken and their expected outcome.

·              Recent performance clinic outcomes for September, 2008

Discussion ensued and the following issues were raised and subsequently clarified for the Looked After Children Scrutiny Sub-Group Members:-

-                Whether the current procedures for recording children’s absence was adequate in school.

-                Predominant numbers of children in secondary school missing education.

-                Implications of a part-time timetable for young people and the recording of absence.

-                Sharing of information between designated teachers and governors and ensuring that they were aware of the role of the Get Real Team.

-                Personal Education Plans for every looked after child and the importance of ensuring this was carried out.

-                Explanation on the impact on absence figures with the new legislation on exclusions.

-                Offsite timetables and their purpose.

-                Recording of absence in schools and the need for this to be consistent across the borough.

-                Links with family support.

Agreed:-  (1)  That the contents of the report be noted.

(2)  That further training be provided for the designated teachers and governors with responsibility for looked after children be arranged.

(3)  That an update on progress be provided for the next meeting in March, 2009.

(4)  That action be taken on measures to improve absence figure reporting throughout schools in the borough.

(5)  That steps be taken to ensure all looked after children are issued with a Personal Education Plan and any changes in circumstances recorded.

Consideration was given to a report presented by Martin Smith, Manager of the Get Real Team, which detailed the focus of the Get Real Team in raising the attainment, achievement and aspirations of young people in care in Rotherham, mainly via short term intervention work.

The report set out in detail the support by the Get Real Team and the interventions to raise the attainment of looked after children across all key stages, what action was being taken, the links with Sheffield and Hallam Universities, RBT and BT and the celebration events that had taken place.  In addition, the Get Real Team also provided a variety of specialist training for stakeholders involved in raising attainment.

Further information was provided on the results for looked after children at the different stages 2007/08, GCSE results 2007/08 and case studies of success for some looked after children

Discussion ensued and the following issues were raised and subsequently clarified:-

-                 Impact on care services with the school leaving age being raised for Year 7’s for this academic school year.

-                 Attendance versus results and the need for targeted action for achievement.

-                 Support by Elected Members and Designated Governors in their role as Corporate Parents.

-                 The value of additional support.

Agreed:-  (1)  That the contents of the report be noted.

(2)  That an all Members’ Seminar be arranged on the educational achievement of looked after children.

Consideration was given to a report presented by Simon Perry, Director of Targeted Support Services, which provided details on the Care Matters agenda.

This report followed a full review of the Care Matters agenda and gap analysis of service provision within Rotherham. This agenda had implications for Directorates across Children and Young People’s Services.

On the whole service provision was good and many aspects of the proposed legislation were incorporated within existing practice. Where gaps have been identified, action plans were being developed to ensure compliance.

An all Member Seminar on Care Matters "Time for Change" (Looked After Children) was scheduled for Tuesday, 21^st April, 2009.

The Department for Children, Schools and Families action log had been used as a basis for a full scale review of service provision and gap analysis against the Government agenda involving input from across all Directorates within Children and Young People’s Services. Much of the planning concerns detailed aspects of service provision and work would continue to ensure that we responded appropriately to all aspects of the agenda.

A brief summary of key aspects of the changed agenda and our response to date was set out in detail as part of the report.

A discussion and a question and answer session ensued and the following issues were raised and subsequently clarified:-

-                 Attendance and achievement priorities for children placed at home and the status in the gap analysis.

-                 Need for careful monitoring of the gap analysis action plan.

-                 Resource implications for meeting the action plan.

-                 Involvement of the independent and voluntary sector and implications from the credit crunch.

-                 Colour coding of the action plan to show status of actions.

-                 Family and parenting support.

-                 Physical education provision for all students.

Agreed:-  (1)  That the contents of the report be noted and the proposals contained within this report endorsed.

(2)  That a cross directorate task and finish group be established to undertake preparation work to ensure the service met expectations within this agenda.

(3)  That a report be submitted on progress in June, 2009.

Consideration was given to a report presented by Simon Cooper, Human Resources Manager, which detailed how the Officers of the Get Real Team, the Bridges Team and Strategic Human Resources had continued to work together to offer meaningful work placements for looked after children within the Council. The work placements have helped to prepare the young people for the world of work and to develop skills, knowledge and experience which may place them in a better position to apply for and gain mainstream employment either within or external to the Council.

Further developments included the possibility of placements within NHS Rotherham and British Telecommunications.

From those who applied for work placements, two had been placed in construction with 2010 Rotherham, one in Streetpride, one caring placement at the Millenium Centre, which continued after the initial thirty days, for one day per week whilst she attended college on an Access to Nursing course and one placement in childcare at Rawmarsh Childrens Centre – the young person was now at college studying a Childcare course.  In addition, one placement was offered at the International Centre, but was awaiting a satisfactory CRB check.

The greatest success this year had been the placement of a young woman in Business Administration within Environment and Development Services over the summer holidays. She had intended to register at college, but found that she enjoyed this type of work so much that she applied for and was successful in gaining a Business Administration Apprenticeship in the same Directorate.

Success within this scheme was welcomed and would positively impact on those leaving care.  All Directorates of the Council were on board with this scheme and it was important to ensure that work placements remained high on the agenda.

Discussion ensued on the work placement opportunities in other organisations and whether partner agencies could sign up to this scheme.

Feedback from the young people involved with the scheme was very positive and the support and opportunities provided were welcomed.

Agreed:-  (1)  That the contents of the report be noted.

(2)  That an update on progress of this scheme be presented to this Sub-Group in twelve months time.

(3)  That work placement for looked after children be discussed with the Local Strategic Partnership and other partner agencies on how the scheme could be taken forward.

Consideration was given to a report presented by Simon Perry, Director of Targeted Support Services, which detailed how the Looked after Children’s Council was developed in response to the Care Matters agenda.

The Looked After Children’s Council comprised a group of twelve young people aged between eleven and seventeen years who have been working together to represent the voice of the Looked after Child in Rotherham. They had their first meeting with Elected Members and Children and Young People’s Service Directors on 31^st October, 2008.  

The meeting was chaired by a member of the Looked After Children Council and commenced with introductions. A brief presentation was provided on their work to date including initial work on their proposals to the Directors and Elected Members on the contents of the Corporate Parenting promise to them as Looked after Children.

The Council represented the views of Looked after Children.  They voiced their wishes and actions they wanted to see change and these were set out in detail as part of the report.

All comments and actions suggested would be considered and a response made to the Looked After Children Council in due course.

Discussion ensued on the selection process for the Looked After Children Council and the allowances provided for children who were looked after by the Local Authority.

Agreed:-  That the contents of the report be noted and the work of the Looked After Children Council be endorsed.

(2)  That consideration be given to the incorporation of the Looked After Children Council details and their comments in the Rights to Rights Newsletter.

The following items are likely to be considered in the absence of the press and public as being exempt under Paragraph 2 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, as amended (information which is likely to reveal the identity of an individual)

Resolved:- That, under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 2 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, as amended (information likely to reveal the identity of an individual).

Consideration was given to a report presented by Paul Grimwood, Senior Operations Manager, which provided information on the concerns that children and young people who were looked after were 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 were involved in offending behaviour.

Previous reports have shown a decline in offences by young people in residential care and the report continued to follow that trend. However, offending by young people subject to Care Orders and those placed at home remained static.

The current figures related to those young people aged ten or over who had, on 30th September, 2008 been looked after children for at least twelve months.  Similarly any reference to offending also related to the period from 1st October, 2007 to 30th September, 2008. This brought reporting in line with reporting to the Department of Children Schools and Families.  It was acknowledged that previous reports have included offences committed by the entire looked after children population and not just those who had been looked after children for in excess of twelve months.

Previous reports have provided figures for calendar years and although there was nothing to suggest that there would be any significantly different pattern it was obviously pertinent that different periods were being compared.

Discussion ensued and the following issues were raised and clarified:-

-                Support packages for children placed at home.

-                Work of the Early Intervention Team.

-                Correlation of offending patterns and children placed at home.

-                Issue of new guidelines regarding prosecution of young offenders.

Agreed:-    (1)  That the contents of this report be noted and support given for the actions outlined to further reduce offending by looked after children.

(2)  That a further report be submitted, as part of the Care Matters Agenda, detailing what support packages were currently available for looked after children placed at home.

(3)  That an update on the offending by looked after children be submitted in six months.

Consideration was given to a report presented by Simon Perry, Director of Targeted Support Services, which detailed the quarterly report for looked after children and the profile of numbers of looked after children.

The report confirmed that there were currently 387 looked after children, 27 of whom were open to the Children’s Disability Team and the numbers increased from 353 in June, 2008.

Particular reference was made to:-

·              Care Type.

·              Age Band by Care Type.

·              Young people with 25 or above days absence- Term 1 08/09 Academic year.

The report also provided information on issues arising from Regulation 33 reports on Children’s Homes, with particular reference to the statements that had been agreed in three of the four children’s homes and the level of access through the SWIFT system.

A discussion and a question and answer session ensued and the following issues were raised and clarified:-

-                 Children in foster care placed outside of Rotherham.

-                 Retention and recruitment of foster carers in Rotherham.

-                 Status of independent fostering agencies.

-                 Allowances payable to foster carers.

-                 Recruitment campaign and numbers of interested parties.

-                 Adoption procedure and delays in the process.

Agreed:-  (1)  That the information be noted.

(2)  That further information be provided on the foster carer recruitment drive and a report submitted to the next meeting in March, 2009.

Agreed:-  That the next meeting take place on Wednesday, 25^th March, 2009 at 2.00 p.m.