Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber - Rotherham Town Hall, Moorgate Street, Rotherham, South Yorkshire S60 2TH. View directions

Contact: Katherine Harclerode, Governance Advisor  Email: governance@rotherham.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

12.

Minutes of the previous meeting held on 13 July 2021. pdf icon PDF 137 KB

 

To consider the minutes of the previous meeting of the Corporate Parenting Panel held on 13 July 2021 and approve them as a true and correct record of the proceedings.

Minutes:

Resolved:-

 

1.    That the minutes of the meeting held on13 July 2021 be aproved as a true and correct record of the proceedings.

13.

Declarations of Interest.

 

To receive declarations of interest from Members in respect of items listed on the agenda.

Minutes:

Cllr Griffin declared a person interest in the agenda item on Adoptions based on his extensive work with the Adoption authority.

14.

Exclusion of the press and public.

 

To consider whether the press and public should be excluded from the meeting during consideration of any part of the agenda.

Minutes:

It was observed that Agenda Item 8 on the agenda, the LAC Update, involved the likely disclosure of exempt information under Paragraphs 1 and 2 of Schedule 12A to Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, as revised by The Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) (Order 2006). On these grounds, the Chair asked for a motion to exclude the press and public from observing Agenda Item 8 – LAC Update.

 

Resolved:-

 

1.    That the press and public be excluded from observing Agenda Item 8 – LAC Update due to the likely disclosure of exempt information under under Paragraphs 1 and 2 of Schedule 12A to Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, as revised by The Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) (Order 2006).

15.

Adoptions Update pdf icon PDF 245 KB

To receive a report information in respect of adoptions.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Consideration was given to a report on Adoptions from the Regional Adoption Agency (RAA). The report was from June and provided data from January to April. The report reflected ongoing attempts to combine the data collected by four different data systems into one report. This was one of the challenging areas in which the RAA was currently working to develop solutions and share best practice to optimise across all four systems. It was noted that the expectations were to hold at the previous levels, which were either good or outstanding for all four organisations the RAA comprises.

 

In discussion, it was noted that work to enhance post-adoption support and long term data around adoptions would be undertaken. It was noted that more support can be given to children placed locally.

 

It was further noted that all the authorities in the region have high aspirations to support adoptions for children for whom adoption is the right choice. It was noted that there is work to be done with new adopters to see what potential is there sometimes beyond the kind of adopter they initially see themselves being.

 

Members sought further clarification around efforts to recruit more adopters. The response noted the importance of word of mouth for spreading the word in communities and resulting in new adopters coming forward. The response further emphasised the need for the right kind of adopters, such as those who are willing to adopt sibling groups or children with unique needs.

 

Resolved:-

 

1.    That the report be noted.

16.

Access to Vaccinations for 12-15 year-old children who are Looked After

To receive a verbal update in respect of availability of vaccinations to Looked After Children between the ages of 12 and 15.

Minutes:

A verbal update was presented by the Head of Children in Care in respect of the vaccination offer to 12 to 15 year olds who are looked after. This update was offered to provide assurances in view of the recent changes to guidance around administration of the COVID-19 vaccine to young people of this age group. The Designation Nurse for looked-after children provided supplementary information around consent, and the Named Nurse for Looked After Children also provided qualitative accounts of the vaccinations process in practice.

 

Resolved:-

1.    That the update be noted.

17.

Corporate Parenting Performance Report pdf icon PDF 356 KB

To receive a quarterly performance report in respect of Corporate Parenting objectives.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Consideration was given to a quarterly performance update report and data set. The presentation set out the priority performance headings and tracked travel on each indicator versus the previous period.

 

In discussion, further details were provided around heath checks, and it was noted that a future update would be brought regarding provision of dental care for LAC and care-leavers.

 

Resolved:-

 

1.    That the report be noted.

 

2.    That an update regarding dental care provision for Looked After Children and Care Leavers be submitted to a future meeting.

18.

Corporate Parenting Performance Report pdf icon PDF 968 KB

To receive an update regarding recent activities and priorities of the LAC Council and Little LAC.

Minutes:

The Chair confirmed that the recording had stopped prior to introducing this agenda item. Consideration was then given to an update presentation by the Looked After Children’s Council. The presentation included a summary of recent LAC Council activities and ongoing and upcoming work by the Council.

 

In discussion, an update on progress with leisure passes was provided by the Head of Children in Care.

 

The LAC Council were thanked for their incisive input on a survey in respect of the LAC health service.

 

The Chair thanked the LAC Council for their welcome and informative contribution to the meeting.

 

Resolved:-

 

1.    That the update be noted.

19.

Urgent Business

 

To determine any item which the Chair is of the opinion should be considered as a matter of urgency.

Minutes:

The Chair announced there was no urgent business requiring a decision at the meeting.

20.

Date and time of the next meeting

 

The next meeting of the Corporate Parenting Panel will be held on 23 November 2021, commencing at 3.30 p.m. in Rotherham Town Hall.

Minutes:

The Chair announced that the next scheduled meeting of the Corporate Parenting Panel would be held on 23 November commencing at 3.30 pm.