Agenda item

Report of the Strategic Director for Children and Young People’s Services.

Recommendations

1.             That Cabinet note the progress made.

2.             That Cabinet note the learning achieved to date and agree for this to be used to inform existing operations and specifically phase three of the development 

3.             That a further report be presented to Cabinet in 12 months or on the submission of the Ofsted registration for the homes in phase three (whichever is sooner).

4.             That approval is given to progress to Phase Three of the implementation plan (final phase), which incorporates the acquisition of an additional 2 properties within the capital budget of £2 million and the recruitment of the associated staff to register and operationalise the homes.

Consideration was given to the report which provided an update on the progress of the Looked After Children Sufficiency Strategy – New Residential Provision. The Strategy had been agreed by Cabinet in February 2020 and updated in June 2020. The overall development responded directly to the strategic intention of Rotherham Children and Young People’s Services (CYPS) to reduce the number of external residential placements and ensure more Rotherham LAC and young people were placed within the Borough. This would help the LAC and young people remain close to their families, support networks and educational settings. It would also allow for greater flexibility and control of provision along with reduced costs for placements which would lead to the delivery of directorate savings.

The report also included a summary of the progress achieved through phases 1 and 2 of implementation. Four new children’s home had been purchased/acquired and fitted out to meet the required specification and Ofsted requirements; 4 managers and 44 members of staff had been recruited; 60 days of induction training had been held; 2 children’s homes had been opened with Ofsted registrations and ratings of Good on first inspection; 5 young people had lived in the homes and 2 of those 5 young people had been supported to “step down” from residential care into foster care.

It was reported that CYPS would submit a bid in October 2021 to the recently announced Department for Education Children’s Home Capital Programme. The application related to phase 3 proposals and the fund could help establish new children’s homes via expansion, refurbishment, or new building work. The results of the application process were expected on 22nd November, 2021.

Resolved:

1.    That Cabinet note the progress made.

2.    That Cabinet note the learning achieved to date and agree for this to be used to inform existing operations and specifically phase three of the development.

3.    That a further report be presented to Cabinet in 12 months or on the submission of the Ofsted registration for the homes in phase three (whichever is sooner).

4.    That approval is given to progress Phase Three of the implementation plan (final phase), which incorporates the acquisition of an additional two properties within the capital budget of £2 million and the recruitment of the associated staff to register and operationalise the homes.