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City of York Council |
Committee Minutes |
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Meeting |
Corporate Parenting Board |
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Date |
4 June 2019 |
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Present |
Councillors Cuthbertson (Chair), Fitzpatrick (Vice-Chair), Heaton, Hunter, Musson, Rowley, Runciman and D Taylor |
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In Attendance |
Representatives from Show Me That I Matter |
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1. Election of Chair
Members were invited to nominate a Chair for the Board.
Resolved: That Councillor Cuthbertson be appointed as the Chair of the Board.
2. Election of Vice-Chair
Members were invited to nominate a Vice-Chair for the Board.
Resolved: That Councillor Fitzpatrick be appointed as the Vice- Chair of the Board.
3. Declarations of Interest
At this point in the meeting Members were invited to declare any personal or prejudicial interests they might have in relation to the business on the agenda or any other general interests they might have within the remit of the Board. None were declared.
4. Minutes
Resolved: That the minutes of the last meeting of the Corporate Parenting Board held on 20 March 2019 be approved and then signed by the Chair as a correct record.
5. Public Participation
It was reported that there had been no registrations to speak under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme.
6. Show Me That I Matter and I Still Matter and the Pledge
Members received an overview of the functions of the Children and Care Council (Show Me That I Matter) and Care Leavers Forum (I Still Matter) from the Corporate Director of Children, Education & Communities and they noted that:
· Show Me That I Matter (SMTIM) held a monthly forum for young people in care (aged 14 – 19) to discuss important issues, sometimes with elected Members or senior managers from the council, with the aim of helping to shape and improve services.
· I Still Matter held monthly meetings for care experienced young people (aged 17 – 25) to discuss and improve the services care leavers received from City of York Council, and to help make the difficult transition from care to independence a better experience for all young people.
· Speak Up Youth had a less formal approach and was open to children in care aged 10-16 (and above for those with additional needs).
The Children’s Rights Manager, the Advocacy and Participation Worker and two representatives from Show Me That I Matter were in attendance to inform Members of the work they had carried out to create the new Guarantee (York’s Pledge for Children and Young People in Care).
Officers confirmed that in consultation with SMTIM and I Still Matter the experience of looked after children and young people in York had been reviewed and a new Guarantee had been produced. Members received a copy of the draft document and noted that the Guarantee represented the two group’s views, design and wording and that an alternative version of the Guarantee would be produced for younger children, following further consultation with Speak Up Youth.
In answer to Members questions it was confirmed that:
· The Guarantee would become an agreement between York’s Children in Care and their social worker and would include a section on the reverse for them to sign.
· A glossary of regularly used acronyms and a copy of the Local Government Guide on Corporate Parenting could be issued to all Board Members.
· A variety of professionals would be made aware of the new Guarantee including, Independent Reviewing Officers and Designated Teachers.
Following discussions around fostering and the training sessions members of SMTIM and Speak Up had delivered to Foster Carers; the Board were very impressed with the new Guarantee and congratulated all involved for producing an exceptional document. They agreed that the document needed to be well publicised and they welcomed an update at a future meeting to measure the impact of the new Guarantee.
Resolved:
(i) That the functions of the Children in Care Council and Care Leavers Forum be noted.
(ii) That a glossary of regularly used acronyms and a copy of the Local Government guide on corporate parenting be issued to all Board Members.
(iii) That Show Me That I Matter and I Still Matter consider how they would like the Guarantee to be signed off and how it should be promoted.
(iv) That an update be provided at a future Corporate Parenting Board.
Reason: To keep the Corporate Parenting Board updated.
7. Member Induction, Role and Function of Corporate Parenting Board
Members considered the current terms of reference for the Board.
The Corporate Director of Children, Education & Communities gave an update and Members noted that to secure the direct involvement of young people in care, the membership could be configured to include representatives from Show Me That I Matter and I Still Matter and that similarly appropriate officers, individuals or partners could be invited to attend specific meetings where themes were relevant to them.
Members discussed and commented upon the terms of reference and themed work areas and were keen to adopt practices which would help their work in supporting young peoples’ priorities.
Resolved:
(i) That the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Board consult with the Corporate Director of Children, Education & Communities to provide a draft terms of reference for consideration at the next Corporate Parenting Board on 3 September 2019.
(ii) That a joint day out be arranged between the Corporate Parenting Board, Show Me That I Matter and I Still Matter.
Reason: To develop a detailed suitable terms of reference for the Board.
8. Work Plan
Members considered the Boards work plan for the 2019-20 municipal year and the continuation of strategic themes.
Members agreed that foster care recruitment and retention should be included on the work plan and that the Chair and Vice-Chair could meet to consider additional items for business.
Resolved: That the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Board consult with the Corporate Director of Children, Education & Communities to provide a draft work plan for consideration at the next Corporate Parenting Board on 3 September 2019.
Reason: In order to set a work programme for 2019/20.
Cllr Cuthbertson, Chair
[The meeting started at 5.30 pm and finished at 6.35 pm].