Issue - meetings

The placement strategy for looked after children is reviewed annually to ensure that there is an opportunity to reflect on progress against the aims and objectives of the strategy.This report will inform that analysis, whilst also providing feedback on OFSTED conducted inspections on the placement services for children and young people provided by the local authority. 

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised to:

·        Acknowledge the information relating to progress in the placement strategy for looked after children relating to adoption, fostering and children’s homes.

·        Agree the further development of the specialist fostering scheme in line with the stated principles of the strategy.

·        Acknowledge the annual adoption report

·        Note that further reports will be forthcoming in 2008 on short breaks for disabled children, adoption support and Care Matters.

Decision of the Executive Member

RESOLVED:             That the advice of the Advisory Panel be accepted and endorsed.

REASON:                  To comply with the requirements to receive an annual report, to reduce both independent fostering agency placements and achieve cost savings and to ensure knowledge on future information.

Members considered a report that informed them that the placement strategy for looked after children was reviewed annually to ensure that there was an opportunity to reflect on progress against the aims and objectives of the strategy.  It gives an update on recent inspections and reports the results.

The strategy endeavours to ensure that children and young people who are currently placed outside York are able to return to a York-based placement (where appropriate) and that the need to place children and young people outside York in the future is minimised.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised to:

·        Acknowledge the information relating to progress in the placement strategy for looked after children relating to adoption, fostering and children’s homes.

·        Agree the further development of the specialist fostering scheme in line with the stated principles of the strategy.¹

·        Acknowledge the annual adoption report

·        Note that further reports will be forthcoming in 2008 on short breaks for disabled children, adoption support and Care Matters.

Decision of the Executive Member

RESOLVED:             That the advice of the Advisory Panel be accepted and endorsed.

REASON:                  To comply with the requirements to receive an annual report, to reduce both independent fostering agency placements and achieve cost savings and to ensure knowledge on future information.