Agenda and minutes

Venue: The Auden Room - Ground Floor, West Offices (G047). View directions

Contact: Catherine Clarke and Louise Cook 

Items
No. Item

11.

Declarations of Interest

At this point, Members are asked to declare:

·        any personal interests not included on the Register of Interests,

·        any prejudicial interests or

·        any disclosable pecuniary interests

which they may have in respect of business on this agenda.

 

 

Minutes:

At this point in the meeting, Members were asked to declare any personal interests not included on the Register of Interests or any prejudicial or disclosable pecuniary interest they may have in relation to the business on the agenda or other general interests they might have had within the remit of the Board. None were declared.

12.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 78 KB

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 15 February 2016.

Minutes:

Resolved:  That the minutes of the last meeting of the Corporate Parenting Board held on Monday 15 February 2016 be approved as a correct record and then signed by the Chair.

13.

Public Participation

At this point in the meeting members of the public who have registered to speak regarding an item on the agenda or an issue within the Board’s remit can do so. The deadline for registering is 5pm the working day before the meeting, in this case 5pm on Friday 15 April 2016.

 

Filming or Recording Meetings

Residents are welcome to photograph, film or record Councillors and Officers at all meetings open to the press and public. This includes the use of social media reporting, i.e. tweeting.  Anyone wishing to film, record or take photos at any public meeting should contact the Democracy Officer’s (whose contact details are at the foot of this agenda) in advance of the meeting.

 

The Council’s protocol on Webcasting, Filming & Recording of Meetings ensures that these practices are carried out in a manner both respectful to the conduct of the meeting and all those present.  It can be viewed at

 

https://www.york.gov.uk/downloads/file/6453/protocol_for_webcasting_filming_and_recording_council_meetingspdf

Minutes:

It was reported that there was one registration to speak under the Councils Public Participation Scheme, in relation to the Boards remit. A long-standing Foster Carer spoke on his knowledge and experiences. He questioned why Members had queried the word ‘professionalise’ in the Children and Young People in Care Strategy and expressed his views on this. He also felt that the fostering community should be given the opportunity to engage more in the Strategy and that their opinions should also be taken into account .

14.

Virtual School Update pdf icon PDF 233 KB

Members will receive an update on the Virtual School. The Virtual School Headteacher has been invited to attend the meeting for consideration of this item.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Members considered a report that highlighted the work of the Virtual School.

 

The Virtual School Head gave an update and confirmed that York had a fluctuating cohort of school aged children in care. She confirmed her staff had increased which allowed a clearer remit to strengthen links and to provide further training to support and challenge colleagues in improving educational outcomes for children and young people in care.

 

Members noted that the Virtual School had a working School Self Evaluation and a School Improvement Plan that identified a tight set of operational actions and strategic work streams in order to improve outcomes and support a child in care. 

 

The Head stated that all children in care had a Personal Education Plan (PEP) which would support their personalised learning.  She confirmed that currently 75% of PEPs had been completed and officers would continue to complete more and quality assure them regularly so feedback could be given to the child’s school and designated teachers.

 

Members noted the educational outcomes for York’s children in care and the Head confirmed her future developments would continue to focus on narrowing the gap in reading and maths in KS1 and 2. 

 

The Head stated that the attendance figures for children in care in primary schools was higher than secondary so they were trialling a 100% attendance initiative with students. She also stated that they used an integral database that allowed them to track termly each child’s progress.

 

 In answer to Members questions it was confirmed:

·        York Cares would be launching an enterprise to create an opportunity for children in care to meet with some employers and take advantage of a range of work based opportunities.

·        The Show Me That I Matter Panel would consider how the achievements of children in care could be celebrated.

·        Officers would continue to manage and monitor pupil premium figures.

·        Training with foster carers, social care workers and schools would continue

·        Future Corporate Parenting Board meetings could include a private pre meeting or be part exempt if individual cases were to be discussed.

 

The Chair thanked the Head for her update.

 

Resolved:  (i)      That the report be noted

(ii)      That the School Improvement Plan be emailed to Board Members. 1

 

Reason: To keep the Board updated on the work of the Virtual School

 

15.

Children and Young People in Care - York's Strategy 2016-2020 pdf icon PDF 535 KB

The Board will be presented with the final strategy.

 

Minutes:

The Board were asked to endorse the final draft of York’s Children and Young People in Care Strategy 2016-2020 and consider the options to inform all Councillors of their role as a Corporate Parent.

 

Members noted that the strategy focused on the councils work around children and young people in care and agreed it should be endorsed at Executive and Full Council where all Councillors would be required to sign a copy of York’s Guarantee to children and young people in care.

 

Resolved:      

(i)           That York’s Children and Young People in Care Strategy 2016-2020 be endorsed by Executive and Full Council.

(ii)          That arrangements be made for the relevant Corporate Parenting Board Members to visit The Glen and Wenlock Terrace children’s homes.

(iii)        That the Director of Children’s Services, Education and Skills informs Group Leaders and the independent Councillors that York’s Guarantee would be endorsed at Full Council where all Members would be asked to sign a copy.

(iv)        That the Children and Young People in Care Strategy 2016-2020 be added to the Forward Plan for endorsement at the June Executive.

(v)         That a Corporate Parent training session be arranged for all Councillors.

 

Reason: In order to strengthen corporate parenting arrangements in the city.

 

16.

Update from the Show Me That I Matter Panel

Officers will provide a verbal update on progress of the Show Me That I Matter Annual Report and the work of the panel.

Minutes:

Members considered a verbal update on the progress of the Show Me That I Matter (SMTIM) Annual Report and the work of the panel.

 

TheAdvocacy and Participation Worker gave an update and confirmed:

·         12 young people in care aged between 14 and 19 sat on the Show Me That I Matter Panel and discussed important issues with the aim of helping to shape and improve services.

·        The panel meets twice a month, once formally and another to campaign and plan.

·        SMTIM was on twitter and support from Members would be appreciated.

·        Takeover Week was in July and would offer young people in care the chance to experience a wide variety of jobs through York Cares.

·        That some children in care had represented the Council regionally and nationally which included a trip to Westminster.

·         All achievements made by young people in care were recognised and rewarded accordingly.

·        One inspiring young person in care was nominated three times at the Lord Mayor of York’s Shine Awards.

·        York had the funding to become a Human Rights City and part of this accreditation would require designated and targeted work from young people in care. Further information can be found at www.yhrcproject.co.uk.

Members noted that the panels current project ‘Aspire to More’ raised aspirations specifically aimed at care experienced young people. The panel had the opportunity to interview positive and inspirational role models and their work could be viewed at  www.aspiretomore.wordpress.com.

 

The Board thanked officers for their positive update and agreed that they should meet with the SMTIM Panel.

 

Resolved:

(i)           That the update be noted.

(ii)          That arrangements be made for the Board to meet with the SMTIM Panel. 1

 

Reason: To keep the Board updated on the work of SMTIM.

 

17.

Visit to York by the Children's Commissioner

Members will be advised of a forthcoming visit to York by the Children’s Commissioner.

 

Minutes:

The Director of Children's Services, Education and Skills confirmed that the Children’s Commissioner was unable to attend the meeting and had sent her apologies.

 

Resolved: That new arrangements be made for the Children’s Commissioner to visit York.

 

Resolved: To keep the Board updated on the work of the Children’s Commissioner.

 

18.

Workplan

Members will consider a draft work plan for future meetings of the Corporate Parenting Board.

 

 

Minutes:

Members considered the Boards work plan for the 2016-17 municipal year.

 

The Independent Advisor was in attendance to highlight her thoughts on the Boards work plan and remit.

 

She felt that the Board would want to:

·        work closer with children in care.

·        focus on championing the rights and aspirations of children in care.

·        raise awareness of the Corporate Parent role to all Councillors, colleagues and external partners.

·        commit to monitoring the outcomes for every child in care.

·        work with the Show Me That I Matter panel.

·        develop a 12 month workplan which would also include the relevant reports and strategy’s that the Corporate Parenting Board were required to consider.

 

Resolved:     That a draft work plan and remit be prepared by the Independent Advisor and distributed for approval at the next meeting.1

 

Reason:     To consider a work plan for future meetings.

 

 

 

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