Agenda and minutes

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.

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.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 22 November 2018.

Resolved: That the minutes of the last meeting of the Corporate Parenting Board held on 22 November 2019 be approved and then signed by the Chair as a correct record.

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 Monday 4 February 2019.

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 Officers (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

http://www.york.gov.uk/download/downloads/id/11406/protocol_for_webcasting_filming_and_recording_of_council_meetings_20160809.pdf

It was reported that there had been no registrations to speak under the council’s Public Participation scheme.

Members will receive a verbal update from the Director of Children, Education and Communities that will focus on the work of the Independent Reviewing Officer Service.

Members received a verbal update from the Director of Children, Education and Communities that  focussed on the work of the Independent Reviewing Officer Service.

Members were informed that officers would provide a detailed overview report at the next meeting and the annual report would be reported at the September meeting.

Resolved: That the update be noted.

Reason: To keep the Board updated.

Members will receivean update on the Placement Review.

The Board considered a report that updated them on the Placement Review.

The Group Manager for Achieving Permanence gave an update and confirmed the aim of the Placement Review was to develop placement options that better met the current and future need, offered value for money and improved outcomes for children in care.

Members noted that the review would focus on foster care including training, support and remuneration and residential provision including other sufficiency options.

Officers confirmed that a number of different consultation approaches had been undertaken to ensure a diverse range of feedback was obtained, including responses from Foster Carers and York’s Children in Care Council, Show Me That I Matter. Officers were now responding to the feedback received and would be liaising with other local authorities, reviewing the payment and support package and considering various marketing campaigns, including the use of social media, to attract and recruit a varied cohort of foster carers.

Members noted that placement sufficiency was at a critical stage in York and that the diversity and complexity of placement requirements was changing.  Officers answered Members questions regarding placement requirements and foster carer recruitment, including the training and support offered to ensure retention, and confirmed:

·        the connected carers offer would be strengthened to support permanence for the older cohort of children.

·        York’s Foster Carers fees and allowances were extremely competitive.

·        The training packages available would provide carers with continued professional development opportunities that would support the different foster carer levels.

Members noted officer’s response to resolving its placement sufficiency challenges and the Chair thanked them for their update.

Resolved: That the report be noted.

Reason: To keep the Board updated.

Members will receive an update on the work of the Assessing Permanent Carers Team and how works supports strategies to support Good Safe Placements.

The Board considered a report that provided an update on the work of the Assessing Permanent Carers Team and how their work supported strategies to maintain Good Safe Placements.

Officers gave an update and confirmed that the Assessing Permanent Carers Team was responsible for recruiting and assessing mainstream and connected carers. Officers stated that the retention and recruitment of foster carers was difficult and they discussed the two approaches used in York.

Members noted the progress achieved using York’s internal approach, which included advertising on BBC Radio York, social media and at local job fairs. Officers highlighted their future recruitment proposals and Members felt the Fostering Friendly Employers campaign was an excellent initiative that would also promote economic growth.

Officers answered Members questions and confirmed:

·        They do engage with the Family Conference Service to consider the best options available for a child from an early stage.

·        All foster carer enquiries were recorded and the effectiveness of York’s marketing campaigns were monitored. Officers agreed to email this data to Members.¹

The future recruitment strategies and incentives for foster carers were discussed and the Board thanked officers for their update.

Resolved: That the report be noted.

Reason: To keep the Board updated.

Members will receive an update on the developments and work of the Placement Finding Commissioning and Support Team, supporting strategies to support Good Safe Placements.

Members considered a report that provided an update on the developments and work of the Placement Finding Commissioning and Support Team, supporting strategies to maintain Good Safe Placements.

Officers gave an update and confirmed that the Placement Finding Commissioning and Support Team had responsibility for supporting and training approved foster carers, matching placements and for commissioning placements.

Members noted that a Placement Officer had been in post since October 2018 which had provided consistency and enabled an increased reliability of service in the support of foster carers.

Officers highlighted the support and training packages available to foster carers and connected carers, including the new placement stability training to help achieve permanence for York’s children and young people in care.

Members thanked officers for their update.

Resolved: That the report be noted.

Reason: To keep the Board updated.

Members will receive an update on the scorecard that contains relevant indicators which illustrate practice across Children’s Services in relation to children in care, over the year 18/19 and preceding years.

The Board considered a report that updated them on the scorecard, which contained relevant indicators that illustrated practice across Children’s Services in relation to children in care, over the year 18/19 and preceding years.

Officers gave an update and confirmed the scorecard was part of the Quality Assurance data management framework that enabled workers, managers and Members to track practice.

Officers highlighted the scores around Assessment Timeliness, Adoption Timeliness, Education, Training and

Employment for Care Leavers, Placement Stability, Initial Health Assessment’s and dental checks.

The Board thanked officers for their update.

Resolved: That the report be noted.

Reason: To keep the Board updated.

To consider the Board’s work plan for the 2018-19 municipal year and to receive any updates Members may wish to give on their agreed areas of interest relating to the work of the Board.

Members considered the work plan for the remainder of the 2018/19 municipal year.

Following discussions, Members agreed that a suitable training package was required for any new Board Member and that following the Local Elections in May all Councillors should receive guidance on their Corporate Parenting role.

It was agreed that the work plan be updated to consider, at the next meeting:

·        The Corporate Parenting Board remit, Terms of Reference and the 2019/20 work plan.

·        Foster Carer conversion rates.

·        Training packages for Councillors.

·        Independent Reviewing Officer overview report.

Resolved: That subject to the above additions, the work plan be approved.

Reason: To keep the Board’s work plan updated.