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 asked to declare any personal, prejudicial or disclosable pecuniary interests they might have in relation to the business on the agenda or 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 3 October 2013.

Resolved:  That the minutes of the last meeting of the Corporate Parenting Board held on 3October 2013 be approved and 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 Friday 29 November 2013.

It was reported that there were no registrations to speak under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme.

The Head Teacher for the virtual school of looked after children has reviewed the education outcomes for children from Early Years, through key stages 1 to 4 and into education, training and employment. This progress report will inform members about key actions being considered to support the educational attainment for all looked after children

Members received a report that informed them of the progress made in relation to the education of looked after children.

The virtual Head Teacher attended the meeting and informed the Board that over the last year she had been reviewing the education outcomes for looked after children in Early Years, Key stages 1 to 4, education training and employment. She raised the key actions being considered to support the education attainment for looked after children and the different models that were used throughout the Yorkshire & Humber Region. Members noted that York’s chosen model was also used throughout other authorities.

The virtual Head discussed her progress report and stated that she worked in collaboration with all the designated teachers for looked after children in York schools and in other local authorities for those children placed outside the City.

Members received and discussed the Virtual School Improvement Plan for 2013/14, which was tabled at the meeting and has been attached to the online agenda papers for this meeting as Annex B. 

Members noted the increase in the pupil premium which was due to rise from 1 April 2014 from £900 to £1900 and were encouraged to hear  that  the virtual Head would be monitoring the extra funding to ensure it was spent on raising the attainment of Looked After pupils in all schools. Some members suggested involving school governors to also monitor the additional expenditure.

The Committee thanked the virtual Head for her update and were pleased to see that this portfolio area was progressing.

Resolved: That the report be noted.

Reason: To ensure that all those involved with children and young people are collaborating to consolidate the arrangements for children’s education and to improve in accordance with the Looked After Children’s Strategy 2012-15.

A key strand of the Looked After Children’s strategy relates directly to the experience of care leavers, as they move into adulthood. This progress report will inform the Board about the action plan to ensure that care leavers continue to receive advice, guidance and support after they leave the care of the council.

Members received a report that updated them on the progress made in relation to care leavers and the Moving into Adulthood strand of the Looked After Children’s Strategy 2012-15.

Officers gave an update and informed the Board of their action plan to ensure that care leavers continued to receive advice, guidance and support after they leave the care of the Council.

The 10 objectives listed in Annex A, agenda item 5, of the online report for this meeting were discussed and officers explained how they were:

·        creating more supported accommodation options.

·        ensuring the sustainability of the Staying Put scheme.

·        developing a more consistent approach to preparing young people for independent living.

·        using the new provision at Howe Hill to build on and develop existing links with colleagues in house, education and the voluntary sector.

·        developing opportunities for care leavers to access training and employment within the Council.

·        clarifying the process by which over 21s can access Pathway support when eligible.

·        putting in place better arrangements for the provision of health care to young people and care leavers who are no longer at school.

·        ensuring there was easy access to mental health and counselling services for care leavers and young adults up to the age of 25.

·        putting in place a system of exit interviews for care leavers approaching 21 years.

·        jointly with other agencies creating more accessible social, leisure, sport and cultural opportunities for care leavers.

Members noted that officers had been

·        receiving positive feedback at the exit interviews.

·        involving young people in the interview process for the Accommodations Officer and the Director of Children's Services, Education and Skills.

·        arranging monthly leisure activities or social meetings for all care leavers to attend.

·        supporting three young people who had been offered an apprenticeship and one young person who had been offered a University place.

Members raised concerns regarding the wording used in objective 9 and it was agreed that the words ‘exit interview’ would be replaced with ‘reflection interview’.¹

In answer to Members questions officers confirmed that supporting people to live on £57 a week was one of their greatest challenges. Objective’s 7 and 8, providing healthcare, mental health and counselling services for care leavers and young people also caused barriers especially for adoptive children who struggled to discover their family history.

Resolved: (i) That the progress report relating to care leavers moving into adulthood be noted.

(ii)   That the wording used in objective 9 be changed from ‘exit interview’ to ‘reflection interview’.

Reason: To ensure that all those involved with children and young people are collaborating to consolidate the arrangements for care leavers and to improve in accordance with the Looked After Children’s Strategy 2012-15.

Members are asked to consider the Board’s workplan for the 2013-14 municipal year.

Consideration was given to the Board’s workplan for the 2013-14 municipal year.

Resolved: That the workplan be approved.

Reason:     To ensure that the Board has a planned programme of work in place.