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 interests, not included on the Register of Interests, or any prejudicial or disclosable pecuniary interests 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. 

Councillor Runciman declared a personal non prejudicial interest in agenda item 4.Good and Safe Placements – Reports regarding the Adoption and Fostering Service as a member of the City of York Council Fostering Panel.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 7 May 2014.

Resolved:           That the minutes of the last meeting of the Corporate Parenting Board held on 7 May 2014 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 27 June 2014.

To register to speak please contact the Democracy Officer’s for the meeting, on the details at the foot of the agenda.

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 http://www.york.gov.uk/downloads/download/3130/protocol_for_webcasting_filming_and_recording_of_council_meetings

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

The focus in this report will be upon the Looked After Children’s Strategy with specific reference to the achievement of good and safe placements for looked after children.

Members considered a report that focused on the Looked After Children’s Strategy with specific reference to the achievement of good safe placements for looked after children.

The following reports were also presented for Members consideration:

·         annual review of the adoption service,

·        quarterly report of the fostering service for the period January to March 2014 and the

·        annual report of the adoption panel Chair

The Service Manager for Placements and the Principal Adviser for Children’s Social Care provided detailed information in relation to performance improvements in both the adoption and fostering services during 2013/14.

In answer to Members questions it was noted that:

Adoption

·          A great deal of work was carried out with birth parents prior to adoption, e.g. pre-natal information to ensure that prospective parents had as much information as possible to ensure they could make an informed choices, however there were still no guarantees

·          As adoptions often took place outside the York  area, the authority became responsible for any adoption support for the family 3 years after the making of an adoption order

·          It was important to separate the adoption hearing which formally confers the adoption order from the celebration of an adoption which many magistrates and judges now arrange to afford the adoption the appropriate importance.

·          The issues around challenges to adoptions, being possible until an adoption was finally granted, were discussed. A legal adviser was however present at preparation courses for prospective parents to advise on this potential challenge.

·          A recruitment drive was underway to increase the pool of prospective parents, with the only stipulations being that parents must be fit and healthy, over 21 years of age and with there being no upper age limit. Full assessment would always be undertaken.

·          Since April 2014 it had become mandatory for all care proceedings to be completed within 6 months. It was noted that staff endeavoured to meet this time limit however their focus was on getting the best outcome for all involved

·          Performance levels for York were good overall, however performance fell in relation to the matching of children within 6 months of a court decision on adoption which reflected the challenge of finding matches

·          York worked in conjunction with other local authority and voluntary adoption agencies to achieve the best and most prompt placement for York’s children.

·          The key function of Adoption Panels was to make recommendations on the suitability of prospective applicants to adopt and whether a child should be placed for adoption with particular adopters

·          The increasing  number of adoptive families being approved in  the city will increase the future need for adoption support  which may result in additional costs to the council and its education and health partners. 

Fostering

·        41 enhanced foster carers had been retained but a further 5-10 carers were still required

·        There had been 2 residential school placements for looked after children this year, it was confirmed that the quality of Ofsted judgements  at these schools was checked

·        Placements with independent fostering agencies had reduced, due to a lack of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

To consider the Board’s work plan for the current municipal year.

Consideration was given to the Boards work plan for the 2014-15 municipal year, copies were circulated at the meeting, and attached to the online agenda. It was noted that Children’s Homes inspection reports would be emailed to Members.

Resolved:  That the work plan be approved subject to the following addition and amendment:

·        22 September 2014 – Briefing Session with Tricia Head and Maxine Squire, prior to inspection of Children’s Services

·        2 February 2015 - Update from Service Manager and the elected Member with responsibility for visiting children’s homes (bring forward to 22 September 2014 meeting)

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

The Chair confirmed that, in view of changes in Committee membership, with the agreement of all members, future meetings would commence at 5.00pm.