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. None were declared.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on Monday 30 June 2014.

Resolved: That the minutes of the last meeting of the Corporate

Parenting Board held on 30 June 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 19 September 2014.

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 (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 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.

(i)           Education of Looked After Children

Members considered a report that focused on the progress in relation to the education of looked after children.

The Virtual School Assistant Headteacher was in attendance at the meeting and went through the key issues in the report including:

·        The number of students in the Virtual School

·        Staffing arrangements and areas of responsibility

·        The national context

·        Pupil Premiums and how these were being utilised

·        Personal Education Plans, including completion rates and the re-writing of the PEP document to meet the new Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Code of Practice

·        Attendance monitoring and the work that was taking place to put systematic processes in place to collect attendance information, including investigating an Integris data storage system.  It was noted that the link teacher had a role to play in ensuring that the Virtual School was aware of any attendance issues.  It was also important that foster carers and social workers were aware of the best point of contact regarding such matters.

·        York Looked After Children outcomes.  It was noted that these statistics fluctuated year on year due to the small cohort size and pupil contextual factors.  There was a focus on reading as this was a tool to also access other subjects.

·        The tracking arrangements that were in place to monitor progress, including visits to schools and other placements

Members were pleased to hear of the achievements of GCSE students in the face of some very challenging circumstances.  Both the Chief Executive and the Director of Children’s Services, Education and Skills had written to the GCSE cohort to congratulate them on the results and to seek feedback on their school experiences.

Members gave consideration to the Virtual School Improvement Plan 2014/15.  Officers gave details of the key priorities, as outlined in the plan.

(ii)          Child Sexual Exploitation

Officers were asked if the Authority was aware if any Looked After Children had been sexually exploited and if the Authority was satisfied that appropriate systems were in place to address this issue.

Officers stated that York’s focus on Child Sexual Exploitation from children social care and the police long predated the publication and publicity from Professor’s Jay’s recent report.  It was noted that there were features that set York apart from the factors that prevailed in Rotherham, but notwithstanding the differences in York, there was absolutely no complacency:

·        The level of elected member interest and scrutiny remained very high and constant

·        The local strategy had three key streams

i)             Robust arrangements to ensure that awareness, identification and intervention into concerns about child sexual exploitation and child sexual abuse were in place across all agencies but particularly in the working arrangements between children social care and the police

ii)            Utilising core and established child safeguarding arrangement including referrals to and between Children’s Social Care and the police

iii)          Building and refining the offer made to children and young people who may be at risk of child sexual exploitation locally

·        The Local Authority was committed to ensuring that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

There are several corporate parenting events planned both regionally and nationally during Autumn 2014. It is proposed that the council will send representation to all of the events drawn from looked after young people, elected members with Corporate Parenting roles, senior officers from the council and key staff with specific knowledge around the areas. Information about the events will be considered at the meeting.

Details were circulated of the corporate parenting events that were planned to take place during Autumn 2014, both regionally and nationally.

Resolved:  That further details of the events, including the timings, be circulated to Members who would email their availability to attend.

Reason:     To ensure appropriate representation at the events.

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

Consideration was given to the Board’s work plan for the 2014-15 municipal year.

Resolved: That the work plan be approved subject to the following amendments:

·        Remove “update from Service Manager and the Elected Members with responsibility for visiting children’s homes” from the meeting scheduled for 2 February 2015 as this matter would be considered at the November meeting.

·        Include on item on “Child Sexual Exploitation” on the agenda for the meeting on 24 November 2014.

·        Agenda item on “Health of Looked After Children” to be included on the agenda for the meting on 2 February 2015 rather than 24 November 2014.

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