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 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 25 September 2017.

Resolved: That the minutes of the last meeting of the Corporate Parenting Board held on 25 September 2017 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 Friday 17 November 2017.

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. 

This report provides information and an update about the council’s  Pathway Team’s work with care leavers and focuses on Staying Put, ETE, Health and Future work.

Members considered a report that provided them with information about City of York Council’s Pathway Teams work with care leavers. 

The Group Manager was in attendance to present the report and she confirmed that the Pathway Team were currently working with 93 young people. She highlighted some of their main areas of work, that focussed on:

·           Staying Put

·           Education, Training and Employment (ETE)

·           Health

·           Future work

Members were informed that:

·          13 care leavers were currently Staying Put with their foster carers.

·          3 young people had been supported to live independently.

·          29 care leavers were currently living independently in City of York housing or private rented accommodation.

·          A range of accommodation options had been developed which included SASH and supported lodgings at Howe Hill, Robinson Court and Scarcroft Road.

·          Officers were considering alternative accommodation provision for a small cohort of young people with complex needs.

·          17 care leavers were currently not in Education, Training or Employment but this was significantly better than the national average.

·          Children in care and care leavers were supported by the Pathway Team with interview skills, appropriate clothing and travel arrangements.

·          The full roll out of health passports had not yet been achieved but all care leavers had received a letter explaining how they could access their health records.

·          I Still Matter had become an important support network amongst its peers and they were in the process of releasing a newsletter.

·          A local care leavers charter and seven ‘corporate parenting principles’ would be produced by April 2018 which would set out the statutory entitlements and the additional help the council would provide to care leavers, including extending the offer of path way services from 21 to 25.

In answer to Members questions officers noted that further guidance on managing budgets and advice on property tenancies and leases, including the option to maybe rent with a friend, would be beneficial to some young people.

Following discussions around health assessments and the importance of supporting a child in accessing their health records, officers confirmed they do, where possible, acquire the family health history at the initial health assessment stage.

Members thanked officers for their report and welcomed an update on the Care Leavers Charter and the seven corporate parenting principles at a future meeting.

Resolved:  That the report and Annex be noted.

Reason: To update Members on the work of the City of York Council Pathway Team with care leavers.

This report updates the Board on the progress and practice of the York Independent Reviewing Service.

Any Board Member whose area of interest relates to the issues raised in this report will have the opportunity to give an update under this item.

The Board considered a report that updated them on the progress and practice of the York Independent Reviewing Service (IRO).

The Group Manager gave an update and highlighted the significant changes within Children Social Care in York that had been implemented to improve service delivery and outcomes for children and young people receiving social care services.

Members raised their concerns around the number of children who were not directly seen by an IRO prior to their review and officers explained the reasons why this had progressively dropped. The Corporate Director of Children, Education and Communities confirmed this would be a priority area for development, which he would be managing and working with colleagues to improve. He agreed to keep the Chair updated and would also bring a progress report to the Board in 2018.¹

Members noted that the vast majority of concerns raised by IROs were around practice issues relating to poor quality or out dated Education Plans, Care Plans, Health Assessments and Placement Plans and although these concerns related to a small number of children and young people, improved reporting tools and cycles were currently being developed to help promote improved tracking and responsiveness to issues raised.

Members also noted the positive performance referred to within the annual report and welcomed the commitment from officers to better deliver its statutory responsibilities to children and young people in care.

Officers answered Members questions where it was agreed that when appropriate the Children in Care Strategy should be reported to full Council and Members thanked officers for their update.

Resolved:  That the report and Annex be noted.

Reason: To keep Members updated on the IRO Service.

To consider the Board’s draft  work plan for 2017-18 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 Boards work plan for the 2017/18 municipal year.

Following discussion it was:

Resolved:

i)             That the work plan be noted and be updated to include a progress report on:

·        the Care Leavers Charter and the seven corporate parenting principles.

·        the IROs priority areas for improvement.

ii)            That the provisional 2018/19 committee dates be emailed around Board Members.

iii)          That the strategic themes be continued throughout  the 2018/19 municipal year.

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