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.

The Chair took this opportunity to inform the Board that he would resign as Chair of the Corporate Parenting Board, following this meeting, because he no longer held the position of Executive Member for Education, Children and Young People .   He confirmed that he would continue to support ‘Show Me That I Matter’ and would like to remain on the Board. Members supported his decision and noted that Cllr Mercer, the Executive Member for Education, Children and Young People, was in attendance to observe and would become a member of the Board once her appointment had been ratified at the relevant committee.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 20 November 2017.

Resolved: That the minutes of the last meeting of the Corporate Parenting Board held on 20 November 2017 be approved and then signed by the Chair as a correct record subject to Cllr Cuthbertson been added as present.

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 9 February 2018.

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 the Board with an update around a number of the new duties of the Children and Social Work Act 2017.

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.

Members considered a report that provided them with an update around a number of the new duties of the Children and Social Work Act 2017.

The Pathway Manager was in attendance to give the update and he confirmed that the new duties were likely to commence on 1 April 2018. He discussed the next steps to be taken and Members noted that:

·        The Pathway Team had consulted with care leavers and the “I Still Matter” group to co-produce a care leaver local offer that was meaningful, understandable and reflected the needs, views and wishes of care leavers.

·        An additional pathway worker post had been agreed to support the anticipated increase in workloads due to extending leaving care support from 21 to 25.

·        The contract for the care leaver covenant had been open to national bids and would be announced shortly.

·        Work with departments within the Council and wider organisations, via the care leaver covenant, was ongoing to embed the new Corporate Principles.

The Head of Social Work Services thanked the Pathway Team for providing an exceptional service that was very much appreciated by children in care and care leavers.

The Board also thanked the Pathway Team and agreed that further work was required to ensure a strong Corporate Parenting ethos was fully understood by all officers and all elected Members. Discussions took place on ways to engage all and raise awareness of the role.

Cllr Funnell informed the Board that she could consult with the educational department at York Minster to discuss if they had any capacity to work collectively.

The Board agreed that ongoing communication with care leavers was vital and that there must be a mechanism in place to ensure all care leavers up to the age of 25 were aware they could return to the local authority at any point.

After further discussions around the statutory guidance to applying corporate parenting principles to care and pathway planning, including how the council could help looked after children develop their financial capability skills, which would support them when faced with the challenges of living independently, it was:

Resolved:

(i)      That the report be noted.

(ii)     That officers consider a process to keep Members informed on individual issues raised.

(iii)     That a report highlighting the financial support offered to children in care and care leavers be brought to a future Corporate Parenting Board.

(iv)    That the educational department at York Minster be contacted by Cllr Funnell.

Reason: To clarify any issues arising

The Board will receive a verbal update on the IROs’ continued work to improve outcomes for children and young people across York. 

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.

Members received a verbal update from the Group Manager of Quality Assurance on the Independent Reviewing Officer Service and the work they had done to improve outcomes for children and young people across York.

Members were informed that the department was now fully staffed and the team were working well together despite the announcement made by the governments fostering stock where the role of an Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO) had been questioned. 

Members agreed that IRO’s were passionate about their roles and delivered an exceptional service that was appreciated by children and young people in care.  Members felt that the report should have been published with some forewarning to give those affected the chance to comment.

Members thanked the Group Manager for the update and requested she feeds back their supportive comments to her team.

Resolved: That the update be noted.

Reason:     To keep Members updated on the IRO service

The Board will receive a verbal update on the Children’s Services Placement Review, its scope and timeline.

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 Head of Social Work Services gave an update on the Children’s Services Placement Review and informed Members that they had appointed a Principal Officer of Project Implementation to lead on the review. Members noted that some consultation had already begun.

Members thanked the officer for her update and they welcomed an update from the Principal Officer of Project Implementation at a future Corporate Parenting Board meeting.

Resolved:           That the update be noted.

Reason:     To keep Members updated on the Placement Review

To consider the Board’s work plan for the remainder of 2017-18 and the draft 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 Boards work plan for the 2017/18 and 2018/19 municipal year.

Following discussion it was:

Resolved:

(i)           That the work plan be noted and updated to include, at the next meeting, a report detailing the financial support offered to children in care and care leavers.

(ii)     That the 30 November 2018 meeting be moved to 22 November 2018 and that the 9 April 2019 meeting be moved to 20 March 2019.

Reason: To keep the Boards work plan updated.