Agenda and minutes

To formally elect a Chair of the Group

Members were given the opportunity to nominate a Chair to the Board.

RESOLVED: That Cllr Looker be elected as the Chair of the Corporate Parenting Board.

To formally elect a Vice-Chair of the Group.

Members were given the opportunity to nominate a Vice-Chair to the Board.

RESOLVED: That Cllr Runciman be elected as the Vice-Chair of the Corporate Parenting Board.

At this point in the meeting, Members will be invited to declare any personal or prejudicial interests they may have in the business on the 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 interest they might have within the remit of the Board. No interests were declared.

At this point in the meeting members of the public who have

registered their wish 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 Monday 9^th July 2012.

To register, or for further information, please contact the Democracy Officer for the meeting using the details at the foot of this agenda.  

It was reported that there had been no registrations to speak under the Councils Public Participation Scheme.

The Corporate Parenting Board has been established to provide a forum for elected members to oversee the progress of all looked after children , through the implementation of the Looked After Children’s Strategy 2012-15. This report provides background information which will inform the future work of the Board.

Members considered the information contained in the Looked After Children’s Strategy, the Local Government Improvement and Development guidance (LGID) and the Ofsted report.

Officers gave an overview of the Looked After Children’s Strategy 2012-13 which was produced following extensive consultation work with children and young people in care, their families, their foster carers and all partner agencies who work to support these children. Officers brought to Members attention:

·        the York’s pledge to children and Young People in Care.

·        the outcomes for Looked After Children Strategy.

·        how they would deliver, monitor and review the action plan.

·        the planning arrangements.

·        the references and the LGID jargon busters.

Members were informed that the Ofsted Inspection took place during 19^th-30^th March 2012. The inspection was very robust and intense. Officers were pleased with the outcome but noted that although the report showed great results it did present some huge challenges.  In answer to Members questions it was confirmed that Ofsted would be inspecting again in 2015 and not every year as previously done.

Members thanked officers for the background information and stated that due to all the changes noted at the Health and Wellbeing Board it was vital that good relationships were formed in a rapidly changing health environment so that children did not get lost in the system. Officers confirmed that relationships were continually monitored as Children Services feed into the Health and Wellbeing Board which was now sitting in the middle of the strategic framework.

Officers confirmed that the current virtual Headteacher was stepping down from her role at the end of the academic year but a replacement was in process and they had received lots of strong interest. The new virtual Headteacher would also be working along side the Head of School Improvements to strengthen and monitor schools attainment levels.

RESOLVED: (i)  That the Looked After Children’s Strategy, the LGID guidance and the Ofsted report be considered and noted.

(ii)     That a schedule of quarterly reports from the Director of Adults, Children and Education relating to the progress of the department and its key partners in progressing the actions to achieve York’s vision for looked after children be received.

REASON:    To enable the Corporate Parenting Board to establish the key area which future Board work will be focused, which will assist in holding the council officers and its partners to account in improving the life experiences and chances of York’s looked after children.

This is the first meeting of the Board following its establishment in the new council constitution. Members of the Board will be asked to consider a draft set of terms of reference.

Members considered the Board’s draft set of terms of reference.

It was agreed that the following changes would be made:

·        Under Purpose of the Board, first bullet point will read:

To raise awareness of the Council’s corporate parenting responsibilities and develop expertise and knowledge among elected Members and officers.

·          2.1 The Membership of the Board will consist of 8 Members.

3  Members must be drawn from:

§  The Cabinet Member for Education, Children and Young People’s Services.

§  The elected Members on the Adoption Panel and Fostering and Sharing Care Panel.

5 Members must be drawn from:

§  The elected Members on the Show Me That I matter Panel (children in care council).

§  3 elected Members who visit Wenlock Terrace and The Glen.

§  Another appropriate elected Member.

The Board will also have the power to co-opt Members.

Officers agreed to update the Terms of Reference and forward them to Cabinet to be ratified.

RESOLVED:       (i)      That the Terms of Reference be agreed if the above changes are applied.

(ii) That the Terms of Reference be ratified at Cabinet.

REASON:  To progress the work of the Committee

Members are asked to agree a work plan of the Corporate Parenting Board for the 2012/13 municipal year and to set future meeting dates.

Members considered a 2012/13 workplan for the Board and agreed to receive the following reports:

Officers also agreed  to produce some base level data on Looked After Children, in particular facts & figures that showed a comparison to regional and national results and against another similar authority to York.

Members stated they would monitor the timescales and challenges listed in the Ofsted Report.

RESOLVED:       That the draft workplan for 2012-13 be noted and agreed.

REASON:            To progress the work of the Committee.