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, prejudicial or disclosable pecuniary interests they might have in relation to the business on the agenda or 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 Thursday 4 July 2013.

Resolved:  That the minutes of the last meeting of the Corporate Parenting Board held on 4 July 2013 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 Wednesday 2 October 2013.

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

This report describes the action planning, which is being undertaken to achieve the stated outcome for York’s Looked After Children.

Members considered a report that provided an update on promoting the health and well-being of Looked After Children. 

The Designated Nurse for Looked After Children was in attendance to give details of the progress that was being made and to answer Members’ questions.

Discussion took place around issues in respect of the Initial Health Assessments.  It was noted that the expected standard was for all children and young people to be seen within 20 working days of becoming Looked After.  However, although there was a timely completion of Initial Health Assessments once a referral for the assessment had been made by the Social Worker, there were significant delays in referral and poor coverage.  In order to address this issue, a meeting was planned with Service Managers and measures were being put in place to make social workers more aware of the situation. 

Members were informed that the Show Me that I Matter Panel had demonstrated a good understanding of the need for and purpose of Initial Health Assessments.  They had expressed concern that the Review Health Assessments were only available to children and young people in mainstream (LA provided) education.  This was an issue that was looking to be addressed.  The Show Me that I Matter Panel had also stated that there should be a choice as to where the assessments took place to ensure that there could be discretion in the arrangements.

Members were pleased to note that a dental audit had determined that the majority of Looked After Children (86%) had seen a dentist within the previous six months, and only one young person had experienced toothache within that period.

Members were updated on the discussions that were taking place regarding the LAC Specialist Nursing Team having limited access to the Children’s Social Care Integrated Children’s System.  This would better enable the sharing of information, including dates of immunisation.

Resolved:  (i)      That the progress that has been made in relation

to plans to meet the health needs of Looked After children and young people be noted.

(ii)      That an update report be presented to the Board in summer 2014.

Reason:     To ensure that all those involved with children and young people are collaborating to consolidate the arrangements for children’s health provision and to improve this in accordance with the strategy.

This report asks the Corporate Parenting Board to agree to the endorsement of the Care Leavers Charter by the Cabinet Member for Education, Children and Young People's Services and the Director of Children’s Services following the conclusion of the local consultation with looked after young people and care leavers in York.

Members gave consideration to a report which presented the draft Care Leavers Charter.   [An amended version of the charter (Annex A) was tabled and is attached to the on-line agenda papers for this meeting].  The Board was asked to agree to the endorsement of the Charter by the Cabinet Member for Education, Children and Young People’s Services and the Director of Children’s Services.   Details were given of the consultation that had taken place with young people and care leavers in York.

Members put forward the following suggestions:

·        3^rd bullet point – replace the word “negotiate” with “reach”

·        9^th bullet point – to provide clarity the wording to read “To provide you with a named Pathway worker to age 21 (or 25 if in education)”

·        11^th bullet point – replace the words “care leavers” with “you”

Discussion took place as to how realistic it was for advice and information to be provided whatever the care leavers age.  Officers confirmed that that every effort was made to ensure that care leavers were aware of the sources of advice and support that were available from relevant agencies.  There was evidence that some care users did seek this support.

Members stated that they were very impressed by the charter and agreed that it was very accessible.  It was noted that it was the intention to also produce the charter in a poster or leaflet format.

Resolved:  That it be agreed that the Care Leavers Charter be endorsed by the Cabinet Member for Education, Children and Young People’s Services and the Director of Children’s Services.

Reason:     This is in accordance with the Council’s commitment to achieve positive outcomes for care leavers in line with its corporate responsibilities outlined in the Looked After Children’s Strategy 2012-15.

Members are asked to consider the Board’s workplan for the 2013-14 municipal year

Consideration was given to the Board’s workplan for the 2013-14 municipal year.

Members put forward the following suggestions:

·        “Moving into Adulthood” to be an agenda item for the next meeting

·        A briefing note to be provided to the Board on lessons that could be learned from the Daniel Pelka case in Coventry.

·        The meeting scheduled for March 2014 to be held at Hamilton House.

It was noted that a number of Board members were unable to attend forthcoming scheduled meetings.  It was suggested that the date of the next meeting be provisionally rearranged to Monday 2 December 2013 (subject to the agreement of the Board members who were not present) and that further efforts be made to reschedule other Board meetings planned for the municipal year.

Resolved:  That, subject to the amendments detailed above, the

workplan be approved.

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

Any other business which the Chair considers urgent under the Local Government Act 1972.

Officers gave a verbal update on the following issues:

(i)           Numbers of Looked After Children

A paper entitled “Keeping Families Together – Safely Reducing our Looked After Population in York” had been considered by the Learning and Culture Overview and Scrutiny Committee in September 2013.  The paper analysed trends in York’s looked after children population.  It was agreed that copies of the report would be circulated to those members of the Corporate Parenting Board who were not also members of the Learning and Culture Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

(ii)          Ofsted Judgement on Out of City Placement

The Local Authority had been notified by Ofsted that the provision in place at a centre at which a young person from York was currently on a residential placement, was inadequate. 

Officers explained that, because of the age of the young person, the fact that he was making good progress and the action plan that had been put in place to address the issues identified by Ofsted, it was not proposed to move the boy at this stage.  The situation was, however, being very closely monitored and a social worker was making regular visits to meet with him. 

An update would be provided at the next meeting by which time the Ofsted report on the centre would have been published.

(iii)        Regional Forum

Details were given of a regional forum that was to be held in Leeds and to which members of the Show Me That I Matter Panel had been invited to attend.  Feedback on the event would be provided at the next meeting.

Resolved:  That the update be noted.

Reason:     In order that Board Members are kept updated on ongoing issues.