CABINET 4/1/1/2014 – FOR INFORMATIONAGENDA ITEM 6

BOROUGH OF POOLE

CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE OVERVIEW & SCRUTINY COMMITTEE

TUESDAY 21st October 2014

ANNUAL CORPORATE PARENTING REPORT

CHILDREN IN CARE 2013-2014

1.PURPOSE OF REPORT

1.1To inform members of performance monitoring data and outcomes for children in care for the period April 2013 – March 2014.

1.2To advisemembers of service developments and quality standards for children in care.

2.RECOMMENDATION

2.1That members scrutinise, comment and note the performance outcomes and service quality considerations within the Report.

2.2That members note any comments and observations made and received from the Corporate Parenting Working Group Meeting held on 14 October 2014.

2.3 Request Cabinet to recommend that Council approve the Corporate Parenting Annual Report 2013/2014 together with the Annual Report of the Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO) and the Annual Report for Adoption Services 2013-2014.

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3.BACKGROUND

3.1The term ‘corporate parenting’ refers to the responsibility and duties which the council as a whole has for providing the best possible services and support for children who are in the care of the local authority.

3.2In Poole service development and delivery for children in care is driven

through three multi disciplinary work programmes:

  • Safe and Healthy
  • Enjoy & Achieve
  • Practice and Participation

Overall progress and outcome monitoring is overseen by the Corporate Parenting Working Group as part of it’s commitment to ensure that the Councils vision for children in care is delivered effectively through our collective corporate parent role.

The strategic framework for services to children in care in Poole is based on:

  • A 3 year Corporate Parenting Strategy which sets out our vision objectives and responsibilities towards Children in Care. This was approved by the Corporate Parenting Working Group in July 2014.
  • A 3 year Placement Sufficiency Strategy which provides an overview of commissioning priorities and objectives for placement and support services. This strategy document is presented alongside this report.

3.3 The experiences, views and voice of children and young people is a key component in ensuring that services meet children’s individual needs and services are designed and developed to deliver improved outcomes. The active participation of children in service planning, decision making and in day-to-day areas that matter to them is achieved in a number of ways eg., direct work with social workers and other professionals, participation in meetings and reviews, independent advocacy service, complaints and representations, and an active Children in Care Council.

3.4The Independent Review Officer (IRO) Service also provides an important note in overseeing the quality of care and outcomes for children and young people. A separate Annual IRO Report is presented alongside this Report.

4.KEY PERFORMANCE DATA AND OUTCOMES

4.1There are a range of Government and local data returns and indicators for children in care and care leavers.

An Executive Summary of key areas of performance is set out below for the period April 2013 – March 2014. Detailed statistical data is also attached (Appendix 1)

Executive Summary

► There were 152 children in care at March 2014. This is a 3.4% increase on the March 2013 total (147 children). The number of children in care peaked at 171 in September 2012.

► The rate of children in care per 10,000 children at March 2014 was 48.9 which is below national, SW and statistical ‘neighbour’ LA’’ 2013 figures.

► The trend line for new care episodes shows a steady increase over the past 4 years. In 2013/14 86 children, (92 episodes) entered care, 81 children (87 care episodes) ended in 2013/14. This is a slight increase on 2012/13

► 10-15yr olds remain the largest age group of Poole children in care at44% of the total, an increase of 6% on 2012/2013 figures.

► At March 2013 10% of children in care were from BME backgrounds a similar figure to the Poole profile for all BME children at school, but significantly lower than the national CiC BME population of 23%

► A high percentage of children continue to be placed in local in-house fostering placements. The total number of in-house bed nights per year has remained steady. However, during 2013/14 there has been an increase in the overall use of Independent Fostering Agencies. A trend which has continued in the first half of 2014/2015. IFA placement are most commonly used for teenagers with particularly complex needs.

► Placement stability continues to be good with short term placement stability performance above the national average at 4.6% at March 2014. Long term stability at March 2014 was 77.1%, also above the national average. Both figures are a further improvement on 2012/13 performance.

► Children in Care reviews done on time was an average of 92% Performance in this area has continued to improve for the period April 2013 – March 2014 and remains higher than the national average.

►In 2013/14 8 children were adopted from care (9.9%) compared with 15 in 2012/13. The length of court proceedings and court appeals against adoption orders have been a factor in the lower numbers of children adopted in 2013/14. However, at March 2014 15 children were in adoptive placements awaiting adoption orders.

► Youth crime levels are low amongst young people in care. Only one young person 10-17yrs, looked after continuously for at least 12 months committed an offence in this period.

► At March 2014 10 young people were placed more than 20 miles from their home address.

► 2013 GCSE exam results for Poole children in care ( 5+ GCSE Grade A* - C and 5+ GCSE Grade A* - C including English and Maths) significantly above the national average.* (See separate Correction Sheet) The 2014 exam results are not yet fully verified and will be reported to Corporate Parenting Working Group in January 2015 in the annual Head of Virtual School Report.

► Health indicators, measured by up-to-date health and dental checks assessments and immunisations are consistently above the national average.

►Poole recorded 93% (13 out of 14) care leavers in suitable accommodation and 93% in contact with CYPSC for 2013/14. The % of care leavers in education, training, or employment was 86% 12 out of 14 young people). Poole has a particularly high percentage in higher education compared to national performance data.

5.SERVICE DEVELOPMENT AND QUALITY STANDARDS

5.1In addition to the above performance data, service improvement and development, multi-agency working and the views of children and young people in care provide an additional understanding of the quality of care that children and young people are experiencing.

5.2Placement Support

Poole consistently has a high percentage of children in local foster placements reflecting a strong in-house fostering service which supports local placement choice, stability and continuity for children in care and regular family contact. At March 2014, 65% were in local authority foster care. There are 88 registered foster carers (including friends and family carers) and 16 shared carers. A high proportion of children in care with complex disabilities are in stable long term foster placements, working alongside an excellent shared care service providing a range of short break arrangements. During 2013/14 23 new foster carers, including shared carers were recruited and approved. Poole’s foster carers provide high quality care and receive good support from a range of professionals and engage in a well developed and diverse training programme including NVQ. Poole foster carers maintain individual detailed portfolios which evidence the CWDC national foster carer standards and their individual training programme.

Recruitment and retention of foster carers in a mixed economy with differential payment structures remain highly competitive. In order to recognise the skills and commitment of Poole carers and remain attractive a modest increase in foster carers fees and allowances was approved for 2013/14 as part of the medium term financial plan. Poole continues to recruit a steady flow of carers mainly through local advertising campaigns and ‘word of mouth’. However, when considering natural ‘wastage’ and turnover the overall number of carers has remained relatively static in comparison with a growing CiC population. Our most problematic recruitment areas are for challenging teenagers, children from BME backgrounds and parent and child assessment placements. Discussions are currently underway with Borough of Poole communications team regarding a targeted professional recruitment campaign.

Placing siblings together wherever possible is an important feature of care planning and maintaining significant attachments and sense of identity for individual children. In the period April 2013/March 2014 33 sibling groups (involving 76 children) were placed in foster care of which 15 sibling groups (37 children) were separated in some ‘combination’ from at least one sibling. 6 of the sibling groups were made of 4, or more children. In a number of cases the decision to separate siblings will involve family court proceedings and requesting the specialist care required for children in care necessitates individual placements away from siblings. Practice in relation to sibling groups is a particular area of focus currently and a report on this will be considered and scrutinised by Corporate Parenting Working Group in January 2015.

5.3Education and Leisure

A Head Teacher for children in care Virtual School provides strategic and operational oversight of the education of all children in care, including young people in residential care, or placed outside of the Borough.

The education support team comprising educational psychology time, education welfare officer and teacher works closely with social workers to provide and deliver a Personal Education Plan for every child in care. The education team also provides individual support to foster carers and training opportunities. Each school has a designated teacher for children in care and specific training is undertaken for designated teachers and governors in order to strengthen roles and responsibilities. Specific arrangements are in place in relation to school admissions for children in care and for responding to any fixed term exclusions. There has been one permanent exclusion in 2013/14. The young person in question is now suitably placed in alternative education provision within Dorset.

All children in care have Access to Leisure cards and individuals participate in a wide range of sporting and leisure activities. A very successful Awards Ceremony to celebrate the life achievements of children in care is held annually.

5.4Health

Foster carers are well supported to ensure that the physical and emotional health needs of children in care are met. A dedicated nurse/health visitor co-ordinates health assessments, emotional health screening and provides comprehensive advice and support around all aspects of health e.g., fitness, lifestyle, sexual health, substance misuse. Dedicated support is also provided by CAMHS staff for children in care including a specialist social work post and psychology support to both individual children and foster carers. There is good access to all appropriate specialist health services for children in care with disabilities. Service feedback during 2013/14 has identified some instances where access to CAMHS provision has not been sufficiently swift, or straightforward. There is generally rising demand for assessments and interventions for young people with emotional and mental health needs and this area is under review.

A small number of young people in care have alcohol and substance misuse problems and individual approaches to this are taken based on partnership between key professionals and specialist drug and alcohol workers (YADAS) based on assertive engagement strategies and education and treatment (where required).

5.5Care Leavers

The Local Authority has a range of statutory responsibilities to young people who are, or have been in care, up to the age of 21 years, or in some cases 25 years dependent upon individual circumstances. At March 2014 there were 52 young people 16 yrs plus in care and 73 care leavers.

The Pathways Team within Children and Young People’s Social Care provide services for this group. Staffing includes social workers, health visitor, accommodation officer, personal advisers, dedicated psychology time and an employment education training advisor.

A range of specialist services and initiatives are in place to support this particularly challenging and complex group of young people e.g., supported lodgings provision, independence training flat, Care2Work programme, CAMHS and YADAS provision. The Employability Programme has now secured permanent funding as part of the Children’s Services additional resource growth and is continuing to support Care Leavers in achieving an employability award, as a route towards regular employment.

Government policy initiatives with a particular focus on Care Leavers have provided clear messages to Local Authorities on their responsibilities to young people around placement choice and stability beyond 18 years, financial support and ‘transparencies’ education and employment opportunities. Poole’s position in these areas includes:-

i)Supporting and encouraging young people to stay in their current foster placement beyond 18yrs if this meets their own wishes and needs.

ii)The care leavers ‘Setting up Home’ allowance was set at £2,000 from April 2013 in line with Government recommendations.

iii)Additional funding from the Children in Care base budget has been identified in order to develop ‘supported living plus’ lodgings provision. These are single placements with additional wrap around support to support the most high level need young people with chaotic lifestyles and challenging behaviour. At March 2014 there were 3 SLP plus placements, plus approved with further placements due to come on line.

iv)A group of care leavers have produced a Care Leavers Charter which headlines the wishes and needs of care leavers and the Local Authorities role in meeting these needs. This will be subject to annual review.

5.6Safeguarding Children in Care

Providing safe, high quality care and ensuring children in care are protected from any form of abuse is a high priority. Safe care is achieved in a variety of ways, including, careful initial matching of children for placements, high professional foster carer standards and ‘wrap around’ multi-agency placement support. Every foster carer is also required to have an individual safe care plan which sets out appropriate and safe behaviours and ‘boundaries’ within the home.

The small number of residential placements are subject to robust formal contract and monitoring standards. Allegations and complaints against foster carers and residential providers are monitored and are generally low. In 2013/14 there were 3 complaints made by CiC, E-safety and anti-bullying work for children and young people in care is a particular focus and all carers are given training in this area.

Responses to children in care who go missing are subject to formal policy and procedures and regular monitoring. Strategy meetings and close partnership working across agencies seek to manage and minimise the risk to young people who go missing. In the period April 2013/March 2014 there were 15 missing from care episodes involving 7 young people. The youngest of these was 14 yrs of age. Services are alert to the risk of child sexual exploitation and the additional vulnerabilities and risk in this area of abuse which children in care might be exposed to. Additional CSE training is being provided in Autumn 2014 and agencies work collaboratively to identify and risk assess those children at risk of CSE and ensure that appropriate safety measures are in place within the overall care plan.

There are clear requirements around the frequency and nature of statutory reviews for children in care which are led by independent Reviewing Officers within Children’s Services, but at arms length from operational delivery. Independent advocacy is offered to every child in care above. IRO’s are also proactive in identifying CiC who may benefit from an Independent visitor, primarily for those who do not have significant, or regular birth family contact.

5.7 Children in Care Council

The Children in Care Council has continued to grow in strength and numbers during 2013/14 supported by a dedicated Action for Children participation worker. The Council has an active membership across a wide age range and has developed a wide and varied work and activity programme which brings children and young people together to share and articulate their experiences of being in care.

6. FUTURE SERVICE DEVELOPMENT AND CHALLENGES

6.1 The overall trend of higher numbers and more complex children in care, the increased dependence on external IFA and residential placements, a range of Government policy initiatives, the new OFSTED Inspection Framework and local authority financial constraints presents a particularly challenging landscape. The priority areas for continuous service development during 2014/2015 include:

  • Evidence informed and effective edge of care services to prevent admission to care and support reunification.
  • Rigorous focus and scrutiny on the quality of care for young people in residential placements and/or placed 20 miles from home.
  • Continuing to achieve good adoption performance, prompt and good quality permanence planning and long term permanence for children within, or outside of their birth family as appropriate.
  • Deliver sufficiency of placements ie., a range of placement options which allow choice, high quality care and stability. In particular there is a requirement for more long term adolescent foster placements, ‘support care’ to enable children to remain primarily with, or achieve reunification with their birth families and family assessment placements where child and parents/can be assessed and supported in situ.
  • Promoting and supporting good quality contact time between social workers and children in care and life story work as needed.
  • Placement planning and choice which ensures sibling groups are placed together wherever possible.
  • Ensuring the voice and wishes of children and young people are heard and responded too through the continuing work of the Children in Care Council, the use of the advocacy service and a regular dialogue between young people in care and the Corporate Parenting Working Group.
  • Continue to promote the ‘Staying Put’ agenda and services to care leavers which support transition to adulthood with a particular focus on education, employment and training and further development of the range of accommodation available.
  • A co-ordinated multi agency approach to young people in care who go missing and/or may be at risk of child sexual exploitation. This requires proactive identification and risk assessment and interventions around a range of vulnerabilities particularly for young people in residential care and/or placed a distance from Poole

Key priorities from above are reflected in the Placement Sufficiency Strategy for Children in Care and accompanying placement action plan.