HERTFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

CHILDREN’S SERVICES AND CORPORATE PARENTING CABINET

PANEL

Wednesday 7 November 2007 at 2.30pm

NUMBER OF TEENAGE PREGNANCIES AMONGST LOOKED AFTER CHILDREN

Report of the Director of Children, Schools and Families

[Author: Christine Oker, Teenage Pregnancy Strategy Manager

Tel: 01992 588797]

Executive Member: Jane Pitman (Children’s Services)

1.Purpose of the report

1.1The purpose of this report is to:

  • Advise the Panel of the numbers of teenage pregnancies amongst Looked After Children, as requested by CSF Scrutiny Committee;
  • Seek the Panel’s views on teenage pregnancies amongst Looked After Children.

1.2The views of the Panel and any recommendations will be reported back to Children, Schools and Families Scrutiny Committee.

2. Summary

2.1The report outlines:

  • The number of pregnancies amongst LAC
  • Identifies the challenges faced in understanding the scale of this issue for LAC
  • Proposed way forward in response to identified challenges
  • Some examples of ongoing teenage pregnancy work that is accessible to LAC

3.Conclusions

3.1The Teenage Pregnancy Topic Group identified some issues in relation to LAC and teenage pregnancy in their final report to CSF Scrutiny Committee. The Scrutiny Committee asked for numbers of teenage pregnancies amongst LAC to be presented to Children’s Services Panel.

3.2Data on teenage pregnancies amongst LAC is variable as this is not collected routinely. Some data on the numbers of young mothers and fathers amongst LAC is presented but this needs to be used cautiously. This lack of data means that no comparison can be made at national or regional levels as data on pregnancies amongst LAC is not collected routinely, apart from the number of LAC who are mothers collected through the 903 returns. This presents a challenge in understanding the scale of teenage pregnancy as an issue amongst LAC.

3.3Some proposals are identified to enable us to begin to gain a better understanding of the scale of teenage pregnancy amongst LAC, and to establish a baseline and a coherent approach to improve outcomes for LAC in relation to this as an issue.

4.Background

4.1A Topic Group was set up in April 2006 by the Health Scrutiny Committee (HSC), to examine the effectiveness of the County Council’s Teenage Pregnancy Strategy delivered in partnership with Health and other partners. The Topic Group carried out an investigation, which included a number of meetings, took evidence from expert witnesses including CSF Officers, Connexions, Primary Care Trust, Community and Voluntary Sectors, and visits were undertaken to teenage parent support groups.

4.2The Teenage Pregnancy Topic Group presented its final report to CSF Scrutiny Committee on the 13 June 2007. CSF Scrutiny Committee endorsed the findings and recommendations with exception of recommendation five (see Appendix 1 of this report – copy of CSF Scrutiny Committee minutes and executive summary of final report of the Teenage Pregnancy Topic Group)

4.3CSF Scrutiny Committee also requested that the Children’s Services Panel should receive a report on the number of teenage pregnancies amongst Looked After Children. One of the findings in the report was the challenge faced by residential social workers in supporting Looked After young women who are pregnant, if they choose to keep confidential discussions about medical issues. The Topic Group’s recommendation to this finding is that the Children’s Services Panel should address the involvement of the social worker in LAC, in cases involving external agencies.

5. Teenage Pregnancies amongst Looked After Children

5.1There were 984 Looked After Children (LAC) including eligible Care Leavers in the county as at 31 August 2007. 593 of these are in placement in county, 196 are placed out of county and 195 in other placement.

5.2Pregnancy data for LAC is not recorded specifically or routinely on IRIS. The available data is picked up from relationship information on IRIS, which will indicate if a young woman has a child, however, this data has to be validated by various workers as the relationship information on IRIS is problematic. The data presented in this report has been taken from IRIS by CSF Management Information Unit (MIU) staff, who have validated it with staff working with this LAC. Some of the data presented in this report is from the annual 903 statutory returns, which include the number of young mothers who are LAC, at time of reporting. The data presented in this report should be interpreted cautiously; as we are not certain if this is a true reflection of pregnancies amongst LAC. At best this could be an accurate reflection of the scale of teenage pregnancies amongst LAC and at worst, it could be an indication that the true picture is probably worse than is presented.

5.3The table below shows a breakdown of the number of young mothers amongst LAC, from 2005 to 31st August 2007. This is further broken down into under 16s and under 18s; whether they were in care or not at time of conception and whether their child is on child protection.

Financial year (April to March) / Overall number of young mothers under 18 / Nos. of young mothers who are under 16 / Nos. of young mothers who are 16+ but under 19 / Nos. of young mothers whose child is on child protection / Nos. of young mothers who were in care at time of conception / Nos. of young mothers who were not in care at time of conception
2005/06 / 10 / 2 / 8 / 6 / 5 / 5
2006/07 / 13 / 5 / 8 / 6 / 10 / 3
2007 to July 07 only / 10 / 3 / 7 / 7 / 7 / 3
  • Age used in the above table is age of mother when they became a mother
  • Information used in the table has been taken from IRIS
  • Source: CSF Management Information Unit, August 07

Whilst the cohort used here is quite small and with no clear trend, the majority of young women became mothers whilst in our care and 19 out of the 33 babies born to young women in care between 2005 and July 2007 were on child protection – the majority of young mothers in each year between 2005 – July 07, had their child on child protection. This presents some concern.

5.4The table below shows the number of young mothers amongst LAC by type of placement at time of becoming a mother for those who were in care. Although the numbers are quite small, the majority of young mothers in this cohort were in foster care and children’s homes in county.

Financial year(April to March) / Children’s Home in LA / Family Placement inside LA – other foster Carer by LA / Family Placement inside LA – relative or friend / Family placement outside LA – other foster carer by LA / Family Placement outside LA – other foster carer by agency / Other Placement – Hostel, Independent living etc
2005/06 / 2 / 2 / - / - / 1
2006/07 / 2 / 3 / 2 / 1 / - / 2
2007 – July 07 / 1 / 3 / 1 / - / 1 / 1

Source: CSF Management Information Unit, August 2007

5.5The table below shows the 903 statistical submittals for the numbers of mothers who are LAC from 2004/05(this is when the question on the number of mothers who are LAC was first included in the 903 return). There is little variance from the number of mothers who are LAC, as recorded on IRIS, used in tables above.

Financial Year / Numbers of LAC Mothers / Total LAC Girls Aged 10+
2004/05 / 12 / 244
2005/06 / 11 / Unknown
2006/07 / 13 / 252

Source: CSF Management Information Unit, 903 annual returns

5.6The table below shows the number of young fathers amongst LAC for the period 2005 – July 07, from IRIS. The number of fathers is however, not broken down by age but gives some indication of how many LAC are young fathers. The same caution as with the data on numbers of young mothers who are LAC is applicable to this data.

Fathers / Numbers
LAC during 2005/06 / 11
LAC during 2006/07 / 13
LAC April to July 2007 / 8

Source: CSF Management Information Unit, August 07

5.7Teenage pregnancy amongst LAC is not recorded or collected routinelyat national, regional or locallevels, other than through the 903 annual returns. This makes it impossible to compare and assess the scale of teenage pregnancies amongst LAC and how we are doing in comparison with other authorities. It does present a challenge in addressing teenage pregnancy as an issue amongst our LAC population.

5.8A number of research undertaken at national level by the national Teenage Pregnancy Unit at DCSF and other agencies like the National Children’s Bureau, does identify LAC, as a vulnerable group to unplanned teenage pregnancy and poor sexual health. Evidence from research shows that:

  • A quarter of looked after young women have a child by the age of 16[i] and nearly half were mothers within 18-24 months after leaving care[ii]. They are much less likely to receive the support of a family to help them cope (Haydon 2003)
  • Looked after young men are also more likely to become young fathers than their peers who are not in care (Gelder 2002)
  • School is consistently cited as the main source of SRE for most young people (BRMB International 2003). However, interruptions and gaps in education for looked after young people may lead to them missing SRE at school.
  • Looked after young people are more at risk of sexual exploitation and abuse through prostitution (Swann 1998, Matthews 2000, Haydon 2003)
  • Many looked after young people do not receive continuous support, and work on sex and relationships (including pregnancy and parenthood) are not routinely provided within the care system or by carers. For looked after young people, access to information and advice while they are in care is heavily dependent on the relationship between them and members of staff or foster carers (Haydon 2003)
  • Low level of self esteem experienced by many looked after young people, and their desire to be included in peer groups, makes them more likely to conform with pressure to engage in early or unwanted sexual activity (Haydon 2003)
  • Looked after young people are statistically more likely to have experienced traumatic events including neglect and physical, sexual or emotional abuse. For many, the perpetrators have been parents/carers, family members or close family friends (Haydon 2003)

6.Way Forward

6.1Whilst it has been established that data on teenage pregnancies amongst LAC is not robust and understanding the true scale of teenage pregnancies amongst LAC is complex, it is important that we begin to work towards a better understanding of this to establish a clear baseline from which to begin to develop a coherent approach to respond appropriately and improve outcomes for our LAC population.

6.2In order to establish a clear baseline and monitor the impact of any intervention with LAC, there is need to improve recording of data on pregnancies amongst LAC. IRIS has the ability to provide up to date data on pregnancy amongst LAC. This is however, dependent on individual staff entering correct information on IRIS and updating it. Staff working with LAC need to ensure information on pregnancy is recorded appropriately on IRIS.

6.3Additionally, it is recommended that a one off snap short audit is undertaken with staff working with LAC, to enable us gain and have a better understanding of the scale of teenage pregnancies as an issue with LAC and establish a baseline from which to take forward further work.

6.4It is also recommended that as soon as a young girl who is looked after (including care leavers) become pregnant or tells a member of staff that she thinks she may be pregnant or is pregnant, the young girl must be referred to LAC Health Team for further support regarding the pregnancy or suspected pregnancy.

6.5Given the lack of training take up amongst residential social workers and foster carers, some consideration should be given to making sex and relationships education training mandatory for residential social workers and foster carers, underpinned by a clear policy and guidance for staff and carers. This would ensure that staff and carers have the knowledge and confidence to better support young people in their care; and a framework within which to provide this support to ensure consistency in quality and level of support offered to all young people who are looked after on sexual health and personal relationships issues.

7. Examples of Teenage Pregnancy Work that Impact on LAC

7.1Information resources – a range of information resources to raise awareness of local services and how to access them amongst young people, as well as promoting speedy inter-agency referral by practitioners. These include:

  • Numbers u Need – directory of a range of local services for young people, from one stop shops, counselling to advice and support on a range of issues including teenage pregnancy and sexual health
  • Sexual services poster – a list of all sexual health services in the county with opening times
  • Directory of services for young parents – is in development
  • A local campaign aimed at raising awareness amongst boys aged 13 to 15 – is in development
  • A local campaign to encourage parents/cares discuss relationships issues with their children and where to get support on difficult or tricky issues

7.2Workforce development – a free multi-agency training programme, which is accessible to all staff working with young people in the county. A range of specific courses aimed at staff working with vulnerable young people, including LAC is included. Whilst the take up of most courses have been very good, take up of courses developed specifically for staff working with LAC and foster carers has not been good. It is important that residential social workers and foster carers receive training on sex and relationships education to enable them to have the knowledge and confidence to support young people in their care on this issue.

7.3Sexual health nurse post for LAC – the LAC Health Team are in the process of recruiting to a part-time sexual health post to specifically undertake one to one preventative work with LAC. This is a one year pilot post with funding from Teenage Pregnancy Grant.

7.4Teenage pregnancy outreach workers – two full-time posts funded by Teenage Pregnancy to undertake preventative work with vulnerable groups of young people in the county, including LAC.

8.Financial Implications

8.1The developments referred to in this report are being funded through the Teenage Pregnancy Local Implementation Grant. There will be financial implication should the LAC sexual health pilot post be successful.

8.2There would be financial implication for the development and provision of ongoing training for residential social care staff and foster carersif therecommendation in 6.5 was agreed. Teenage Pregnancy Strategy would only be able to contribute to initial development cost.

Background information referred to by the author:

071107 CS&CP Panel

Item 8 – Teenage Pregnancy Amongst LAC

1

N Biehal et al. (1992) Prepared for living? A survey of young people leaving the care of local authorities. National Children’s Bureau

N Biehal et al.Moving on (1995) National Children’s Bureau

Hertfordshire Teenage Pregnancy Action Plan 2007-08

Hansa Patel-Kanwal and Gill Francis Lenderyou,(1998) Let’s talk about sex and relationships – A policy and practice framework for working with children and young people in public care, National Children’s Bureau

Department of Education and Skills (2004) Legal and policy framework for social workers, residential social workers, foster carers and other social care practitioners

North West Working Group (2004) Teenage pregnancy strategy toolkit for young people in public care

D Haydon (2003) Teenage pregnancy and looked after children/care leavers – resource for teenage pregnancy co-ordinators, Barnado’s