Issue - meetings

To consider a report by Principle Educational Psychologist. 

The Corporate Director for Education and Learning outlined a report that highlighted the importance of addressing the issues around emotional health and well-being of children; who may come into care with experiences of trauma associated with abuse, neglect, loss and separation from family and friends.

The Principal Education Psychologist set out the salient points of the detailed document  including the work being carried out with education colleagues and the wider work of Corporate Parenting in order to support looked after children. Evidencing the applications of the strength and difficulties questionnaire in order to support children better.

The Board welcomed the detail within the report and also discussed:-

·         The impact of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire and its  progress;

·         Why were Dorset children more “sad” than other children outside of the area? Responding the Executive Director of People Children advised that to date the cohort had not been measured properly. Going forward it was essential to get the process right; for example  if you only ask people who are in crisis,  it is likely that the figures would be distorted. 

·         However, she continued that some of the children were sadder and this was probably due to too many being in residential care or far away from home.  Going forward this bench-mark allowed for the planned improvement to be recorded.

·         Members welcomed the early intervention work, but what support was being carried out with care leavers?

·         They noted that Health Care nurses were commissioned to work with care leavers. Educational psychologists were also supporting care leavers to ensure that their needs were being met.

·         Noted that life story work was being carried out.

·         Noted that children’s voices were heard in many different ways. They must feel secure and supported in order that they can build loving relationships in the future.

·         Acknowledged that a reporting framework would be regularly fed back to the Board. 

Decision

(a)       The Board noted and supported the work being done to develop

relationship-based approaches in schools with an emphasis on trauma informed practice.

(b)       That Board noted and supported to improve the emotional wellbeing of children in care and care leavers.