Issue - meetings

Matthew Chislett, Service Manager for Corporate Parenting

and Permanence, to report.

Members were informed of a decreasing number of children in care but an increase in asylum seeking children. Currently 41 unaccompanied children which will reach 67. Adoption 18% achieving permanence year to date.

Number of children with 3 placement moves or more is 7, significantly lower than national average. The timeliness of Initial Health Assessments remains an area of concern – they must be completed within 20 working days. Trying to improve performance with health colleagues. Some children placed out of area create complexity in achieving 20 working day deadline.

Areas of clarification raised by Councillors:

·       Unregulated placements- what are these?

·       Are we seeing more children placed out of area?

·       Number of unaccompanied children reside in Dorset

·       Number of Foster Carers resigning

·       Missing episodes

Unregulated placements – what are these?

Supported accommodation placements for children aged 16+ only who need support to live independently rather than care. Unregistered and Unregulated are different. In Dorset we have no children in Unregistered provision. We do have young people 16+ who live in Unregulated provision. Registered provision is regulated through Ofsted.

Cllr Wheller shared her concerns over Unregulated placements:

·       Would encounter the same group of 17/18 year olds in town centre in early hours while Cllr Wheller was a street pastor. 

·       A lot of asylum seekers where vaccines are not same standards to ours in UK e.g., diphtheria, polio, measles. We need to ensure our Children in Care asylum seekers are fully vaccinated. We need to take responsibility for this.

Dorset Council advised there is a robust framework for Quality Assurance of Unregulated placements. We have enhanced visiting for these children and produce a quarterly report to the Senior Leadership Team. Ofsted are planning to bring in new regulations for this cohort of providers. We have been working hard with these providers to adhere to these new regulations. The new regulations will clarify the distinction between care and support. The regulation regime will be proportionate. These providers will be able to provide more appropriate levels of support to our children. 

Are we seeing more children placed out of area?

Dorset Council advised the first port of call for children coming into care is always family. Some of our children could be placed out of area due to family living outside Dorset.  Dorset Council advised we want our children in Dorset wherever possible, but a number of our unaccompanied children prefer to be in an urban area – often closer to friends and family. We are looking at taking a different approach for our unaccompanied children.

Cllr Stella Jones – welcomed increasing diversity within Dorset.

How many unaccompanied children reside in Dorset?

Of our 47 young people all but 4 are placed outside of Dorset Council area. Sometimes it makes sense for these children to be placed out of county and remain in their current placement. They receive the same service as Dorset based children. All those unaccompanied children have the same access to resources.

Cllr Richard Biggs – not ideal these children are  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8