Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Quality Assurance Service Manager.

That the Quality Assurance Reviewing Officer (QARO) Independent Reviewing Officer's (IRO) Annual Report 2023-2024 be received and noted.

Reason for the decision:

To ensure that the QARO service continues to develop and evolve to offer the best possible support and challenge to the Local Authority in meeting the needs of our children in care, and to ensure voices of children and young people in care are heard and acted upon.

The Annual Report was introduced by Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Education, and Skills. She outlined the positive developments in the report, such as pre-escalation, and the areas identified where improvements could be implemented.

Members sought assurances that the council was addressing ‘edge of care’ procedures following the death of Sara Sharif and whether the council had a register of home-schooled children. Officers assured that they worked with families at the earliest point to ensure families do not get into crisis situations. The council issues child protection plans and brings children into care in a planned way when it was right to do. The council had a record of families where children are home-schooled. The council would work with families to understand the reasons for home schooling and a high percentage of families were visited for welfare checks. A change in legislation mandating a register of home-schooled children would be welcome.

In response to a question about data on the setting of children, officers confirmed that this data was included in the quality assurance framework and could be included within this annual report in future years.

Proposed by Cllr C Sutton, seconded by Cllr S Robinson.

Decision:

That the Quality Assurance Reviewing Officer (QARO) Independent Reviewing Officer's (IRO) Annual Report 2023-2024 be received and noted.