Agenda and minutes

The Chair to open the meeting and welcome those present.

Cllr Weller welcomed everyone to the meeting.

To receive any apologies for absense.

 

Apologese of absense received from Cllr Cathy Lugg.

 

To disclose any pecuniary, other registrable or non-registrable interests as set out in the adopted Code of Conduct. In making their decision councillors are asked to state the agenda item, the nature of the interest and any action they propose to take as part of their declaration.

 

If required, further advice should be sought from the Monitoring Officer in advance of the meeting.

There were no declarations of interest.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 24^th April 2022.

 

The minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 28^th April 2022 were confirmed and signed.

Representatives of town or parish councils and members of the public who live, work or represent an organisation within the Dorset Council area are welcome to submit up to two questions or two statements for each meeting. Alternatively, you could submit one question and one statement for each meeting.  

 

All submissions must be emailed in full to megan.r.rochester@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk by 8.30am on Friday 25^th November.

 

When submitting your question(s) and/or statement(s) please note that: 

 

·       no more than three minutes will be allowed for any one question or statement to be asked/read  

·       a question may include a short pre-amble to set the context, and this will be included within the three minute period 

·       please note that sub divided questions count towards your total of two 

·       when submitting a question please indicate who the question is for (e.g. the name of the committee or Portfolio Holder) 

·       Include your name, address and contact details.  Only your name will be published but we may need your other details to contact you about your question or statement in advance of the meeting. 

·       questions and statements received in line with the council’s rules for public participation will be published as a supplement to the agenda 

·       all questions, statements and responses will be published in full within the minutes of the meeting.   

 

There was no Public Participation for this meeting.

The Chair to sign off the proposed meeting schedule.

A proposed meeting scheduled which was previously circulated would be sent again.

 

It was confirmed the next informal board meeting would be Thursday 19^th January 2023.

 

The next formal board meeting would be Thursday 27^th April 2023.

Paul Dempsey, Corporate Director Care and Protection, to set the scene of the meeting.

Members were informed of the busy year for Children’s Services and believed it had been an opportunity to see what had been happening for Children in Care. Members were updated that there were currently 450 children in care and 580 care leavers. They were also informed that Children in Care numbers had decreased and had changed in terms of cohort of young people. The number of local Dorset Children in Care had also decreased however unaccompanied Asylum children had increased.

 

Members were informed that Cllr Parry launched the first Mockingbird constellation in November. This had led to good development for children in Foster Care as well as new children homes registered this month who would welcome their first two children. An update was also given regarding the staying close project which supports Care Leavers when they’re ready to leave their residential accommodation.

 

The Independent Review of Children’s Social Care was also discussed. Members were informed that this could lead to national and local changes. The officer informed the committee that they were still waiting for government implementation plan. This could lead to council’s delivering their own children’s zones again.

 

 

 

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.

To receive a report from Lisa Linscott, Principal Teacher.

Paul Dempsey asked the board not to share children’s names.

 

Lisa Linscott and Jo Smark-Richards played video and PowerPoint presentation to the board.

 

Virtual Schools fosters high expectations for our schools and education settings. Focus this year on celebrating our young people and developing the child’s voice within our work. The year before we were embedding our processes. Through recruitment we’ve strengthened key areas:

·       Post 16 

·       SEND

·       Early Years

 

Jo Smark-Richards and Lisa Linscott outlined the key strengths of Virtual Schools during the last year.

 

3 Priorities for 2022/23:

·       Achieving educational stability

·       Improving how children are represented in our work

·       Developing opportunities for children to achieve their ambitions

 

Jamie’s Farm Visit took place on 24-28 October 2022.

 

Lisa Linscott thanked the Virtual Schools’ Governing Body.

 

Areas of concern raised by Councillors:

·       What support is there for children who move schools?

·       Permanent exclusions have gone down but increase in number of suspensions, particularly boys

·       How do we ensure we’re using this money wisely and not encroaching into EHCP money?

·       A lot of spends on one-to-one tuition, is this from the right funding stream?

 

What support is there for children who move schools?

Early planning of the transfer, right school placement for the home they are in. If the child in care has an EHCP the team are helping colleagues in Dorset and other SEND teams to go faster than statutory timescale. A Personal Education Plan (PEP) is key to ensure support in school gives them what they need. This could be a range of things such as play therapy, one to one support, it’s through the child’s voice what are they asking for to help them transition.

 

Permanent exclusions have gone down but increase in number of suspensions, particularly boys

Last year no permanent exclusions. Several temporary suspensions. We meet fortnightly, the child’s voice is captured to see what they would like to see. If multiple suspensions, Jo Smark-Richards will visit school. Big process where school can apply for funding around strategic priority for children suspended on several occasions. We are seeing a trend of schools suspending more regularly. Jo Smark-Richards and specialist teachers meet with schoosl. Our conference in January involves one workshop around suspensions. Kim Pickford running one of these workshops. Hoping to showcase outstanding practice. It is more boys than girls being suspended nationally not just in Dorset.

 

How do we ensure we’re using this money wisely and not encroaching into EHCP money?

Pupil Premium funding is for additional needs and different, we’re very careful when looking at funding requests.

 

A lot of spends on one-to-one tuition, is this from the right funding stream?

Lisa Linscott reassured the board this was from the correct funding stream.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Claire Denby and Louise Beardmore to report.

NYAS contract started August 2021, Claire and Louise started in post March 2022. Initial challenge with contract. Rectified January 2022. Since then, very much on track in terms of contract specifications. Now providing a consistent service where all young people referred to us received an advocacy service. We’ve worked hard to embed our processes. Once they have a service from us, they will continue with this service. Develop their lifelong skills around self-advocacy. Emerging from Covid period – advocacy now more face to face but it’s child’s preference.

 

Independent Visitor (IV) service. Took time to embed volunteers over to NYAS. Service has grown quickly. Contract of 33. Looking to increase in line with national guidelines of 10% within Dorset. Overall, it’s going well. Group activity in July – paddleboarding in Ferndown. Good opportunity for young people to spend time with others in similar situation to them.

 

NYAS are doing lots of work with Children’s Services, going to team meetings to share what we can offer. Will be working shortly with Children in Care team where we can be more proactive. Start their journey in advocacy as early as possible. Work with commissioning team to ensure we are sharing data and improve our referral rate.

My Things Matter campaign – it’s making a big difference

 

Cllr Wheller said it would be good to know how the contact with Children in Care progresses

 

Areas of concern raised by Councillors:

·       Do we have young people on a waiting list?

·       Can we promote advocacy more on social media?

·       Breakdown between young person and advocacy

 

Do we have young people on a waiting list?

Waiting list has gone right down – we have a few young people on a waiting list but also recruiting more volunteers. We are trying to spread the word and increase referrals.

 

Can we promote advocacy more on social media?

Commissioning team and NYAS to work together to get something on social media. Cllr Stella Jones advised she was previously an IV. Only adult that turns up without a clipboard. It’s good for continuity as well.

 

Breakdown between young person and advocacy

There were problems with the service in the beginning, but things have now improved. We now work more closely with the Social Workers to see where we can remove the barriers. We’re creating the next set of appointment forms. We use the phone number provided on referral form if not available we will go back to the social worker. Sometimes the young person decides to disengage from the service.

 

We are in a much better place than previously with longer relationships with our social workers. Caseloads for our social workers are really well managed. This is important work too.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Martha Sharp, Manager Quality Assurance and Partnerships, to report.

Jane Maclennan explained the role of the Quality Assurance Reviewing Officer (QARO). They undertake statutory role of a reviewing officer. Continue to support good outcomes. We have a collaborative approach – QAROs challenge practice and outcomes for our Children in Care. We have high expectations, high challenge, and high support. A person-centred relational approach. It’s achieved through a robust escalation and challenge process.

 

We’ve had a consistent workforce within our team. We’ve had good recruitment, so we have seen minimal changes which provides the consistency our Children in Care need and deserve. Clear in care planning and preventing drift. Ensure they are in the right place and have the right support around them.

 

Areas of clarification raised by Councillors:

·       What percentage of gypsy and traveller children are Children in Care or in education? Concerned these children are slipping under the net.

 

We do capture White (Gypsy/Roma) ethnicity of our Children in Care and that there were no children in care under this category on 31.3.22 (last year).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Louise Drury, Head of Service Children in Care and Leaving Care, to report.

The paper sets out plans to increase our capacity to care for and support our care leavers and unaccompanied minors and outline the policy change that is required to do so. To respond effectively to the needs of our young people we are proposing to do the following:

·       Develop an operating model for unaccompanied minors that uses capacity in good or outstanding boarding schools to provide education and term time accommodation and uses school communities to host unaccompanied minors in school holidays as ‘connected persons.

·       Seek easement of specific regulations and guidance.

·       Create a Head of Service to provide dedicated leadership to a specialised service for care leavers and unaccompanied minors alongside the Resettlement Team.

·       Create the role of Senior Personal Adviser within the Leaving Care Service to champion key areas of service delivery for young people and offer a career pathway within the team.

Recommendation that the board supports policy change and service development. This is in response to local and national context.

 

Areas of clarification raised by Councillors:

·       Are we confident we can stick to budget regarding Staying Close funding?

·       Cost of private education compared to a placed care setting

·       Would the children stay in school during all school holidays?

·       Will our current Children in Care be given the opportunity to use an independent school as an intervention?

·       Need to be assured children with troubled backgrounds are doing well, the safeguards are there, and the checks are good

 

Are we confident we can stick to budget?

The Staying Close grant is awarded for 3 years and it's more of a challenge to make sure we spend the money. It will be a challenge for some providers to have the determination to stay close. We will also give people a route back in if they disengage temporarily.

 

Cost of private education compared to a placed care setting

This new way will be more cost effective, and we will be looking to the Department for Education for more support with this. The current model is not cost effective. Hopefully within next few months – we need approval from Ofsted, the Home Office, and Department for Education. Dorset Council are ready to go as soon as we hear. We have already identified cost pressures for next year.

 

Would the children stay in school during all school holidays?

We are looking for young people to stay with a host family potentially from within the school community on weekends and in the holidays. Not remaining within the school environment, the whole time.

 

Will our current Children in Care be given the opportunity to use an independent school as an intervention?

There is a national scheme around Children in Care and private schools. It takes a long time for them to access them. Among our Children in Care, we have those with great talents – these could be developed within a stable family environment.

 

Need to be assured children with troubled backgrounds are doing well, the safeguards are there, and the checks are good.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

Kaye Wright, Youth Voice Manager, to report.

Members were informed of the aims to remove as many barriers as possible to hear voice of the children. This was an opportunity for service to chat with foster carers and everyone is welcome. The aim was to bring families together and to hear the voice of children which helps to build good relationships. Organically built a Children in Care Council who work with Virtual Schools as well. They’re hearing young children’s voices in the right way. Currently 70 children this year including birth children – A breakdown is needed of which are Children in Care. Have 6 dates for next year we can give to carers well in advance. Feedback from last year – looked for specifically facilities with adult changing provision e.g., Dorset Museum. Really pleased with how this is going. Last one this year is 20^th December.

 

Cllr Wheller asked for these dates to be sent to Council members as well. It would be good if there was a member of Corporate Parenting board at each meet up.

To receive a report from Matthew Chislett, Service Manager Corporate Parenting and Care Leavers.

Lisa Reid, Corporate Director for Quality Assurance and Safeguarding. Families had asked Matt Chislett to bring this to the board’s attention. Identify the young people this applies to and will report to the board in January 2023.

To confirm details and deadlines for papers for the next meeting of the

(formal) Corporate Parenting Board which will be held on Thursday 27^th April 2023.

It was confirmed that the next formal meeting would be held on Thursday 27^th April 2023.

To consider any items of business which the Chairman has had prior

notification and considers to be urgent pursuant to section 100B (4) b)

of the Local Government Act 1972. The reason for the urgency shall

be recorded in the minutes.

There were no urgent items.

To move the exclusion of the press and the public for the following

item(s) in view of the likely disclosure of exempt information within the

meaning of paragraph X of schedule 12 A to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

 

The Live Meeting will end before Members consider the following item.

The webcasting ended so that the exempt business could be shared with the board.

Jane MacLennan, Manager Quality Assurance and Partnerships, to report.

Members were updated that Martha Sharp was a new Designated Officer for Dorset Council. They were also informed of 259 new contacts for the last financial year. 86 progressed to Management. There was a high percentage of referrals from Staff in Education settings, foster carers and residential care workers. Areas underrepresented were police, religious groups, and sports.

 

Members were informed that improvements needed to be made in the awareness of role of Designated Officer. There were the highest referrals from physical harm, second category was sexual harm. There was a decrease in number of unfounded outcomes. The Officer also highlighted the LADO service in which it was suggested that there was a higher level of scrutiny of information.

 

Regarding timescales over dealing with allegations, where police investigations was involved, the management of allegations process take longer. Members were informed that work was being maintained with key agencies to improve referral rate from groups.

 

Members questions and comments

·       Was there enough engagement with Police. MASH used to be inundated.

·       Lower uptake of faith schools using Dorset Council services

·       Was there anything slipping through the net

 

Officers’ responses to members questions and comments.

 

Engagement with Police- Children services are strengthening their links with the police. Martha Sharp has delivered training with the forces and cadets in Dorset. Regular meetings have also been set up with the police.

 

Faith Schools using Dorset Council Services- Depends on where the person worked. It could be they work in a school and are also involved in a church. Members were informed that links were getting better at contacting every person/group they are involved with if there’s more than one.

 

Anything slipping through the net- Members were assured that when delivering training, if any concerns are raised with those who work with children to contact LADO. Everything is recorded on separate databases, and it can be picked up if there are repeated concerns. Regular 44 visitors also visit placements, and they will report anything to the LADO. Information is also shared with other Local Authorities. If outcomes of investigations need a referral to DBS it will be tracked and monitored to ensure this.