Agenda item

To consider the report by the Interim Executive Director of People – Children.

The Corporate Parenting Board considered a report by the Executive Director of People – Children on Placement Sufficiency. 

Officers informed the Board that in 2019 a strategy for placement sufficiency was agreed which enabled a change to the Authority’s commissioning approach by becoming more active and bringing more providers into Dorset to ensure that provision was closer to home.

Officers wanted to unlock the fostering provision in Dorset as there were a lot of children who were not in the care of Dorset Council.  There was less appetite for block contract arrangements with fostering providers than with residential providers. Officers were exploring the options with these providers to look at first refusal on these places, and possibly the development of specialist schemes. 

The Authority was involved in the Better Lives programme whereby it might be better to build a children’s home, or housing for foster carers to enable them to have larger accommodation. 

One member asked about the additional support for foster carers to enable them to be able to cope with difficult children.  Officers confirmed that meetings had been held with foster carers who had come up with some sensible and practical suggestions relating to, for example, delegated authority which has not been in place routinely, short breaks, and the early sharing of information.  Officers have been looking at how family support workers can work with foster carers and support them in real time.  Martin Hill, Foster Carer thought respite within the foster carers’ family was a good idea as his children were grown up and helped with foster children at no extra cost to the Authority.  The Chairman thought that was very important because if they were living with their own family they would probably stay with a relative from time to time. 

The Chief Executive of Participation People commented that young people have told them that when respite was talked about, they were really talking about troublesome children.  Challenging placements can be even more challenging for children when they are shipped off to respite and the family goes on holiday this was something discussed at Children and Leavers in Care Council (CLiCC) regularly.  CLiCC have offered training for anyone who would like it.

The Interim Executive Director of People – Children mentioned that sometimes when a child was placed with a family, they may have predetermined arrangements.  The Authority wanted foster families to become families, the Authority was the wealthiest parent in the county if children could not have a holiday with their foster parent, they could still have a holiday or break, she welcomed the Chief Executive of Participation People’s offer of training. 

One member thought there should be a policy on how Dorset children were treated to include a package of support they should be entitled to.  If carers were having a holiday the children should have one too.  He and officers would discuss this with the Children in Care Council to see if a paper could be drafted relating to holidays.

One member suggested free parking for foster carers during holiday periods to enable them to use Dorset Council facilities for example West Moors Country Park. The Corporate Parenting Officer would investigate the possibility of this suggestion.  He also mentioned that a large number of Dorset Council employees were probably not aware that they were Corporate Parents which should be included as part of the interview process.  The Chief Executive of Participation People mentioned when CLiCC were away on their residential they would be making a video to share with new employees on what it was like growing up in care in Dorset to include a call to action “Have you considered … “.

The Chairman felt if this was being taken to staff there would need to be an incentive in supporting staff in the package of benefits.

The Interim Executive Director of People – Children asked for a report to be brought back to a future meeting about the fostering service.  Some local authorities gave staff additional leave to acknowledge the extra meetings they would have to attend.  Staff should be encouraged to become foster carers.

One member suggested looking at providing bigger housing for foster parents.  The Chairman thought that had been taken on board.

Resolved

1. That the Lead Member for Children, Education and Early Help and the Head of LAC discuss with CLiCC how foster children were treated to include a package of support they should be entitled to as well as holiday arrangements and report back to the Corporate Parenting Board on their discussions with CLiCC. 

2. That the Corporate Parenting Officer investigate whether free car parking at Dorset Council facilities could be provided to foster carers during the holiday

periods.