Agenda item

The Head of Early Help, Assessment and Safeguarding, presented the Looked After Children Annual Report 2016/17 and introduced Karen Robb, Strategic Manager, Looked After and Permanence.  The Strategic Manager referred members to the report and delivered a powerpoint presentation which explained some of the key elements (for copy of report and presentation see file of minutes).

In response to a request from Councillor Makepeace for more information on the 189 care leavers, the Strategic Manager responded that the young people are aged between 18-25 years and they are classed as eligible or relevant under the Leaving Care Act.  It was agreed that a detailed report on care leavers should be brought to a future meeting of the panel.

Councillor Charlton commented that the presentation was very informative adding that it was interesting to note that the two age profile groups identified as priority areas are children under the age of 4 years and the 10-15 age group, and that a high number of looked after children come from the east of the county.  The Strategic Manager responded saying that there are various factors in a child’s circumstances which may lead to them entering the care system including behavioural issues with the onset of adolescence, mental health, school refusal and deprivation.  Councillor Huntington referred to children under 4 and commented that bonding issues may be a risk factor.  The Strategic Manager explained that the vulnerable parent pathway helps to identify vulnerable parents and the service does a lot of work with vulnerable parents both at the pre-birth and post-birth stages.  The Strategic Manager added that the service is increasingly involved with families who have issues with multiple children which suggests that some families become trapped in a cycle.

The Legal Manager for Children and Adult Services, Kelsey Clayton, briefly explained how children initially enter the care system including through care orders made by the courts or through voluntary arrangements, adding that there has been a significant increase in the number of care orders in recent years, and, an increasing incidence of families being involved in repeat care cases, having successive children removed.  The Legal Manager for Children and Adult Services offered to present a report on care proceedings to a future panel meeting and the Chairman welcomed this.

At this point in the meeting, Councillor Makepeace declared an interest as an employee of Wrixon Care Ltd.

Resolved:

That the report and presentation be noted.