Minutes:
The Strategic Manager for Looked After and Permanence delivered a presentation on the inspection of Local Authority Children’s Services (ILACS) (for copy of presentation see file of minutes).
Cllr Reed referred to the Ofsted inspection in 2011 which judged Durham’s Children’s Services as outstanding and the Ofsted inspection in 2016 which judged the service as requiring improvement and suggested this may be due to changes in the Ofsted requirements.
The Chair commented that, following the publication of the Ofsted report in 2016, an improvement plan was put in place which made several recommendations including the strengthening of political and management oversight. As a result changes have been made which include changes to the functions and administration of the Corporate Parenting Panel.
Councillor Scott asked whether there had been any improvements in the continuity of Social Workers. The Strategic Manager for Looked After and Permanence replied that the Authority strives to provide stability for those in permanent care, but recognised that there are more challenges within the Families First Teams. Work is ongoing in relation to improving the recruitment and retention of social workers, particularly in service areas where this is an issue. The problem is common to many Authorities which is leading to increased competition in recruitment.
Councillor Grant referred to a recent report by the Children’s Commissioner regarding the protection of safeguarding budgets adding that although this seems to be a positive step, this may be at the detriment of other budgets which support services, working with families to prevent them from needing safeguarding services.
Councillor Jewell referred to the voice of the children of the Children in Care Council being included in the framework relating to the experiences of Looked After Children and Care Leavers and he asked how representative the Children in Care Council is. Ellie Seed from Investing in Children explained that the Children in Care Council is as representative as is possible, with representation from a core group of members who are from foster care, residential care and supported lodgings. In addition, the organisation works with other services including schools and a great deal of work is done with foster carers to encourage the children they care for to join the Children in Care Council, and young people from the CICC take part in the fostering events every 2 months.