Agenda item

The Committee received a report of the Corporate Director of Children and Young People’s Services which outlined the activity and development of the Supporting Solutions Service (SSS) from April – December 2018 (for copy see file of minutes).

The Strategic Manager, Families First North, confirmed that an area which need action was staff foster care, after only one out of six approved foster carers had been retained. 

Councillor Kennedy congratulated the team on the success of the ‘nest’ and asked whether there was any data to link children from certain areas as being more likely to use it.  The Strategic Manager, Families First North, confirmed that data had not yet been mapped, but this would be something that could be provided in future.

Councillor Charlton was disappointed at the suggestion in the report that CAHMS had not been more closely involved in the muti-agency steering group and the Strategic Manager, Families First North, confirmed that there was a meeting with senior managers to look at fostering a closer working relationship.

Councillor Brookes confirmed that the SSS was an excellent facility but queried why there was only one bed at the nest and whether families’ which had more than one child would be turned away or split up.  The Operations Manager, First Contact, confirmed that there was also a staff bed which would always be given up for a young person, however they did not want to encourage it becoming a place for multiple beds due to the emotive nature of use is for.  It was also to be used for very short periods, with the view of returning to the family home and to avoid entering the care system.

The Strategic Manager, Families First North, confirmed that it was also registered with Ofsted as the team wanted to ensure it met the relevant standards of an emergency children’s home and should Ofsted advise that it did not require registration, it would still be managed to Ofsted standard framework.

In response to a question from Councillor Kennedy the Operations Manager, First Contact, confirmed that this was a one bedroom crash pad as it was only to be used for one night only.  It was intended for very specialist care for children in crisis and due to the intensity of the care required, it would not be appropriate to have more than one bed.

In response to a question from Councillor Jewell, the Operations Manager, First Contact, confirmed that intelligence would be shared with the police if a child was suspected of being involved in child sexual exploitation or crime, however the crash pad was used in the context of living arrangements and would be used when relationships at home had become untenable and the police had usually been called to remove the young person.  Intervention would assist in the child returning home the next day with a plan and would include services to support the family.  Councillor Jewell asked whether the young people tended to know eachother and the Operations Manager, First Contact, confirmed that it was possible due to the fact that usually young people displaying risk taking behaviour would be drawn to one another having experienced similar life experiences.  Risk-taking behaviour was found to manifest in young people who had suffered from trauma and this was something to bear in mind when young people were a handful in and out of school.

Resolved

That the report be noted.