Agenda item

Sufficiency Strategy update: Presentation of Lindsey Herring, Children's Commissioner, Durham County Council

Minutes:

The Panel received a report and presentation from Lindsey Herring, Children’s Commissioner for Adult and Health Services, on the Sufficiency Strategy for Children Looked After and Care Leavers published in June 2019 (for report and presentation see file of minutes).

 

The Children’s Commissioner responded to comments and questions as follows:

 

·      At the present time Durham has no care leavers in unregulated placements.

 

·      In relation to the matching process for adoption, risk assessments are undertaken.

 

·      Private residential care homes are profit-making organisations.  The Head of Children’s Social Care informed the Panel that the findings from the Overview and Scrutiny review into Children’s Residential Care provision will inform the future strategy.

 

The Panel then considered the following questions in groups and a note was taken of their comments:

 

1.    How can elected members promote and encourage members of the public to consider becoming foster carers for Durham County Council?

2.    How can elected members work with communities to alleviate any concerns and positively promote the development of new DCC children’s homes for vulnerable children and young people?

3.    How can elected members, who are actively involved in regulation 44 visits further support and promote the development of DCC children’s homes in local communities?

 

Supporting documents: