Agenda item

Helen Fergusson, Head of Children’s Social Care, delivered an overview of the Children’s Social Care Service and the circle of support in place for looked after children (for copy of presentation see file of minutes).

The Panel noted that a high number of those accessing the service do so through mainstream, early help services and statutory services are provided to those who have more complex needs.   The Head of Children’s Social Care responded to questions and comments as follows:

·      Children and Young People who are in the care of the local authority for a short period of time are supported by the Families First Teams whose primary responsibility is to provide support to families, to assist them to care for children at home, when it is safe to do so.

·      In response to a question as to whether young people who have resided in a care home maintain links with that home on leaving care, the Head of Children’s Social Care explained that initiatives such as ‘Staying Close’ aim to develop the local offer, to provide accommodation for care leavers, in close proximity of children’s homes. 

·      In response to a question from a Member requesting information on the number of children who return to their family home following a stay in a children’s residential care home, the Head of Children’s Social Care responded that detailed information on this will be included in the next quarterly performance report. 

·      Responding to a question on the types of support in place for care leavers during their transition from care, the Head of Children’s Social Care explained that the supported lodgings scheme works with foster carers to provide a stepping-stone for care leavers who are not quite ready to live on their own. These young people live with another person or a family, whilst being helped to develop their independent living skills.  With every care leaver having different requirements, a range of options is available and this continues to be developed.  Work is being undertaken to develop a Young People’s Independent Living Skills Programme, and, it is hoped that there will be scope for the programme to gain accreditation in the future. 

·      The young people of the Children in Care Council said the Circle of Support chart was a useful visual display to show how wide the circle of support is and the many people / agencies which may be involved.  The young people requested that they take the chart back to the Children in Care Council, to encourage the young people to think about their own circle of support and to identify who is in their circle, if there is anyone missing, or, there is anyone who they do not wish to be in their circle, with a view to bringing some anonymous case studies back to the Panel.  The Head of Children’s Social Care agreed, saying that would be a very useful exercise and the Panel would look forward to hearing their views.