Agenda item

To consider a report of the Executive Director Core Services (Item 5a attached) in respect of the Corporate Parenting Panel Annual Report 2016-17 (Item 5b attached).

The following witnesses were welcomed to the meeting:

·         Rachel Dickinson, Executive Director - People, Barnsley MBC

·         Mel John-Ross, Service Director - Children’s Social Care and Safeguarding, Barnsley MBC

·         Liz Gibson, Virtual Headteacher for Looked After Children, Barnsley MBC

·         Angela Fawcett, Designated Nurse-Safeguarding Children, Barnsley CCG

·         Andrea Scholey, Named Nurse Children in Care, 0-19 Service, Barnsley MBC

·         Councillor Sarah Tattersall, Corporate Parenting Panel Member

·         Councillor Margaret Bruff, Cabinet Spokesperson - People (Safeguarding)

·         A Barnsley Foster Carer

The Committee considered a report which set out the responsibilities and statutory duties of the Council to act as good Corporate Parents.

Questions were asked in response to the presentation and report submitted, and the following matters were highlighted:-

·         The report indicated that there had been many positive outcomes from the Council’s work as a Corporate Parent, including children spending less time in care, high adoption rates, high placement stability, and good academic results. The witnesses commented that the Corporate Parenting Panel had served as an effective critical friend for the service. The witnesses confirmed that the Corporate Parenting Panel had been willing and able to challenge the service when this was required.

·         The meeting was informed that the Council’s Takeover Challenge in November 2016 achieved a Gold Commendation from the Children’s Commissioner for England.

·         Care leavers were provided with a significant level of support. All care leavers had a pathway plan and an allocated social worker to provide them with assistance as they transitioned towards independence. The process of working towards independence began when children were early teenagers and the pathway plan was designed with the young people to ensure that it met their needs. The meeting was informed that many care leavers stayed with their foster carers after leaving the service. The development of life skills (including cooking, managing money, diet, travel and knowing how to access services) was a paramount part of the transition towards independence and semi-independent accommodation was available for care leavers.

·         Termly Personal Education Plans (PEPs) were in place for all children in care and PEPs were being rolled out for post-16 children (which was not a statutory requirement).

·         The Public Health Nursing service was currently undergoing a redesign. The meeting was assured that no capacity had been removed from the service and a report could be provided to a future meeting to set out the new arrangements.

·         85.7% of children in care were placed within 20 miles of their home address, above the national average (74.7%) and the performance of statistical neighbours (84.3%). In some instances, those children who were placed more than 20 miles from their home address had particular reasons for this, such as a need for specialist care or living with their prospective adoptive parents. 34% of Barnsley looked after children were placed outside of the Borough. Members were assured that, where looked after children were to be placed in schools outside of the Borough, the Virtual Headteacher worked closely with schools to ensure that they met the children’s needs.

·         A foster carer commented that foster carers felt highly valued by the Council and that their views and opinions were listened to.

The Chair thanked all of the witnesses for their attendance.

RESOLVED: That the witnesses be thanked for their attendance and contribution.