Issue - meetings

Consideration was given to the report of the Corporate Director Social Services.

The Corporate Director Social Services advised that the report provided a progress update on the three-year strategy to safely reduce the numbers of looked after children. The Corporate Director noted since the strategy was introduced there has been a slow but steady decline in the numbers of Children Looked After from a high of 237 to 205 as at today. The Authority had successfully used additional funding from the Integrated Care Fund which had assisted in enhancing the Strategy and support our objectives of keeping families together and providing support to families on the edge of care. The strategy had been independently evaluated and was currently being refreshed for a new strategy in 2021.

The Corporate Director added that the work undertaken had helped keep families together and also reduced the number of children being placed in residential care. This has helped the Children Services budget, however, legal costs remain high but we have re-opened  discussions  with a neighbouring local authorities on possible legal support. This work had received a great deal of positive feedback from staff and families.

The Executive Member for Social Services welcomed the report which highlighted the positive work undertaken in Children Services and he wished to express his thanks to the Corporate Director, Head of Children Services and staff on the work behind this positive report.

The Leader advised that there had been some speciesism received when these measures were taken some 3 years ago. The Council was far from complacent and there still was a great deal of work to be undertaken. However, the Strategy was now seeing results and the Leader had hoped that this work would continue.

The Leader reiterated the comments raised in terms of the excellent work achieved in Children Services. The staff in Social Services and across the Council continue to work hard during the pandemic and the public are continually grateful.

RESOLVED that the report be accepted and the information contained therein be noted.