Issue - meetings

Corporate Parenting Progress Report 2021-22

Meeting: 20/01/2022 - Social Services Scrutiny Committee (Item 6)

6 Corporate Parenting Progress Report 2021-22 pdf icon PDF 555 KB

To consider the report of the Service Manager Children's Services.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Consideration was given to the report of the Service Manager, Children’s Services which was presented to inform Members of the progress made by Blaenau Gwent Corporate Parenting Board (CPB) throughout 2021 to improve outcomes and services for our Children Looked After (CLA).

 

The Service Manager, Children’s Services spoke to the report and highlighted the main points in each key priority contained therein.

 

A Member requested an update in relation to the recruitment of a psychologist.  The Head of Children’s Services said there was a need for psychology input to support practitioners in relation to some very complex needs of children looked after.  Through the ICF grant money they had been able to recruit a part time psychologist who offered consultations to foster carers in order to manage complex behaviours and prevent placement breakdown.

 

A Member enquired if the team engaged with the Education Directorate to improve the number of children looked after that had a statement of special educational needs.  The Service Manager, Children’s Services said they work in partnership with the Education Directorate, the Children Looked After Educational Officer sits on the Corporate Parenting Board and children had mentors and advisors attached to them around the educational agenda so their individual needs were looked at, monitored and individual actions plans were put in place to look at how they could be supported around their educational progress.

 

Councillor Hodgins left the meeting at this juncture.

 

A Member enquired regarding how many looked after children were still with their parents.  The Head of Children’s Services said of the 194 children looked after, 42 were looked after by the Authority and placed with parents.  She explained that these cases were reviewed regularly, and if the local Authority no longer needed to be the legal parents alongside the birth parents, cases were taken back to court to revoke care orders.

 

The Committee AGREED to recommend that the report be accepted and endorse Option 1; namely that Members acknowledged progress made throughout 2021 and feel confident that the Local Authority and its partners are doing well to improve outcomes for our looked after children as part of our corporate parenting responsibilities.