Agenda and minutes

The minutes of the You Matter to Us - Corporate Parenting Board meeting held on 18 April 2024 were submitted and approved as a correct record.

The Director of Children’s Care provided information to the Board in relation to service performance.  Members were referred to the ‘Children’s Services Analysis Tool (ChAT)’ document, which was based on Ofsted’s ILACS Annex A dataset (2020) / Inspection Report, and which had been circulated as part of the agenda pack.

It was explained that a focused Ofsted visit had taken place in July 2024.  Although the visit itself had lasted two days, when considering such matters as preparation time, preliminary meetings and file reviews, the inspection had run for two weeks overall.  Although positive feedback, which recognised that improvements had been made, was received, welcomed, and publicised, it was acknowledged that further improvements were still to be made.  The Agency Head of Service had led on the improvement work to date, which had demonstrated both strong oversight and hard work by the teams involved.

The snapshot data for the last six months, which had been circulated to Members, covered the following areas:

·        Children Looked After (CLA) with an open episode of care.

·        CLA Placements.

·        CLA Health and Missing/ Absent from Placement.

·        Care Leavers Eligibility, PA Allocation and Pathway Plans.

·        Care Leavers Demographics and UASC.

·        Care Leavers Pathway Plan and Contact Timescales.

·        Care Leavers PA Allocation and In Touch.

·        Care Leavers Accommodation Suitability and Type.

·        Care Leavers Activity (Education, Employment, or Training).

The Board noted that a reduction in the number of children in care was currently being seen, with 491 children presently in placement.  By comparison, in 2018/2019 there were approximately 700 children in care.  Work was actively taking place with families in relation to safe assessments; returning children to home; and progressing Special Guardianship Order (SGO) assessment.

Over the last six months, 68 children and young people had entered care, whereas 87 had moved out.  4% of those moving out had been adopted and 26% had resulted from SGO.

Work had been taking place with SHiFT Middlesbrough to provide intense support to 27 young people.  With a focus on crime prevention, activities related to youth custody and juvenile detention matters; legal gateway panels had also been revisited.

Regarding health, the Board noted that of the 381 Children Looked After (CLA) for at least 12 months, 90% had received an up to date health assessment.  In terms of dental checks, 84% had received a dental check in the last 12 months.  The issue of dental hygiene had been of significant concern previously; the Board welcomed this performance, but it was acknowledged that further work was required to raise this further.

Reference was made to a piece of work that had been undertaken in relation to identifying individuals that were, following new legislation, eligible to receive care leavers support.  The number of young people classed as care leavers had and would continue to increase; pop-up hubs had been established to support this process, and significant effort made to contact family members, etc.  Ofsted had recognised this as a particularly positive piece of work.

A Member referred to figures pertaining  ...  view the full minutes text for item 24/3

The Head of Virtual School delivered a presentation to the Board, which focused on ‘Unvalidated End of Key Stage Outcomes for Looked After Children 2024’.

The Board heard that, prior to entering care, many CLA had had a disrupted education, which included poor attendance; multiple school moves; and multiple suspensions or exclusions.  Many had also suffered trauma and had attachment disruptions which impacted upon neurological development.  Such disruption affected their ability to focus in lessons, and this could continue until they felt safe and secure.  Support staff wanted children and young people to feel safe and secure in the school environment, and this did provide challenge.

CLA may also have experienced many changes whilst in care, which included home moves; school moves; and changes of social worker.  All of these affected their ability to make good progress at school.

Regarding the virtual school interim outcomes for 2024, the Board was advised that the information being reported on referred to the attainment for all CLA alongside the ‘qualifying cohort’, which was children who had been in care for 12 months or more as at 31 March 2023.  It was explained that there had been a return to pre-pandemic grading in England this summer as exams and assessments for all qualifications had progressed as planned.  The Department for Education (DfE) had confirmed it was not necessary for students to memorise formulae for GCSE Mathematics and equations for GCSE Physics and Combined Science in 2024.  The Board noted that this was the final year that formulae would be provided, and from next year onwards, students would be expected to recite them.

A table illustrating statistical data in respect of CLA attainment at Early Years and Key Stage 2 was provided, as follows:

In terms of a comparative analysis between Middlesbrough and the wider regional and national data, the Board was advised that although a good indication, it was important to be mindful that the cohorts were small, for example: there were nine children in one of the cohorts this year, and therefore any minor change could alter the statistics significantly.  In addition, it was important to recognise and understand the caveats of the data, for example: the support plans that were in place to help children to achieve.  Members  ...  view the full minutes text for item 24/4

The Director of Children’s Care opened a discussion regarding potential training opportunities for Board Members, all Elected Members, and officers in relation to the role and responsibilities of Corporate Parents.  Reference was made to training that other Local Authorities had undertaken, as well as training and development work that had been offered previously at Middlesbrough.

During the discussion, Members made the following suggestions:

1.      That formal training sessions be established for all Board Members and LMT to attend. 

2.      That informal training sessions be set-up in partnership with Youth Voice for all Board Members to attend.

3.      That training for all Elected Members, to explain and emphasise their role as Corporate Parents, be undertaken before Full Council meetings.

The representative from Cleveland Police advised that they would like to be involved in the development of training activities, wherever possible.

AGREED that the suggestions made in respect of training and development opportunities for Members and Officers be considered.

A discussion ensued in relation to Board membership and attendance/ representation at meetings.

It was commented that a housing representative would be sought and added to the attendee distribution list as soon as possible.  Representatives from Health were also being considered.

A Member suggested that when Looked After Children completed Y6, a card with a congratulatory message, signed by all Board Members, be forwarded to them.

A Care Ambassador raised the matter of communication between partners; It was felt that this could be improved.  It was commented that, as service users and the voice of over 400 young people, the Care Ambassadors were in the best position to assist partner agencies.  Fellow Members of the Board recognised this; the Director of Children’s Care highlighted that, having attained lived experience, the voice of those individuals were stronger and louder than others and it was important that these were heard.  Board Members wanted to ensure that Care Ambassadors were part of training activities and fully involved in Board meetings.  It was agreed that a standing item for the Care Ambassadors would be included on future meeting agendas.

AGREED that:

1.      An appropriate housing representative would be sought and invited to future meetings.

2.      A standing item for participation representatives would be included on future meeting agendas.

None.