Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations of interest made by Members at this point in the meeting.

The minutes of the previous meeting of the Children and Young People’s Social Care and Services Scrutiny Panel held on 9 November 2020 were submitted and approved as a correct record.

The Chair welcomed Councillor Higgins who had joined as a Member of the Panel, replacing Councillor Wright.

The Executive Director and relevant Officers from Children's Services will be in attendance at the meeting to provide further information in relation to Futures for Families, Innovate Team and External Placements.

(To Follow)

S Butcher, Executive Director of Children’s Services, R Farnham, Director of Children’s Care, P Jemson, Head of Children Looked After and Corporate Parenting, and R Hamer, Service Manager for Futures for Families, were in attendance at the meeting to provide the Panel with information in relation to its current scrutiny topic, with particular focus on Futures for Families and the Innovate Team.

The presentation began with an overview of the children looked after cohort up to 31 October and their journey over the past 12 months.

296 children had a new episode of becoming looked after during this period.  Some children might have come in and out of care more than once.  10% (29) of the cohort became looked after for a second time or more.  67% of those children were subject to a Child Protection Plan prior to coming into care.  This meant that 33% became looked after having no previous child protection involvement.

44.9% had multiple referrals prior to them becoming looked after – “start again syndrome” where children are referred in, then the case was closed once the parenting/home  situation improved to an acceptable standard.  Once social work involvement ceased, standards could deteriorate again resulting in repeated referrals and assessments.

34% had Early Help intervention prior to becoming looked after.  That means 65% had no Early Help intervention. 

18% (53) who became looked after in last 12 months were no longer in the local authority’s care.  28.3% moved on to a Special Guardianship Order; 32% exited on a child arrangement order; 19% were planned or unplanned moves home with parents or person with parental responsibility and 1.9% stopped being ‘looked after’ as they reached the age of 18 – although work was continued with care leavers.

82% (243) of children who became looked after in the last 12 months (of the 293) remained in the authority’s care.  Of those 243 children, 75% remained in short term foster care.  0.4% were in long term foster care.  17% were placed with parents/persons with PR on a care order.  5.8% were placed in residential homes, supported accommodation or hostels.

Futures for Families

R Hamer, Service Manager, Futures for Families, was in attendance to inform the Panel about Futures for Families and progress to date.

The Panel was informed that Futures for Families ‘went live’ in September 2020.  During September, Futures for Families provided edge of care support to 14 young people in fragile placements and provided in-reach support from the hub to three young people.  In October the number of young people in fragile placements supported by Futures for Families increased to 38 and the hub provided in-reach support to four young people.  In November, 39 fragile placements were supported and five young people were provided with in-reach support by the hub.

In response to a query, it was clarified that a ‘fragile’ placement was a difficult placement where the child/young person and/or foster carers were struggling and the placement was at risk of breaking down.  Futures for Families was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20/24

The Chair will provide a verbal update on business conducted at the meetings of the Overview and Scrutiny Board meetings held on 20 November and 3 December 2020.

A verbal update was provided in relation to the business conducted at the Overview and Scrutiny Board meetings held on 20 November and 3 December 2020, namely:-

20 November 2020

Call-In – Future Accommodation.

3 December 2020

·        Executive Forward Work Programme.

·        Middlesbrough Council’s Response to Covid-19 Response – Chief Executive & Director of Public Health.

·        Executive Member update – Executive Member for Environment (Councillor McCabe)

·        Scrutiny Panel Chairs’ Updates.

AGREED that the information provided be noted.

The next meeting of the Children and Young People’s Social Care and Services Scrutiny Panel was scheduled for Monday, 18 January 2021 at 4.00pm.