Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed those present and highlighted the Council’s Fire Evacuation Procedure.

The Minutes of the previous meeting of the Children’s Scrutiny Panel held on 8 December 2025 were submitted and approved as a correct record.

a)     Out of area placements – Children’s Social Care

The Chair welcomed the Corporate Director of Children’s Services, A Bates, to the meeting, alongside C Walker, Specialist Commissioning Manager, who had been invited to attend to provide the Panel with further information in relation to its current scrutiny topic ‘Out of Area Specialist Provision’, within a social care context

The Specialist Commissioning Manager provided the Panel with a presentation which provided an overview of the Council’s use of external social care placements for children and young people.

Members were informed of the types of external provision utilised, the reasons placements were commissioned externally, and the measures in place to ensure the Council met its sufficiency duties. The update also outlined current fostering and residential sufficiency arrangements, associated costs, and the proportion of placements within Teesside. Case studies were presented demonstrating the work of the Placement Team in securing appropriate, cost‑effective placements and achieving significant cost avoidance. Further updates were given regarding supported accommodation for 16+ and 18+ young people, along with the commissioning priorities identified as next steps.

The Panel was advised that an external social care placement referred to any placement commissioned when the Council was unable to provide a suitable internal match for a child or young person. Members were informed that these placements included Independent Fostering Agency placements, children’s residential and educational residential placements, supported accommodation for those aged 16+, mother and baby residential assessments, and secure placements. It was also outlined that external placements were classified as either in‑area, where they were located within Middlesbrough, or out‑of‑area, where they were situated outside the town. Members noted that a significant number of children were placed within the North East.

It was explained that external provision was required where there were sufficiency gaps in internal fostering and residential services, meaning not all children could be accommodated internally. Members heard that external placements were also necessary when a child’s individual needs, such as complex behaviours or risks linked to exploitation, could not be met in‑house and the child required a more focused care approach. In some cases, specialist therapies or expertise were only available through external providers. It was further noted that children sometimes needed to be placed away from the local area for safety reasons, making both internal and in‑boundary provision unsuitable. Additionally, secure placements were authorised by the courts and accessed through specific units not located within Middlesbrough. It was noted that, in this instance, the closest secure placements were in Durham,  Northumberland and Scotland, and that bed availability was limited.

Along with the other eleven North East local authorities, Middlesbrough Council had commissioned the NEPO603 Tyne‑Tees Independent Foster Care Services Framework to secure placements when an internal fostering match could not be provided. Referrals were shared with approved suppliers and placements were made when an offer was received, with weekly rates fixed through the procurement process. Where a placement could not be secured via  ...  view the full minutes text for item 25/39

The Chair noted that this was a new standing item intended to capture any updates the Corporate Director wished to raise on matters pertinent to the Panel. It was proposed that, subject to the Panel’s agreement, the item be included as a regular feature on future agendas, and Members confirmed their support for this approach.

The Corporate Director provided a brief update on the recent Ofsted activity, noting that a focused visit had been undertaken, in December, to the MACH (Front Door Assessment Centre). As the outcome remained embargoed, further information would be shared in due course.

AGREED that the information provided be noted.

The Panel received an update on the content presented at the Overview and Scrutiny Board held on 18 December 2025 which consisted of the following:

•         Scrutiny Chairs’ Update

•         Executive Forward Work Plan

•         Forward Plan Action progress

•         Overview of Executive Member for Adult Social Care first year in post highlighting inspection progress, strategic priorities, service developments, financial pressures, and emerging challenges across adult social care and health partnerships.

•         The Q2 budget monitoring report, outlining an improved but forecast £1.8m overspend, ongoing pressures (particularly in Children’s Services), growing reserves, and key issues around savings, government settlement and financial resilience.

•         The Corporate Performance results for Q2, advising that the Council Plan was being refreshed to better align performance measures with objectives and noting that 97% of the Council Plan Workplan objectives had been completed.

•         The draft 2026/27 budget, outlining the Council’s improved financial position, funding settlement, proposed council tax approach, and significant investment priorities across services, communities, and growth.

•         The Community Cohesion Task and Finish Group draft final report

AGREED that the information provided be noted.

There were no urgent items.

The next meeting of the Children’s Scrutiny Panel was scheduled for Monday, 9 March 2026 at 4.30pm.