Agenda item

The recommendations to be submitted to the Executive were:

a)    That the sustained efforts being made to reduce the number of children looked after in Middlesbrough, in line with our regional statistical neighbours, be supported and that the performance scorecard being reported to LMT on a six-weekly basis in relation to this indicator be shared with the Panel on a quarterly basis. 

b)    That a specific piece of work be undertaken to establish why a high percentage of children (15.1%) become looked after at birth and that this work includes performance information and exploration of whether further interventions can be put in place to reduce this figure.  If appropriate, a set of performance indicators should be identified to monitor improvement over the next year in the first instance.

c)     That analysis be undertaken to identify any potential gaps in child protection provision in the more ethnically diverse wards and further work be undertaken to provide assurance that the statistical under representation/over representation of children of different ethnicities being looked after by the local authority aligns with the level of need amongst these groups.

d)    That work be undertaken to identify how the provision of Early Help can be increased in North Ormesby, (subject to further analysis and if this remains appropriate), and that the recommendations put forward by the Children and Young People’s Social Care Scrutiny Panel in its Final Report on ‘Locality Working from a Children’s Services Perspective’ regarding further assessment of demand and the number of Early Help workers assigned to the areas, be taken forward. 

e)    That the sustained efforts to increase the number of children being placed in an in-house foster placement be continued and that the targets established remain a key priority indicator for the service and performance be regularly reported to the Panel.

f)      The Panel appreciated the challenges faced by the service in relation to the recruitment and retention of Foster Carers and the continuous efforts being made to increase in-house Foster Carer provision. The Panel recommended that additional feedback is sought from Foster Carers leaving Middlesbrough’s Fostering Service to ensure that the information gained through the satisfaction surveys is fully utilised to focus on continuing improvement in this area.

g)    The Panel noted that there is currently very little advertising across the town to indicate that Middlesbrough Council needs and wants more people to become in-house foster carers. The Panel recommended that the work to increase the number of in-house foster carers continues with pace and focus on additional advertising and marketing which should be analysed to improve awareness of the continuous need for more people to become in-house foster carers.

h)    The Panel acknowledged the improvements in the reduction of the use of Connected Carer Placements and Placements with Parents, however, it remains an area for improvement, and it is recommended that performance data is regularly presented to the panel in respect of these elements.

AGREED that the findings and recommendations of the Children and Young People’s Social Care Scrutiny Panel be endorsed and referred to the Executive.