Issue - meetings

[To receive the Wolverhampton Sufficiency Strategy 2017-2020: 2018-2019 Implementation Plan End of Year Report.]

Nick Price, Commissioning Officer presented the Wolverhampton Sufficiency Strategy 2017 – 2020: 2018 – 2019 Implementation report and highlighted salient points.

The report provided information on the position at the end of the Sufficiency Strategy Implementation Plan period of 2018 – 2019 and performance in relation to the Sufficiency Strategy Implementation Plan 2018 – 2019 priorities. It included proposals for changing the way that the Sufficiency Challenge element of the work is organised.

The report also provided a summary of the different types of placement and the associated costs and focused on the ‘right placement at the right time’.

It was reported that there had been an increase in fostering placements and an overall decrease in the number of children placed with parents. There were fewer internal placements recorded, however work was being carried out to increase this number. Numbers of young people in independent living placements had increased which was thought to be as a result of the increasing age profile.

The report offered an overview of the four challenges faced by the service, what had been working well and the plans that were in place to overcome the challenges. It was reported that there were many notable successes, such as that the Family Group Conferencing was working well and that there had been a net gain of 24 mainstream internal foster carers. In terms of key performance indicators, the majority of actions had been completed or were on track to be completed.

The work that had been carried out was commended as well as the services available to children and young people in care and care leavers. The Chair recounted a recent visit to Upper Pendeford Farm and reported that the establishment was very impressive.

Resolved:

That the Wolverhampton Sufficiency Strategy 2017 – 2020: 2018 – 2019 report be received.