Issue - meetings

[To endorse the Independent Reviewing Officer Annual Report 2018 – 2019.]

Mandy Lee, Safeguarding Manager for Children and Nicola Hale, Principal Independent Reviewing Officer presented the Independent Reviewing Officer [IRO] Annual Report 2018 – 2019. The report provided an outline of the activity of the service, the impact for children and the recommendations for service improvement that had been developed to enhance young people’s experiences.

It was reported that there was a stable and experienced team of IROs in place and caseloads had decreased in line with the reduction in numbers of children and young people in care, allowing officers to focus on individual children and cases.

It was noted that children had been continuing to be involved in their reviews. There had been a small reduction in the percentage of participants since last year from 95% to 94% however this figure had not reduced by much so there were no serious concerns.

It was noted that in order to encourage participation, more creative alternative methods of conducting reviews were being offered, particularly in cases where service users were choosing not to engage with the Authority. It was reported that new consultation forms have been developed, which are briefer and simpler and a tailored consultation was being developed for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities. It was clarified that a record of observations was to be captured for infants who were too young to participate during review appointments.

Concerns were raised around whether further investigations followed if a child or parent persistently chose not to participate in the reviews. Assurances were given that alternative methods were offered at first and if those were exhausted, an audit was undertaken to establish reasons for the lack of engagement.

It was queried whether children and young people had an electronic method of communicating their thoughts on the review process. It was noted that open conversation was encouraged although it was stated that there had been a digital platform, Mind of My Own (MOMO), which also made this possible if preferred. It was reported that the MOMO scheme was to be replaced in December with a new system which was being developed in consultation with the Children in Care Council. This was to be known as the Consultation Hub and it was planned to launch this with a new website. It was felt by officers that it was important to establish good relationships with children in care and project the clear message that they could express how they felt at any time. 

It was suggested that a possible factor for lack of engagement may be that, particularly in cases where trauma had been experienced prior to entering care, children may not want to revisit unpleasant memories by their repeated retelling.

In respect of a written invitation being issued to children aged seven and over, it was suggested that a less formal method could be used.

Resolved:

That the Independent Reviewing Officer [IRO] Annual Report 2018 – 2019 be endorsed.