Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from member of the Corporate Parenting Board Councillor Udey Singh.

Apologies were also received from Emma Bennett and Michelle Cummings.

There were no declarations of interest made relative to the items under consideration at the meeting.

[To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 8 July 2021 as a correct record.]

Resolved:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 8 July 2021 be confirmed as correct record and signed by the Chair.

[To consider any matters arising from the minutes of the meeting held on 8 July 2021.]

There were no matters arising from the minutes of the previous meeting.

[To receive the Schedule of Outstanding Matters.]

It was agreed to defer the item until the Corporate Parenting Officer returned to provide a fuller update. Fiona Brennan, Black Country and West Birmingham CCG provided a brief update on the Strategic Health Steering Group.

Resolved:

          To defer the item to the next meeting.

To receive the Update on Local Authority Children’s Home Provision report.]

Rachel King, Head of Specialist Support presented the Update on Local Authority Children’s Home Provision report and highlighted salient points. The report sought to inform Corporate Parenting Board of the Authority’s intention to undertake an ongoing review of residential provision to better understand the needs within the City and ensure that there is adequate provision to meet the needs of the most vulnerable and complex young people. It also outlined the recent decision to close Key to Inspiration and shared the rationale behind this decision.

Queries were raised around the status of the K2I building and how many staff members remained. It was noted that six members of staff remained whilst working out their notice periods. Once vacated, all confidential waste would be destroyed and any remaining furniture would be repurposed. Following this, the building would be released to Corporate Landlord as an asset. The asset management process would determine the future use for the building.

In response to a query around money released from this process, it was noted that monies would be used for commissioning places with external providers for children or young people in need of it. The Chair noted that suitability of placement for children and young people was more important than cost.

A query was raised in respect of turnover from residential to placement. Assurances were offered that it was a careful process during which lead-in visits to the young person in residential preceded placement, which was then followed up with continual contact during initial placement until this was no longer needed.

It was noted that the activity within the report had prompted an examination of the offer in Wolverhampton.

Resolved:

1.    That the update regarding local authority children’s home provision be received.

2.    That Corporate Parenting Board endorse the plans to undertake a review of residential provision to ensure the needs of children and young people in care can be met.

3.    That the recent decision to close Key to Inspiration Children’s Home be noted.

[To receive the Annual Health Report from Black Country and West Birmingham Clinical Commissioning Group.]

Fiona Brennan and Dr Stephanie Simon, Black Country and West Birmingham CCG, and Dr Wendy Harrison-Frazer of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) co-presented the Health Services for Children and Young People in Care Annual Report covering August 2020 – July 2021 and highlighted salient points.

The purpose of the report was to inform and assure members of the Corporate Parenting Board of activity and performance in relation to the health care of Wolverhampton’s Children and Young People in Care (CYPiC) wherever they are placed.

The report provided assurance that partners continued to strive to meet statutory requirements across the CCG and provider services and would demonstrate a model of continuous improvement.

The report consisted of Annual reports from Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust and (CAMHS) which had been merged by Black Country and West Birmingham Clinical Commissioning Group into one report.

The report was commended and the Board agreed all key areas of interest had been covered.

Resolved:

That the Health Services for Children and Young People in Care Annual Report August 2020 – July 2021 be received.

[To receive the Adoption Service Report for Adoption@Heart.]

Mark Tobin, Head of Service for Adoption@Heart presented the Adoption Service Report and highlighted salient points. The interim report detailed performance for Wolverhampton as well as for the partnership as a whole.

A query was raised around the disparity between people who had registered interest in adoption and those who had been approved. It was noted that this was common and it was thought that often people registering interest in the initial stages sometimes went to another agency.

It was queried whether Special Guardianship Orders (SGOs) had any impact on the adoption rate. It was noted that it did sometimes however other forms of permanence were always explored. It was agreed that data on SGOs would be collated and provided to Councillors.

In response to a query around where Adoption@Heart staff were based, it was reported that many worked from home unless a home visit was necessary and employees could access the Civic if required.

The work was commended by the Chair and it was acknowledged that the aim of the agency was to find families to suit the needs of the children and young people.

Resolved:

1.    That the Adoption Service Report for Adoption@Heart be received.

2.    That the progress made by the Regional Adoption Agency be noted.

3.    That Special Guardianship Order data be shared with Councillors.

[To receive the Performance Monitoring Information Report.]

Alison Hinds, Deputy Director of Social Care presented the Performance Monitoring Information Report and highlighted salient points. The report provided an update on service performance as at 31 May 2021. It was noted that health and adoption had been covered in two previous reports therefore the remaining points would be addressed.

It was noted that the number of children in care continued to reduce and the service continued to ensure that only the right children remained in care as well as strengthening opportunities to support children to remain with their families where appropriate. It was reported that Wolverhampton’s performance was on a par with statistical neighbours across the West Midlands.

Placement analysis showed stability of placements in a positive light as the service sought to keep children’s placements with other close family members where possible. The Family Values programme provided high quality support to foster carers where it was not possible to place a child with family or friends.

Up to date assessments and reviews also showed a strong performance improving on previous years. Children and young people’s participation in reviews was almost at 100% which was very positive.

In terms of education, there was a great deal of work going into ensuring children had up to date personal education plans (PEPs) across all ages. There was some more focused work required around years 12 and 13 however there was a positive overall picture.

It was acknowledged that improvements in recording dental checks were ongoing.

Accommodation continued to perform well. There was a slight downturn in care leavers available for work however this was a reflection of the national picture around employment in general.

Resolved:

That the Performance Monitoring Information Report be received.

[That in accordance with section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business as they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information falling within paragraph 2 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.]

Resolved:

That in accordance with Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972 the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business as it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information contained in paragraph 2 of the Act, namely information that is likely to reveal the identity to an individual.

[To receive verbal feedback on any visits to establishments undertaken by Councillors since the last meeting.]

It was reported that virtual visits to establishments had been attempted but been unsuccessful. It was now possible to arrange in person visits and Councillors Stephanie Haynes and Councillor Wendy Dalton expressed an interest. All Councillors were invited to contact either Alice Vickers or Michelle Cummings to express an interest to visit. It was noted that this could be arranged but to be mindful that only individual visits were possible.

Resolved:

That individual visits to establishments would be arranged for any Councillors expressing an interest.