Agenda item
Annual Corporate Parenting Report 2017/18
The committee is asked to consider the Annual Corporate Parenting Report 2017/18.
Minutes:
Mr Nigel Chapman (Operational Director, Integration & Improved Outcomes, Children & Young People) gave a profile of Brent’s looked after children and care leavers during 2017-2018. He reported on annual activity, highlighting strengths and areas for development in supporting looked after children (LAC) and care leavers in Brent. Members noted that not only had the delivery of both the Adoption and Fostering Services been monitored by Committee members, statutory adoption service reports including the Adoption Panel activity had been scrutinised on a 6-monthly basis. He drew members’ attention to participation of children and young people, and care leavers and added that all LAC and care leavers were visited regularly at their placements or homes and their wishes, feelings and views clearly recorded on their electronic case files.
He then detailed the profiles of LAC in Brent. As of 31st March 2018 Brent had 318 children and young people looked after, which represented 42 LAC per 10,000 head of child population against the rate for England of 62 per 10,000 head of child population. There had been a reduction in number of unaccompanied asylum seeking children (UASC) - 18 fewer UASC in 2017/18 compared to 2016/17. Brent’s UASC numbers have gradually decreased due to the number of new arrivals exceeded by those turning 18, as well as improvements to the government’s national dispersal system. Despite lower number of UASC, Brent’s overall number of children in care remained consistent compared to the previous year. Brent Children and Young People’s Services continued to undertake effective prevention work, using Brent’s Practice Framework including Signs of Safety to support children to remain within their families when it was safe to do so. The gender of the LAC population consists of 63% male and 37% female.
He continued that whilst there had been a reduction in number of LAC from White UK and Asian backgrounds, there had been a slight increase of children who were Black or Black British, though the figures were comparable with data from statistical neighbours. Members heard that although some improvement had been achieved around placement stability, this area remained a high priority for this reporting year.
Mr Chapman then reported on the statutory duty on the Council to undertake health checks including dental and immunisations for LAC who had been in care for more than 12 months. A slight reduction on the previous year’s health assessment position was reported which Mr Chapman added would be a focus of attention of the Service.
Missing from care was known to increase the vulnerability of LAC and in the year ending 31st March 2018, 75 LAC were reported to be missing from their placements (120 in the previous year). This difference was partly related to Brent’s sharpened approach in the recording of missing activity and also effective work undertaken with vulnerable adolescents both strategically and operationally using a contextual safeguarding approach which focused on understanding and responding to young people's experiences of significant harm in a range of social contexts such as friendships and peer relationships.
He referenced the work of Brent’s multi-agency Vulnerable Adolescents’ Panel that had a strategic overview of different forms of vulnerability including children missing from home or care. The Panel also ensured that the needs of vulnerable adolescents were understood at a strategic level in order to develop and improve services through an action plan. Research showed that children missing from care were at further risk of exploitation and risks experienced by young people.
The Multi Agency Sexual Exploitation Panel (MASE Panel) was a multi-agency forum which was established to ensure robust multi-agency plans were in place for the protection of children who were at high risk of sexual exploitation. This included looked after children and young people.
The educational outcomes for looked after children for the academic year 2017/18 would not be available until January 2019. The data presented in this report refers to Brent Virtual School’s Annual Report 2016/17 which was discussed at the Corporate Parenting Committee on 26th April 2018. He then highlighted the annual report from the Brent Virtual School.
In welcoming the annual report, members questioned the commitment of the Police on the MASE Panel and enquired as to what further resources would be required, going forward, in order to address the wider ramifications of the Panel’s work. Mr Chapman responded that the challenges arose from greater demand and that under the new model involving Barnet, Brent and Harrow, there had been no impact on the Police’s commitment to the work of the Panel.
RESOLVED:
That the annual corporate parenting report 2017/18 be noted.
Supporting documents:
- Annual Corporate Parenting Report, item 8. PDF 2 MB
- Appendix 1 - Brent care pledge, item 8. PDF 326 KB
- Appendix 2 - Brent care leaver's charter, item 8. PDF 859 KB
- Appendix 3 - LBBrent Leaving Care Offer, item 8. PDF 121 KB