Agenda item

This report fulfils the Council’s statutory obligation to present an annual report to the Corporate Parenting Committee (CPC) on outcomes for Looked After Children and care leavers, in line with The Care Planning, Placement and Case Review Regulations (2010). The report provides a summary of the activity alongside with strengths and areas for growth in supporting looked after children and care leavers in Brent.

Onder Beter (Head of LAC and Permanency, Brent Council) introduced the report, which primarily detailed the activity the Corporate Parenting Committee had observed and monitored throughout the year and which was a statutory requirement that local authorities needed to comply with publishing. He highlighted the key points within the report, including the increase in LAC numbers of 18.4% compared to the previous year. The report also detailed the increased number of Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children (UASCs). There had also been an increase in the number of young people the Council were supporting between the ages of 18-25 years old. In terms of the profile of LAC, 44% were 16 and above. This meant there would be a growing number of care leavers in the next few years. He highlighted the importance of this as there would be additional financial pressure on the Council going forward. In terms of the reasons for the increase in demand, one was due to the Home Office placing a significant number of asylum seeking adults in 3 hotels in Brent, some of whom came forward to say they were under 18 and were subsequently assessed to be children and accommodated. The Council had also noticed an increase in demand for Children Services post Covid-19 restrictions.

Priorities for the current reporting year (2022-23) were detailed in the report.

The Committee highlighted that many UASCs had very specific needs, and asked how the Council were delivering on that with the increase in numbers. The Committee were advised there were specific programmes designed to meet the emotional wellbeing needs of UASCs. The Council had a commissioned service operated by the Anna Freud Centre called ‘West’ working directly with UASCs. Specialist CAMHS was available also, and while there were high waiting lists they were focusing a particular interest in UASC. The adult mental health teams had also offered bespoke mental health support for people from Afghanistan. Some money had been secured through the Council to put in place a bespoke programme of support for UASCs, starting at the end of September, and focusing particularly on former UASC (who are now care leavers) who would not meet the threshold for adult mental health services and did not engage with online counselling. The Committee were reminded that the support to looked after children, care leavers and UASCs had been considered a strength by Ofsted in the 2018 inspection.

Nigel Chapman (Operational Director Integration and Improved Outcomes, Brent Council) advised the Committee there was good ESOL provision in secondary schools and colleges, as learning English was the first thing a lot of young people arriving wanted.

The Committee acknowledged the data which suggested there would be more care leavers over time, and felt it was a difficult time for young people to become independent with the cost of living crisis. They queried how Brent was doing compared to other councils in relation to the degree of support offered to care leavers. Onder Beter advised the Committee that Brent had a comprehensive local offer, as authorised by the Corporate Parenting Committee. There were a number of statutory requirements as well as discretionary Council offers to care leavers. Currently the Association for London Directors of Children’s Services were looking to create a London-wide offer for care leavers, which would also look at the possibility of piloting the free bus passes Wales were currently piloting. Brent Council had recently upgraded its offer with additional benefits including gym and leisure activity for looked after children and care leavers. Brent was also one of the first councils who exempted care leavers from paying council tax.

RESOLVED:

i)              To note the report.