Agenda item

(To receive a report from John Harris, Children's Services Manager - Regulated (North and Fostering), which provides the Corporate Parenting Panel with an overview of the fostering service)

Consideration was given to a report which informed the Corporate Parenting Pan4el of the work of the Fostering Service for the year 2018/2019 in accordance with the requirements of the Care Standards Act 2000, Fostering Services 2011 and Fostering National Minimum Standards.  The report provided a written summary of the Service, including relevant performance data, achievements and areas for development.

It was reported that Standard 25 of the National Minimum Standards required that the Fostering Service was effectively monitored, including the provision of quarterly written reports and annual service report.  The report identified the successes of the Fostering Service and outlined the challenges it was facing.

The Panel was advised that it had been an interesting year in fostering, and a significant amount of work had taken place in preparation for the Ofsted inspection.  There were currently 614 Looked After Children, which was a slight reduction on previous years.  It was reported that part of the success was due to the number of children who were matched and placed in permanent placements, as well as the ability to place large sibling groups.

There was a need for caution as nationally and regionally it was very difficult to recruit foster carers, so it was important that the authority did not become complacent.  There were 28 approvals for foster carers the previous year.  However, there were a number who had recently decided to cease fostering.  But, officers were reassured when looking at the reasons for leaving, that they were not going to a more competitive agency.

Members of the Panel were provided with the opportunity to ask questions to the officers present in relation to the information contained within the report and some of the points raised during discussion included the following:

·         It was noted that Ofsted had given an excellent report of the fostering services at Lincolnshire County Council, but it was queried what the services were like from the perspective of a foster carer.  It was commented, by a foster carer, that from her personal experience she had been very well supported and was aware of Caring2Learn (although she was not involved).  The experience of supervising social workers had always been positive.  She had met a lot of potential foster carers, and fostering was a huge task, as there were so many skills and requirements needed.  The support groups and focus groups were invaluable.  There was a need to build up a support network of wider foster carers.  Whilst her experience had been good, she knew there were other foster carers who had found it more difficult.

·         It was accepted that there would always be 'bumps' in the road for foster carers, but recruitment and retention were a concern.  It was noted that recruitment was a national issue, and authorities were 9000 households short across the country.  It was a serious challenge.  Over the last couple of years, Lincolnshire had lost people with a significant amount of experience, however this had often been due to tragic life events or they had been foster carers for many years.  Officers were reassured from the exit interviews that those that chose to leave were not doing so due to a lack of support from LCC.  It was also noted that the average age of a foster carer was high, and the challenge was to encourage more younger people to become foster carers.

·         It was queried whether it was possible to put inserts into County News advertising for foster carers.  The Panel was advised that the recruitment strategy was wide reaching and varied, and included targeting the big employers, magazines, it did not rely on social media.  There were also face to face recruitment events.

·         It was noted that the previous Friday, there had been a session for dual hatted councillors on 'Corporate Parenting across the Districts', and it was reported that 28 councillors had attended, which was a very good turnout.

·         There was still work to do with big employers, although some would allow time off if a foster child was ill, as they would for an employee's own child.  It was noted that this was something which would be discussed with the district councils.

·         The performance measures for placement stability were explained to the Panel, in relation to what was measured as a 'move' which included a child going from home to foster placement, or from a foster placement back home.  It was not necessarily a move between foster placements.  The Panel was advised that placement stability in Lincolnshire was good, and it was the way that the calculation was done which was mis-leading.

·         It was queried whether the Panel could have a presentation on understanding placement stability and the relationship between movements and breakdowns.

·         Every child that was placed with a family became a Looked After Child.

·         It was noted that there were 641 Looked After Children, and was queried what happened to those children who were not in foster care, or under a Special Guardianship Order.  Members were advised that some were in children's homes, some would be in a placement with their parent(s) but would remain as LAC before going back to the courts to discharge the order.  Some would also be unaccompanied asylum seeking children.

·         It was queried whether the only contingency the authority had if there were not enough fosterers was to go to private fosterers.  The Panel was advised that the starting point when placing a child was always the family, relatives or connected persons.  However, sometimes the size of the sibling group or the trauma experienced by the child made it difficult to place some children.  All of the community and family that was appropriate for the child would be considered. 

·         It was confirmed that there were only 22 children who were in external provision.  Eight of those were unaccompanied asylum seeking children.  It was highlighted that Lincolnshire children should stay in Lincolnshire where possible.

·         It was noted that there were other options available for 16 – 18 year olds, such as supported accommodation.

RESOLVED

1.    That the Fostering Annual Report and Statement of Purpose be received.

2.    That the Fostering Annual Report and Statement of Purpose for 2018/19 be recommended for approval.