Agenda item

(To receive a report from Ben Lilley, Team Manager Quality and Standards, which provides a summary and overview of activities with regard to V4C between October and December 2019)

Consideration was given to a report which provided a summary and overview of activities with regard to V4C between October and December 2019.  V4C was Lincolnshire's Children in Care Council with the aim being to share experiences of being looked after in Lincolnshire and to inform teams who support Looked After children what does and does not work for them.  V4C meetings were held within Children's Services locality quadrants and were delivered by Senior Youth and Community Development Workers and supported by Children's Services Participation Officers.

The report also provided the Corporate Parenting panel with an update with regard to the planning and progress that had taken place to develop V4C in terms of utilising new and alternative venues and activities to those that had been historically used.

Members were guided through the report and 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:

·         The overall message was that there had been attendances across the whole county on an ongoing basis.  There had been 100 attendances over this reporting period which was the first time that numbers had reached treble figures.

·         Anecdotal evidence suggested that there had been increased interest from the flyers which had been produced.

·         It was commented that it was positive how quickly the attendance had turned around, and thanks were extended to the Team for their work on this.

·         It was noted that the budget was so far ok for this financial year, and there was a little flexibility with some of the other participation budgets if required.

·         In terms of the variety of different activities that were being arranged, it was confirmed that they were all risk assessed prior to the events taking place.

·         It was commented that the increase in attendances was very positive, and as soon as the meetings were moved from the youth centre space, people were more interested in attending.

·         It was reported that there was interest from young people wanting to attend events in different areas to their own.

·         It was highlighted that if any Panel members wanted to attend one of these meetings then officers would let them know when they were being held.

·         It was commented that the increased attendances must have revitalised the team, and it confirmed that it had as it had enabled youth workers to deliver different activities in different places and helped them to better understand their geographical areas.

·         It as queried what the Designated Teacher Conference was, and the Panel was advised that every school had a teacher responsible for Looked After Children or previously Looked After Children, and each year a conference was held which they were invited to attend.

·         It was suggested that with young people wanting to attend events outside their area, whether having a big group event had been considered, possibly on the coast.  The Panel was advised that the Big Conversation would bring everyone together three times per year, but a big event could be considered. 

RESOLVED

            That the report be noted and the Team thanked for their work in increasing the attendances.