Agenda item

(To receive a report from Tara Jones, Head of Service - Children in Care Transformation and Partners in Practice Programme, which provides the Committee with an update on the Children in Care Transformation Programme)

The Chairman advised that this item provided the Committee with an update on the Children in Care Transformation Programme.  The Chairman invited Tara Jones, Head of Service – Children in Care Transformation and Partners in Practice, to present the report to the Committee.

The Committee noted that although Lincolnshire had a Children's Services system that was working well and a Children in Care Service which was rated outstanding, there was always more that could be done to improve outcomes for children and families.

In response to the impact of the pandemic on Children's Services the Transformation Programme had been developed, to provide additional resource and capacity to respond to these challenges.  The Committee was advised that the ambition of the Children in Care Transformation Programme was to ensure that the right help was being provided at the right time and for the right duration.

It was reported that the number of children in care as at January 2021 was 675.  The Committee noted that as a result of lockdown restrictions, there had been an increased use of out of County residential or independent fostering placements, as a number of in-house foster carers had been unable to offer placements to new children in care because of vulnerabilities in the household, self-isolations and shielding. 

The Committee noted that the Children in Care Transformation Programme strategic goals were:

·       To reduce the need for statutory intervention in families lives, by providing the right help to the right children at the right time and for the right duration.

·       To support families to come to their own solutions by focusing upon building networks which they have in place.

·       To improve outcomes for Children and Young People, by providing care locally within Lincolnshire rather than care at a distance to keep Children and Young People within their own communities where they can be close to their networks.

From the strategic goals, 6 work streams had been identified and agreed by the Executive Directorate Leadership Team and the Transformation Board, these were: Early Help Strategy; Practice Excellence; Valuing Care Approach; Re Think Fostering; Residential Capital; and Residential Reform.

Further details of the 6 work streams and the progress being made against each of the work streams was shown on pages 14 to 16 of the report pack.

During discussion, the Committee raised the following comments:

·       The innovative thinking of the Children in Care Transformation Programme;

·       The impact of Covid-19 on fostering provision.  The Committee noted that the pandemic had impacted on in-house fostering, not only in Lincolnshire but across the country; this had resulted in increased demand for placements.  In order to meet demand, some older children with more complex needs had to be catered for out of County.  Reassurance was given that all children placed were in placements that had been rated 'Good' or 'Outstanding' by Ofsted Regulators. The Committee noted that an external placement was one that was not a council placement; and some of the children externally placed could actually still be in Lincolnshire with external providers.  The Committee noted further that there had been an active internal fostering campaign and that the internal fostering provision was beginning to expand.  One member asked for some information relating to the number of children placed externally and those placed out of County.  Officers agreed to circulate some information to members of the Committee after the meeting;

·       Clarification was sought as to what 'Family Boot Camp' related to.  The Committee noted that this was part of Signs of Safety training, to help build a network of support of family and friends around the young person and the family so that they felt supported;

·       Foster carer support.  The Committee noted that there was a very strong network of support available to all foster carers; and that the result of a recent survey of foster carers had identified that 96% of foster carers felt fully supported and were happy with the quality of training provided.  The Committee noted that as part of the Re Think Fostering work stream, all foster carers would be receiving trauma awareness training.  The Committee noted further that most foster carers took children they were caring for on family holidays with them and that foster carers received additional financial support for Christmas, holidays and even through the pandemic, to ensure that all children have the same opportunities;

·       One member enquired whether the service would be able to meet the increase in the number of children in care, and whether there was sufficient resource for this to happen.  The Committee was advised that some of the increase had been as a result of some children not being able to exit care due to court service space.  The Committee was reassured that the situation was a temporary one; and that everything that could be was being done to expand foster caring and residential care in Lincolnshire;

·       The proportion of children in care in independent non-maintained provision, residential or IFA placements.  Page 14 of the report pack reported that as of the 31 March 2021, this figure was now over 10%.  As a result, this had placed considerable pressure on the Council's budget.  The Committee noted that sometimes providers were the preferred option as they were able to best meet the needs of the child.  It was noted further that due to demand the cost of placements had increased. The aim was to work towards decreasing the percentage back to 6%;

·       Increased number of new providers in the South Kesteven area.  Members noted that external providers were able to pay more and as a result foster carers were moving over to external providers. It was highlighted that the risk was that in paying more to compete, there was a risk in developing the market too far; and

·       Results of the survey relating to Early Help. The Committee was advised that 83 responses had been received from parents and carers and 109 responses had been received from partners.  Overall, there had been overwhelming support for Early Help, and some had suggested further changes to help make the pathway to Early Help easier to access.

RESOLVED

That the report be received and that the Committee has been assured of the purpose and progress of the Children in Care Transformation Programme.