Agenda, decisions and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from County Borough Councillors P Evans and S Hickman.

To receive disclosures of personal interest from Members in accordance with the Code of Conduct

Note:

1.    Members are requested to identify the item number and subject matter that their interest relates to and signify the nature of the personal interest: and

2.    Where Members withdraw from a meeting as a consequence of the disclosure of a prejudicial interest they must notify the Chairman when they leave.

In accordance with the Council’s Code of Conduct, the following declarations were made pertaining to the agenda.

Ø  Item 3 – Councillor G Caple – “I am a governor of the Virtual Schools”.

Ø  Item 3 – Councillor R Lewis – “I am a governor of the Virtual Schools”.

Item 6 – Councillor S Rees – “I represent RCT’s executive as a member of the adoption panel in the VVC of the Fostering and Adoption Service”.

To approve, as an accurate record, the minutes of the last meeting of the Corporate Parenting Board held on 18^th November 2024.

To approve as an accurate record, the minutes of the meeting of the Corporate Parenting Board held on the 18^th November 2024.

To receive an update on the evaluation of the school cluster model for the Pupil Development Grant for Looked After Children (PDG LAC) funding during the financial year 2023/24 in Rhondda Cynon Taf.

The Virtual Headteacher explained that the purpose of the report was to provide Corporate Parenting Board (CPB) with an overview of the evaluation of the school cluster model for the Pupil Development Grant for Children Looked After (PDG CLA) funding during the financial year 2023/2024 in Rhondda Cynon Taf. The Virtual Headteacher then took CPB through the report, starting with the background at Section 4, Funding Allocation 2023-24 at Section 5, and Evaluation of the PDG CLA Cluster Model approach, at Section 6.

There were no questions from Members.

The Chair stated that it was a good report and bringing reports in line with the financial year, would be helpful. He acknowledged that the initiative was strengthening and evolving, so it really was making a difference to people’s lives.

Following consideration of the report, the Corporate Parenting Board

RESOLVED to:

1.     Consider the information contained within this report.

2.     Scrutinise and comment on the information provided.

3.     Consider whether they wish to receive a further report to evaluate the PDG CLA cluster model for 2024/25.

4.     Consider whether future reports relating to PDG CLA can be brought further in line with the financial year. For example reporting on PDG CLA 2024-2025 in the Autumn

To receive a presentation in relation to CTMUHB CAMHS update and future plans.

The Senior Nurse Manager Community CAMHS took Members through a PowerPoint Presentation on the CTMUHB CAMHS update and future plans including slides on what the service had done since 2010, learning from recent concerns and future plans in line with the HIW/CIW/Estyn report.

A Member acknowledged that the service was very necessary and noting the increase call on services asked how the future was planned for and how a pro-active model of care, rather than a reactive model of care, could be found.

The Senior Nurse Manager Community CAMHS clarified that the neurodevelopmental services e.g., assessments for ASD, ADHD, Tourette’s, etc., was now a separate service, but acknowledged that the mental health of some children and young people appeared to be deteriorating especially following COVID e.g., anxiety and eating disorders. Moving forward it was about prevention, with a clear focus to promote a child population of resilient children, so it is about getting that information out there e.g., prevention with SHINE (ScHools INreach Emotional) wellbeing service, which was key to moving forward with that preventative model.

A Member recognising that there was something in place in schools, e.g., family support officers and resilient families, asked if this was the sort of start which needed elaboration.

The Senior Nurse Manager Community CAMHS agreed that resilient families was key to the emotional wellbeing of children and young people, and it was about linking those things up and targeting everything you do within the school, for the school, the staff and the parents and the young person to function to be able to learn. She reassured the Member that SHINE had access to every single school and special school, in the CTM footprint, so CAMHS as a statutory service was in every single school and special school.

The Director of Children’s Services acknowledged that the single point of contact for CAMHS and children’s services, which were overwhelmed. The way support was provided was important e.g., avoiding situations where families are overwhelmed with numbers of professionals seeking to help by saying different things. CPB Members were advised that the Regional Partnership Board was working towards bringing a proposal that had been tried and known as a Single Point of Access for Children's Emotional wellbeing (SPACE) panel that brought these two areas together. The Director of Children’s Services acknowledged that is was about working towards recognising that there were no new resources here, despite more demand, so it was about coming together as one coordinated system of support for families, so resources and expertise were used as well as possible.

The Director of Children’s Services suggested that future reports from CAHMS could focus on the written offer to care experienced people, their carers and care leavers and publishing information about how they could access support and felt it would be helpful at some point for CPB to invite the Neurodiversity Improvement Plan Coordinator to present their work, given that the representation of adopted children and care experienced young people in that cohort was sometimes explicable  ...  view the full minutes text for item 36.

To receive information about the progress of the Magu service since its implementation in May 2023.

The Magu Team Practice and Performance Manager explained that the purpose of the report was to provide Corporate Parenting Board (CPB) with information about the progress of MAGU service since its implementation in May 2023, before taking CPB Members through the highlights at section 4.

There were no questions from Members.

CPB Members agreed that this was a brilliant initiative, which had shown such positive results early on, with acknowledgment of how many fathers were involved and how good it was to see children staying with their birth parents. It was hoped in the long term this would take pressure off some of the key services as a local authority. CPB Members put on record their thanks to the staff involved.

Following consideration of the report, the Corporate Parenting Board RESOLVED to:

1.     Note the information contained within the report.

To receive the Regional Adoption Collaboration Annual Report.

The Director of Children’s Services explained that the purpose of the report was to provide CPB with information in respect of the performance of the Regional Adoption Collaboration (RAC) Board. Members were informed that this was a detailed report that was required by regulation, and the Director of Children’s Services took CPB through the key features with particular relevance to Rhondda Cynon Taf (RCT), recognising that the report covered data across the full region, including Cardiff, VOG, RCT and Merthyr Tydfil.

A Member asked what the Director’s thoughts were on the Welsh Early Permanence (WEP) policy and whether she thought it would attract more adopters with the possibility of young babies being placed with them more attractive, although recognising it had its risks.

The Director of Children’s Services stated she was pleased about the Welsh Early Permanence (WEP) policy proposal, whilst acknowledging nothing was risk free.  What was positive was that the risk was not with the baby and their attachment, it was the foster carer who would seek to become an adopter, who carried that risk, recognising that having met some WEP carer adopters, that they are prepared for that. She continued that as more was learnt about modern adoption it was recognised how helpful it was to the stability of the relationships, so much better equipped to support the child through the whole journey of a lifetimes questions and queries.

A Member acknowledged a report which had gone to the Overview and Scrutiny committee on the legacy of the RCT National Eisteddfod, noted an increase in Foster carers, and asked if there would be any feedback from that.

The Director of Children’s Services advised she would be happy to bring an update back to CPB so more could be learned about the Foster Wales area. It was noted that whilst adoption and fostering were two different things, what had been learned from WEP was that the best adoptions take place when the foster carers and the adopters have had that valuable relationship that promotes a detailed understanding of the child. So there would be a piece of working going on to see where the synergies lie and what benefits there might be around attracting campaigns that bring together the two types of carers.

The Chair thanked the Director for the report acknowledging that this was another vital service delivered on a regional basis.

Following consideration of the report, the Corporate Parenting Board RESOLVED to:

1.     Note the information.

To receive a progress update on the Implementation of the Corporate Parenting Board Pledge for RCT.

The Organisational Change and Transformation Officer, Children’s Services explained that the purpose of the report was to provide CPB with the progress achieved in the last quarter, in taking forward the Pledge’s 7 key priorities.  The Organisational Change and Transformation Officer then provided CPB Members with an update on each of the key priorities, before concluding that some progress had been made in implementing the priorities of the pledge, but CPB Members would note that it was ongoing and clearly there was further action required, but something that was very much being worked towards.

Chair – great that we are progressing with the Charter. It is a shame we can’t change the name of CPB, it must sound very officious to youngsters but it is laid down in statute so we can’t change the name, but it is important we engage with youngsters, and even invite them onto the board and hear their views, but we get told as a board the many views of youngers and we are very supportive.

Cllr Jones – as a newbie to the board, when you see what’s going on from all the reports that have come in today, it is amazing the amount of respect and such delicate and sensitive natures of the work that is going on here to see how proactive every department, every speaker today, and all the reports, and it’s so delicate and things can go wrong at the flick of a switch but it’s great to see the departments are so proactive and always looking to improve and never standing still and always looking for what better and how much more support to be given to the people out there who really need it, the young people and babies and I just wanted to bring that up and I don’t know if it is the right time but it’s just amazing to see it and I wish more Cllrs could have the privilege of getting onto this board to see exactly what is going on.

Chair – I think you absolutely right Cllr Jones, Social Services are the unsung heroes and when things go wrong their in the press or on TV, but a lot of things go right and they really do what to effect peoples lives from the cradle to the grave, particularly youngster to grow up and fulfil their ambitions.

Following consideration of the report, the Corporate Parenting Board RESOLVED to:

1.     Consider and comment on the information contained within the report.

To receive the Tros Gynnal Plant (TGP) Cymru quarterly progress report.

Tros Gynnal Plant provided the Corporate Parenting Board with a progress update for the quarter 2 period, which covered July 2024 – September 2024.

Members were informed that, during the period, 25 CE young people, including one Care Leaver, accessed Issue Based Advocacy (IBA), presenting with 32 issues. 7 were accessing IBA for the first time. 16 CE young people became eligible for the Active Offer (AO), and 8 AO referrals were received, and 7 young people went on to receive IBA. 5 of the CE young people became eligible in the same quarter and 1 in a previous quarter. 5 of the 16 young people who became eligible via the CLA pathway were recorded as rejecting the opportunity to receive the AO. 31% of eligible CE young people were referred in Q2, with 50% referred for the AO. At least 81% of CE young people had the conversation about the AO.

Members learned that, during the period, the most popular issues in need of advocacy support related to placement followed by social services issues.  7 unaccompanied asylum seeking young people were referred for the IBA in Q2 and supported with 10 issues.7 young people presented with contact issues. Self-referral is the most popular route into the IBA service. Visiting Advocacy continues in 4 LA community homes monthly as well as starting at Catref Mynydd and Willowford House. No visits were carried out in Nantgwyn, although the Officer provided further clarity around this. The consultation which had been postponed, would take place over the next few weeks.

The Officer provided a conclusion and a look forward, before providing CPB Members with a case study, which provided an example of advocacy work undertaken during the quarter.

The Chair acknowledged this was another great service and welcomed the case studies, which demonstrated that this worked.

Following consideration of the report, the Corporate Parenting Board RESOLVED:

1.     To acknowledge the work undertaken by TGP Cymru.

“That the press and public be excluded from the meeting under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act, 1972 (as amended) for the next item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 13 of Part 4 of Schedule 12A of the Act.”

It was RESOLVED that the press and public be excluded from the meeting under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act (as amended) for the following items of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of the exempt information as defined in paragraph 14 of Part 4 of the Schedule 12A of the Act.

To receive an update in relation to the Children Looked After: Residential Care Strategy 2022 – 2027.

The Director of Children’s Services provided the Corporate Parenting Board with information about children in settings known as Operating without Registration (OWR), and Children’s Services plans for supporting those children, and ending those arrangements.

Following consideration of the exempt report, the Corporate Parenting Board RESOLVED:

1.   to acknowledge the information contained within the report; and

to receive subsequent reports until such time as there are no OWR situations for Rhondda Cynon Taf looked after young people.