Agenda, decisions and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from County Borough Councillor R Lewis.

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 personal declarations were provided:

County Borough Councillor S Rees – Item 7 – '14 years ago, I worked for CIW’.

To approve, as an accurate record, the minutes of the last meeting of the Corporate Parenting Board held on 17^th July 2024.

To approve as an accurate record, the minutes of the meeting of the Corporate Parenting Board held on the 17^th July 2024.

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 advised that following endorsement of the Corporate Parenting Pledge for RCT by Cabinet in April 2024, CPB Members were being asked to consider proposals to further strengthen the Council Pledge to care experienced young people. The Officer then took CPB Members through the background of the report, advising that there was active discussions in Wales amongst Local Authorities regarding the benefits and disadvantage of recognising ‘care experienced’ as a protected characteristic before summarising the Children’s Commissioner for England’s arguments, for and against care experience as a protected characteristic.

Members were informed that in Wales, the Welsh Government (WG) had tasked councils to strengthen their CPB’s pledge to care experienced young people, with RCT Council recognising the importance of diversity and equality and is committed to reducing the impact of discrimination. A small working group of Council Officers had met to discuss the information contained within the report and agree proposed next steps. Members were informed that there are legal issues relating to protected characteristics that cannot come into play where something is not protected in law, so the Council was not looking to ‘treat care experience as if it were a protected characteristic’, but would advocate undertaking the actions, which were listed, linked to implementation of the CPB Pledge to begin to address the disadvantages care experienced young people may face.

The Officer then highlighted the CPB Pledge Implementation progress at 3.6, before updating CPB Members on the progress achieved to date in taking forward the Pledge’s 7 key priorities and the ongoing work. The Officer then concluded by highlighting the next steps.

A Member asked how employment training for children with disabilities was moving forward.

The Officer explained that there was an offer in relation to that and would provide the Member with specific details.

A Member acknowledged in relation to understanding the protected characteristics, that the information had been helpful regarding the work already done which clearly outlined the benefits or disadvantages, and that the suggestions for the way forward, particularly the work being done in Swansea in relation to Podcasts.

The Chair acknowledging the summary report, felt that it was all about accommodation, a stable home, housing, education, disability (all those things) which came into the mix and how that was put into the pledge.

The Officer acknowledged that there was no easy answer, and it was about trying to find the best way forward but agreed it was very much about  accommodation, a stable home, housing, education, disability, etc., were implemented and delivered on, that would be the transforming factors, so it was important to get that right, as well as the whole Council understanding that everyone was a Corporate Parent and once that was clearly understood that would help in taking that forward.

A Member acknowledging the next steps at 12.1 felt that taking them forward individually was a good idea.

The Director of Children’s Services noted the thoughtful comments from CPB, acknowledging the internal debate around  ...  view the full minutes text for item 16.

To receive information about Children’s Services’ progress with the Children Looked After Prevention Strategy 2021 – 2024.

The Director of Children’s Services explained that this was an update report, since the last report in June 2023, advising that when the strategy was set back in 2021, what was sought to do was to harness every potential possibility in making sure the right services were available for families particularly at the edge of care, knowing that prevention had become an umbrella term. Whilst in favour of prevention services, further reports would be brought at some point, around early help and resilient families but this was particularly around those families that received the most intensive support to stay together to prevent entry to the care system. Members were then taken through the report including the key points from the background at paragraphs 4.1, 4.3 and 4.4 and the graph at 4.5, highlighting that the LA had shifted position, in terms of the comparative data, and hoped that when the strategy was revisited and re-set some of the reconfiguration work around reunification would see a shifting of position again. Members were then taken through the strategy progress update at 4.6.

The Director of Children’s Services acknowledged that these were difficult financial times, referring to the implications at paragraph 8, and that resources for the whole council were lower than they once were, so the duty was on demonstrating effectiveness, before concluding that some real benefits from working this way had been seen and the Director of Children’s Services would like to review this area of strategy and build on it again, acknowledging that some successes had been seen and was hoping there was further to go in that area.

The Chair acknowledged it was important that services for children transform, to reflect changes in society. The Chair liked the use of the model that utilises the acronym of RCT to highlight the three key pillars of practice e.g., Relationships, Collaboration and being Trauma Informed and the shift of culture from keeping children safe to keeping families together unless it was unsafe for a child, and all of this needs a change in culture by social services and I think this is what this report does.

There were no questions from Members.

The Chair concluded that CPB looked forward to feedback early in the new year.

The Corporate Parenting Board RESOLVED:

1.    to note the information.

to ask questions in line with the duties and role of Corporate Parenting Board Members.

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 1 period, which covered April - June 2024. Members were informed that in quarter one, 21 CE young people accessed IBA, including one Care Leaver, and 12 CE young people were referred for the AO, and increase in both cohorts, compared to quarter four. In respect of the AO referrals, 23 CE young people became eligible for the AO, and 12 referrals were received. 11 AO meetings were held, and 8 young people went on to receive  Issue Based Advocacy (IBA). Six of the 12 CE young people referred for AO in quarter one became eligible for AO in the same quarter whilst four became eligible in the previous quarter. This means 26% of eligible CE young people were referred in quarter one, although we know at least 78% of those eligible had a conversation with their social worker about advocacy.

In terms of IBA Advocacy Issues, the most popular issue in need of advocacy support in quarter one was again ‘placement’ followed by social services issues. Most young people presenting with placement issues had issues with rules or relationships in placement or wanted to move somewhere else. In terms of Referral Source, ‘Self-referral’ and Social Services referrals continue to be the most popular route into the service and self-referral is usually either the result of the young person accepting the AO and going on to receive IBA, or the young person contacting their advocate directly with a new issue.

As in the previous quarter, most young people accessing IBA referrals were aged between 12 and 16, and although an increase of young people aged over the age of 17, accessing IBA in quarter 1, was observed. In terms of other information, 2 CE young people with ALN were referred for IBA in quarter 1, and IBA was also provided to unaccompanied asylum-seeking young people, who were being supported to access advocacy in the language of their choice. Residential Visiting Advocacy (RVA) continued in five Local Authority community homes across RCT with the new advocate adding Willowford House and Cartref Mynydd to his visiting list and plan a review of the service which would include consultation with both children and young people, and staff working in the community homes.

Members were informed that on 9th April, the Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW) completed their first Inspection of TGP Cymru’s Advocacy Services, which was very positive, before being informed of the conclusion and looking forward.

The Chair thanked the Team Manager TGP Cymru and noted, that the case studies were always interesting and great to see success, and also acknowledged that the new advocate would also add Willowford House and Cartref Mynydd to his visiting list and noted the unaccompanied asylum-seeking young people were referred for advocacy, which expanded the service. The Chair noted the praise from the CIW was excellent and well deserved.

A Member asked in respect of the case study if this  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18.

“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 the report from the Institute of Public Care (IPC).

The Director of the Institute of Public Care provided Corporate Parenting Board with information about the Independent review carried out by the Institute of Public Care (IPC) in respect of Children’s Services Operating without Registration (OWR).

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

1. to acknowledge the information contained within the report.

to ask any relevant questions.

To receive an update on the Regulation 73 visits and the current position within RCT’s Residential Children’s Homes and Respite Service.

Members RESOLVED to defer this item to the next meeting of the Corporate Parenting Board.

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.