Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from County Borough Councillors S Evans, H Fychan and Co-opted Member R Nicholls.

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, there were no declarations made pertaining to the agenda.

Information is provided in respect of relevant consultations for consideration by the Committee.

The Chair referenced the consultation links, which were available through the ‘RCT Scrutiny website’. The Chair reminded Members that information is provided in respect of relevant consultations for consideration by the Committee, which are circulated on a monthly basis by the Scrutiny Research Officer.   

 To receive an update in respect of the progress made by the Regional Adoption Collaborative.

The Chair welcomed the Regional Adoption Manager, Vale Valley’s & Cardiff Collaboration to the Committee and invited her to presents the Annual Report for 2019-2020.

The Regional Adoption Manager thanked the Committee for the opportunity to present the report and explained that this was the fifth annual report and covers the period 1 April 2019 to 31^st March 2020.

It was explained that the report seeks to combine the reporting requirements set out in regulation and governance arrangements for the region in one report.

The Regional Adoption Manager explained that the report has the following appendices which are as follows:

1.    Key Performance data in respect of children by quarter and local authority:

2.    Information in respect of adopters enquires and recruitment  of adopters;

3.    Information in respect of the Adoption Support ; and

4.    Information in respect of Adoption Panel activity

The Officer continued to highlight that the organisational and managerial structure of the service has remained the same during this period with service delivery structured around three functional teams. The officer continued to explain that as Part of Welsh Government award of £2.3M to improve adoption services in Wales, the region received a substantial investment of which enabled the service to recruit a number of posts across the service.

Members were informed of the new posts and how it enabled service improvements across the region.

The Regional Adoption Manger continued and provided Members with an overview of performance measures against each of the service functions in respect of ‘Family Findings’ the officer explained that this still remains a key area of activity for the region and the ability to place children effectively and promptly underpins all other activities.

It was brought to Members attention the total number of children referred for adoption totalled 143 which marks a 34% decrease on the previous year it was highlighted that this is a trend across Wales and reason for this varies and will reflect the work being undertaken by local authorities to reduce the children looked after numbers in Wales as directed by Welsh Government.

Members were also informed of the number of withdrawn referrals and it was explained that permanency plans  is the main aim for children within service. It was again highlighted that 88% of the children who were withdrawn from adoption had either a positive parenting or positive connect person’s assessment.

The Committee were presented with an overview of the number of Should be adopted figure along with the number of Placement Order  and Adoption Orders which have been made over the last 12 month period.

An overview of the life journey work was explained to the Committee and Members were informed how additional post would improve the overall transition experiences for children and families going forward.

The work of the adoption panel was also presented to the Committee and Members were informed of any complaints and compliments that had been received of the year.

In concluding her report the Regional Adoption Manager explained the priorities of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 41.

To receive the Corporate Parenting Annual Report.

The Chair welcomed the Cabinet Member for Children’s Services to the Committee and asked her to kindly present the Annual Corporate Parenting Board Report for 2019-20.

The Cabinet Member for Children’s Services explained that it was felt that it would be beneficial  for the Children and Young People Scrutiny to have sight of the report, in order to further aid transparency and continue the good synergy between Scrutiny and the Board.

The Cabinet Member continued to explain that on the 30^th July 2020 the Corporate Parenting Board approved the Annual Report for 2019-20 Municipal year.

Members were informed that due to the COVID-19 pandemic a number of scheduled meeting of the Board were cancelled during the year and a number of reports detailed within its work programme were postponed to the following Municipal Year.  At this point the Cabinet Member thanked the whole Service for the work that had been carried out throughout these unprecedented times.

The Cabinet Member for Children’s Services highlighted a vast range of report the Board had considered some of which are as follows:

·         Overview of the Community Wellbeing and Resilience Service;

·         CIW Inspection ;

·         Miskin Annual Report;

·         Bright Spots Survey Findings and many more.

Members acknowledge the key elements the Board had agreed to focus on for the next Municipal year. The Cabinet Member invited the Director of Children’s Services to provide Members with further detail in respect of the work carried out by the Service and highlighted the continuing work the service will deliver to ensure the needs of the children and young people are met in the Looked After System.

Members thanked the Cabinet Member for the report and put forward their questions and observations.

A Member asked if the Committee could receive more information in relation to the 16+ age group and especially the care leaver, could data be provided on a breakdown of areas to young people in this area

Officers replied accomodation16+ for young people bring back a report, exist from carer remaining in when I’m ready placements. Priority in to this area housing colleagues happy to meet and take this forward at a pace.

Another Member of the Committee commented on the distribution of the Pupil Development Grant and brought Officers attention to the heading which needed to be changed to from Pupil Deprivation Grant to Development Grant for clarity. I was agreed that this would be amended within the report before it being presented to Cabinet.

In respect of the Bright Spots Survey a Member asked how the service was dealing with the recommendations that were set out in the improvement plans and commented that it would be good to have this information at a later date.

In response the Director of Children’s Services explained that in respect of the Bright Spots Survey a meeting takes place every other month and this is addressed in a Quality Assurance report is taken forward.

Members wanted to congratulate for the YEPS service for the hard work the service has  ...  view the full minutes text for item 42.

To receive a report in respect of the Notice of Motion regarding Kinship Care and consider how to proceed

The Chair informed Members that the purpose of the report brought before them and explained that at Council on the 29^th July 2020 it was agreed that the following Notice of Motion would be referred to the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee for further consideration, the Chair continued  and welcomed both County Borough Councillors James and Hooper to the Committee as Mover and Seconder of the Motion  and explained that they would be given the opportunity to address the officers at the end of the debate. The Chair invited the Director of Children’s Services to present the report.

 It was explained that the Notice of Motion stated that;

“It is estimated that there are 200, 00 children being brought up by family members or friends in the United Kingdom in what is termed ‘Kinship Care’. These kinship carers have stepped in to care for children whose parents are unable to look after them and keep their families together, and it presents three times the number of children on the national foster care system – and is a growing figure. Kinship care is one of the main ways to provide a sense of security, continuity and belonging for children who cannot live with their parents and provides high levels of stability and enduring support well into adulthood. However, the support that is offered to kinship carers throughout the country lacks consistency, and carers often feel isolated, abandoned and ‘hung out to dry’. This is in marked contrast to support that foster carers and adoptive parents can receive.

At Council Members RESOLVED that:

This Council recognises the invaluable work that kinship carers do for their loved ones, often under the most trying of situations, and is committed to providing the help, engagement and support that they need. This Council requests that a report be considered by the Children & Young People Scrutiny Committee to look into the role of kinship care in the County Borough and to work closely with grandparents plus to identify ways in which it can meet the needs of kinship carers and those in kinship care.”

The Director went to explain that the Social Services and Wellbeing Act (Wales) 2014 sets out regulation that the local authority need to follow to ensure there is safe arrangements in place for a child.

It was explained that there are many ways a family member may become a carer for a child or young person some of which are:

·         Special guardianship orders;

·         Child arrangement orders; or

·         Through approval as a kinship carer.

It was explained that the Children’s Services need to carry out intensive assessments and provide support for each child who is placed on any of these Orders.

The Director continued to explain that the Service has extended the range of support opportunities to family and friends’ carers over recent year to mirror those received by mainstream foster carers however it was explained that this has been slower in 2020/21 due to the impact of the pandemic. Members were  ...  view the full minutes text for item 43.

To reflect on the meeting and actions to be taken forward.

The Chair thanked Members and Officer for their contribution to the Committee and clarified that the next meeting would take place on the 27^th January 2021 to consider the Education aspect of the Committee.