Issue - meetings

To consider the latest trends, priorities and pressures in terms of departmental performance as reported in the Quarterly Service Report for the first quarter of 2017/18 (Aril to June 2017) relating to Children, Young People and Learning, giving particular attention to exclusion levels over the past year, numbers of children looked after, in need and subject to protection plans, and foster placements and movements.

Panel members are asked to give advance notice to the Overview and Scrutiny Team of any questions relating to the QSR where possible.

The Panel considered the latest trends, priorities and pressures in terms of departmental performance as reported in the QSR for the first quarter of 2017/18 (April to June 2017) relating to Children, Young People and Learning.

The Chief Officer: Children’s Social Care gave a presentation concerning children in need, looked after and subject to child protection plans.  Data indicated that although the numbers of all of these children had increased prior to June 2017, numbers were beginning to reduce since then with the exception of children in care.  There were currently 650 children in need, 142 children looked after and 143 children subject to protection plans.  The increase in the latter number earlier in the year had reduced possibly because some children had been placed in care.  Ward data showed where the greatest number of children on child protection plans or looked after were located.  In terms of placement types, although the number of children looked after (CLA) in residential care had increased owing to complex needs and high risk, the majority were placed in Bracknell Forest foster care.  More foster carers were sought owing to the increase in the number of children in care.  Placement stability for children in care for two and a half years in the same placement for two years had increased.  Situations of three or more placements in a year were tightly monitored and subject to change during the year with performance less strong by 2% than it was at this time last year.  The presentation included information and case studies to explain the reasons for the placement moves.

The following points arose from questions and discussion:

·                     There were many care places outside Bracknell Forest and if foster carers relocated to another Borough it was likely that their fostered children would move with them.  There were no residential care facilities in Bracknell Forest with the exception of Larchwood, a short breaks unit for children with disabilities.

·                     Ofsted inspections were based on current practice and did not take account of future housing and population predictions.

·                     There were currently no Bracknell Forest children in secure residential accommodation.  The amount in other types of residential accommodation totalled 24, a number of whom were children with disabilities.

·                     There was a mixture of individual children and those from large families in care.

·                     Owing to the relatively small number of CLA in Bracknell Forest, a modest increase led to a large percentage change.  The increase locally was a trend reflected in benchmarking against statistical neighbours and local authorities in the south east and nationally.  The reasons for children becoming looked after included neglect, domestic abuse, mental health and substance misuse and the age ranged from birth to teenagers.

·                     Fluctuations in the number of CLA had an impact on resources and the step up to and step down from child protection would be addressed in the Gateway Review.

Data was circulated at the meeting which provided the rates of local permanent primary and secondary exclusions in 2016/17 and fixed term exclusions over  ...  view the full minutes text for item 73