Children Looked After – The Role of the Corporate Parenting Board Presentation by Louise Taylor, Director of Specialist Services County Councillor Tony Winder, Chair of the Corporate Parenting Board & Young Person Representative

Aims To outline the: Purpose Priorities Life in Care Achievements Continuous Improvement

Purpose of the Corporate Parenting Board Promote awareness Secure commitment & contribution Set high expectations & hold to account Listen & involve children and young people Oversee and monitor performance Consider the outcomes of regulatory visits and inspection reports Ensure strategies join up and prioritise children looked after Celebrate the achievements of children looked after Ensure adequate resources provided Undertake visits & receive feedback Comply with UN Convention on Rights of Child

How the Board Works Bi monthly evening meetings Agenda linked to agreed priorities Active involvement of young people Elected member champions Working group support Presentation, reports, interactive activity and celebration Reports to the Cabinet Members for Children and Schools and Young People

Priorities - What our young people want

Priorities - Corporate Parenting Board – We Want… Education, Training and Employment (ETE) – CYP to be attending school and performing well with good levels of support preparing them for entry into further education and work Involvement of Young People – CYP to know what services and support is available, be involved in decisions about their lives and the development of services Positive Activities – CYP to have access to a full range of activities to build friendships, confidence, health and wellbeing Leaving Care – CYP fully prepared for adulthood with access for those moving to independence to good quality housing and support if needed Placement Stability – CYP to be in placements that provide the best level of care, support and outcomes Health and Safeguarding – CYP to be healthy and safe, knowing how to live a healthy lifestyle and to protect themselves from harm

Children Looked After Life for us in care in Lancashire Lancashire Children’s Rights Service and the Children in Care Council

Being in care: What is different for us? It’s important to remember that… … “everyone’s in care for different reasons” and that “everyone’s an individual”. All children and young people have different needs but for those that are in care there are some things that are different. Our experiences are different and we have different needs.

Some things about Children Looked After (CLA) that maybe people do not think about… Your home or placement: More than one placement. It is not your home. Living with other young people. Different area to where you grew up.

The people: Lots of people involved in making decisions for you. It is not your family – someone is paid to look after you. You do not always have strong relationships with the people in your life. Rules: CRB checks for you friends parents. Photographs. Leaving care: Moving into independence – feeling too young. Provision when leaving care is reduced.

Some other activities… Lancashire Youth Council: –The CiCC is now part of the youth council structure. –Young people from the CiCC attend campaign nights and represent CLA at the exec night and at cabinet. Training of LCC staff. Interviewing new staff and volunteers. Commissioning e.g. choosing new residential units for CLA.

Some things we like… We like being involved in decisions made about us. Having the CiCC now is good as it gives the opportunity for children and young people to have their voices heard. A young person said, “I’m proud to be part of the CiCC, I have met some great people and have a fab opportunity to make a difference for all young people in care and leaving care”.

Some things we want to change… “I know there are rules… but reasons behind decisions are not always made clear”. More support when leaving care. The CPB is good but difficult for young people to understand but we like that young people are able to be involved. Children and young people would like more child friendly information.

Life in Care – Facts QuestionAnswer How many children and young people does Lancashire County Council have in its care? Number has risen over last year and stood at 1,348 at 9 March Rate per 10,000 at 55.1 is below the national average (59.0), the statistical neighbour average (61.3) and well below the regional rate (77.0) What is the peak age for children/young people coming into our care? Children and young people aged 10 and over account for around half of those in our care but the peak ages for entering care are 0 and 1 years old Where might children in our care live?With foster carers, in a children’s home, with relatives/family friends What proportion of these live with foster parents? Just under three quarters (71%) are in foster care What is the main reason why children and young people come into care? Abuse and neglect along with family stress/problems are the main reasons How many CLA are also know to the Youth Justice system? Around 7% of children looked after have cautions/convictions At what age do Care Orders end?18 years old – however we know in reality with our own families, we should be looking at staying with foster carers until 21 years old

So What Have We Achieved? Words to Actions to Outcomes ActionDifference Made Allocated FundingAccessible advice on benefits, supported annual celebration event Re-established/restructured Children in Care Council Established integrated links with Youth Councils, achieved wider representation Supported the Healthy Care AuditMore co-ordinated response leading the way with the co-option on the Board of a designated GP Publicising needs of Young People and the Board Positive feedback from elected members who better understand role of a Corporate Parent Scrutiny functionElected members independently evaluate residential homes against the Board’s priorities Have given support to the drive for more fostering provision Young People’s EngagementYoung People have more involvement in the Board meetings and play an active role in setting agenda and leading discussions Commissioned ServicesInvolved in the tenders for Childrens Right’s, external residential provision Produced perfect placement guide to inform provision DiversityFundraising for example, Pakistan Flood Relief

Inspection Achievements All of LCC residential children’s homes are ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ Inspection of Safeguarding and Looked After Children services (2012) evaluated as ‘good with outstanding features’ Adoption Service (2011) evaluated as ‘good with outstanding features’ Fostering Service (2011) evaluated as ‘outstanding’ YOT inspection (2009) strong outcome Annual assessment (2010) judgement ‘Authority that performs well’ There have also been two unannounced inspections which have shown no areas for action Peer Review identified strengths around Clear multi-agency framework to drive forward corporate parenting Increasing evidence of ‘voice of looked after child’ informing service development Highly effective arrangements to promote educational attainment through ‘Virtual School’ Effective working relationship with other partners, notably YOT and Housing Recruitment strategy for foster carers Significant improvement in outcomes and services

Comments from the Inspection of Safeguarding and Looked After Children Services - Ofsted March 2012 Corporate parenting arrangements are outstanding, supported by elected members who together effectively champion the needs of looked after children. The council, through the corporate parenting board, has high aspirations for those in its care. Children and young people who attend the CiCC have good access to senior officers and elected members through their membership on the highly effective youth council as well as the corporate parenting board. Corporate parenting arrangements are outstanding. This work is supported by elected members who fully know and understand their safeguarding responsibilities in relation to looked after children. They effectively champion the needs of looked after children. Looked after children and young people are empowered through their active involvement with the corporate parenting board and links with the CiCC are very good. Children and young people have many opportunities to make representations including formal arrangements at cabinet level which are helping to influence the shape of services children and young people need and want, such as in the recruitment and training of staff and improvements made to the quality of children’s homes.

Performance Results 72.8% have stability for two plus years 97.8% of CLA Reviews are timely 83.2% of year olds are in foster home or placed for adoption 9.9% of CLA go on to be adopted 84.2% of CLA receive dental/medical checks within 12 months Education – persistent absences rates at 3.1% (England 4.9%) Education – 24 young people at university funded by CSC (autumn 2010) 85.9% of care leavers in suitable accommodation

How do we compare? Worse than national average and similar authorities Better than national average and similar authorities Proportion of looked after children receiving regular dental health examinations Educational attainment of children looked after at Key Stage 2 Timeliness of reviews of looked after children cases and participation of looked after children in those reviews Long-term placement stability Rate of persistent absenteeism and exclusion from school

Continuous Improvement The Board will look to: develop the role of the designated GP develop the young inspector programme Achieve accreditation against UNCRC Train young people to administer grants Strengthen role of CiCC and increase its membership Responding to views of children and young people within agreed timescales Active monitoring of the pledge and challenging progress Monitoring all services available to CLA.

What more can you do to help? Provide work experience or apprenticeship placements. Support access to low or no cost leisure activities Promote the Adoption and Fostering Service recruitment campaign Provide suitable accommodation for care leavers Be a volunteer or mentor to a child looked after Prioritise support and shared responsibility