Putting Corporate Parenting into Practice

As the corporate parent of children in care the state has a special responsibility for their well- being. Like any good parent, it should put its own children first. That means being a powerful advocate for them to receive the best of everything and helping children make a success of their lives (DfES 2006).

Executive Member for Children Director of Children’s Service Members who visit children’s homes/panel members Children’s Services managers & officers Senior Management Board Children’s Service & Corporate Parenting Panel All elected Members All council officers Our partners, eg Health, police, Schools, 3 rd sector Three levels of Corporate Parenting responsibility Level 1 – Universal responsibility Level 2 – Targeted responsibility Level 1 – Universal responsibility

The role of councillors Being aware of the corporate parenting role and the shared responsibility for ensuring that the needs of looked after children and care leavers are met.Being aware of the corporate parenting role and the shared responsibility for ensuring that the needs of looked after children and care leavers are met. Having some knowledge of the profile and needs of the children their authority look after and how these may be changing.Having some knowledge of the profile and needs of the children their authority look after and how these may be changing. Understanding the impact on looked after children of all council decisions.Understanding the impact on looked after children of all council decisions. Receiving information about the quality of care and the quality of services that children are experiencing.Receiving information about the quality of care and the quality of services that children are experiencing. Considering whether this would be good enough for their own child.Considering whether this would be good enough for their own child. Ensuring that action is being taken to address any shortcomings in the service and to constantly improve the outcomes for children in careEnsuring that action is being taken to address any shortcomings in the service and to constantly improve the outcomes for children in care

The key components of effective corporate parenting are: Hearing the voice of children in care and care leaversHearing the voice of children in care and care leavers LeadershipLeadership Management informationManagement information ResourcesResources ScrutinyScrutiny Plans, policies, procedures and partnershipsPlans, policies, procedures and partnerships

Children’s Services Plan One Joint Plan: Simplified, 7 priorities Children & YP are kept safe Children & YP live with and are supported by their own families where possible Narrowing the gap for Children Looked After Good Early education for every young child A good school for every child Narrowing the gap in attainment & wellbeing Service transformation and value for Money.

Key National Drivers Munro: a competent, confident workforce whose professional judgement can be relied on. + Unannounced Inspection. FJR: Reduce reliance on expert witnesses in court, and complete proceedings in 6 months.

-Care planning project -Reduction CLA numbers -Reduction CP numbers -Assessment performance -Quality of recording -Managing budgets -Recruitment and retention Achievements 2011

-Service restructure, integration and reunification of CLA -Support Service restructure -Transfer some duties to TYS -Unannounced inspection -Family support service -JCPIT Achievements 2011

Local drivers Continue to improve the quality of risk and needs assessments Implement recommendations of Care Planning project Embed effective Step-up/ step down process Improve the child’s journey through our services

December 2010December 2011 Total Age Band Under Gender Male Female Ethnicity Asian5760 Black5242 Mixed Unknown51 Other4118 White Legal Status Interim Care Order Full Care Order Placement Order5893 Voluntary Accommodation Other21 Placement Type Adoption Placement2729 Fostered with other carer Fostered with relative or friend Other placements51 Other placements in the community9453 Placed with parents3424 Placement in residential settings Missing from Placement40

The benefits of getting it right Improved outcomes for ‘your’ children.Improved outcomes for ‘your’ children. Value for money.Value for money. Good care at an early stage leads to:Good care at an early stage leads to: Stable placements and less disruptionStable placements and less disruption Fewer complex needs requiring specialist resources.Fewer complex needs requiring specialist resources. Better performance ratings.Better performance ratings.

Next steps: Review and update the Corporate Parenting Strategy.Review and update the Corporate Parenting Strategy. Define the roles and responsibilities of the Panel and group within the strategy.Define the roles and responsibilities of the Panel and group within the strategy. Agree reporting arrangements into the Panel, for example, thematic reporting.Agree reporting arrangements into the Panel, for example, thematic reporting.