Agenda and minutes

www.swansea.gov.uk/disclosuresofinterests

No disclosures of interest were made.

No declarations were made.

To receive the minutes of the previous meeting(s) and agree as an accurate record.

The Panel agreed the minutes of the meeting on 28 October 2019 as an accurate record of the meeting.

Questions must relate to matters on the agenda and will be dealt with in a 10 minute period.

No members of the public were present at the meeting.

Nichola Rogers, Regional Adoption Manager, Western Bay Adoption Service

Nichola Rogers, Regional Adoption Manager for Western Bay Adoption Service attended, to update the Panel on the work of the service, improvements in performance and plans to address areas for development. 

Discussion points:

·         Independent review report expected in January 2020 on whether Bridgend remains as part of Western Bay Adoption Service. 

·         Improvements in performance in many areas over last year since new adoption manager has been in post.  She should be congratulated.

·         Panel noted mostly women in the structure and children need a male role model.  Informed not a significant issue in adoption as staff don’t work directly with children.

·         Currently no white children placed with BME adopters.  Adoption is driven by the adopters.  Culture is taken into account but care and wellbeing of children comes first. 

·         Update on Life Journey Data – New framework introduced.  Framework worker recently appointed to work with Authorities to improve quality of work and to work with social workers to help children understand about Life Journey data.

·         Work been done on Western Bay’s ‘offer’ and how it will support children and adopters going forward. 

·         There were issues with ‘letterbox’ but been resolved. 

·         All areas meet regularly to share practice. Some of the good practice by Western Bay has been shared.

·         There was concern about shortage of adopters in this region but the gap has got smaller and the project manager thinks it will continue to reduce.

·         Adoption manager will bring this year’s performance results back to the Panel early in next municipal year.

Actions:

·         Schedule item on ‘Western Bay Adoption Service Performance Results’ on work programme early in next municipal year.

Gemma Whyley, Child & Family Services Project Manager

Gemma Whyley, Child and Family Services Project Manager attended to update the Panel on activity undertaken this year including timeline, work plan, projects and next steps.

Discussion Points:

•              There have been 6 opportunities for corporate parents to engage with children this year.

•              Best Start Book Project, undertaken this year, has been praised by Children’s Commissioner.  Hope to expand on this next year. 

•              Bays+ is currently working well.  New bespoke performance report for Bays+ is being developed in new year.  This will be added to Performance Monitoring item in future.

•              Participation Task and Finish Group has been nominated for an award.

•              Joint Corporate Parenting Board workshop held.  This will feed into annual Corporate Parenting Board Plan. 

•              Welsh Government Ministry Advisory Group discussing changes to legislation.  This could be very positive.

•              Big Conversation very successful at linking in with schools.

•              No performance data provided in this report.  Panel was concerned about educational attainment for Looked After Children in previous report.  Annual Report, including performance data, will come to this Panel in next municipal year.

•              Panel queried if partners are participating as they should.  Informed Housing and Culture and Leisure are now taking corporate parenting role seriously and are participating well.

•              Cabinet Member keen to improve attendance and engagement at Board meetings and believes changing from objectives to themes will help with this.

•              There has been a push to involve children in Board meetings but structure of the meetings needs to change.  Panel suggested Cabinet Member speak to Head of Democratic Services about changing format to more workshop style.

Actions:

•              PDF copy of Book project to be circulated to Panel by email.

•              CFS Performance Monitoring Report item to include Bays+ performance in future.

•              Schedule item ‘Corporate Parenting Board Annual Report’ in Work Programme for next municipal year.

Julie Thomas, Head of Child and Family Services

Julie Thomas, Head of Child and Family Services updated the Panel. 

Discussion Points:

•              Extremely busy 3 months with lots of activity around Looked After Children population including some serious issues and some really complex issues.

•              Workforce Wellbeing Strategy is being developed.  Really important to keep experienced staff especially senior practitioners.

•              Vacancy monitoring policy is not being applied in CFS as it delays recruitment of staff.

•              Retention policy approved to enable progression of staff through to senior social workers.

•              Big drive towards targeted early work and early help hubs are in place.

•              Head of Service will bring caseload information to each Panel meeting in future to reassure Panel. 

•              Child protection activity has increased.  Undertaking work to slow this down.  Police will be working with us on this and should see a reduction in figures.

•              More activity around county lines recently.  Police asked to up their disruption activity.

•              Department doing piece of work with Lancaster University on ‘Born into Care’ project.

•              Working with Housing on providing housing for care leavers with complex needs who still need this support.

Actions:

•              CFS caseload information to come to each panel meeting. Verbal update from Head of Service.

The Panel considered the Work Programme.

Actions:

·         Confirm if draft budget proposals will be an additional item at 24 February Panel meeting or if extra meeting needs to be arranged.

a)    Response from Cabinet Member (28 August 2019 meeting)

b)    Letter to Cabinet Member (28 October 2019 meeting)

Letters received and considered by the Panel.