Agenda and minutes

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In accordance with the Code of Conduct adopted by the City and County of Swansea, no interests were declared.

To approve & sign the Minutes of the previous meeting(s) as a correct record.

Resolved that the Minutes of the Safeguarding Policy Development & Delivery Committee held on 17 January 2018 be approved as a correct record, subject to the following amendment: -

Minute No.34 - Review of Corporate Safeguarding – Resolution 1 – amend the spelling of Councillor E K Elliott to Councillor E J King.

Corporate Safeguarding Policy

The Chair added that he, Councillor E J King and E T Kirchner had met with Officers regarding the review of the Corporate Safeguarding Policy and a report would be provided at the next meeting.

The Head of the School Support Unit presented a report which provided information aimed at raising the ambitions and educational attainment of looked after children in Wales.

She referred to the Welsh Government Guidance document – Making a Difference – a Guide to the Role of the Designated Person for Looked After Children in Schools and its expectations.

She added that in Swansea, the Local Authority employed an Education Looked After Children’s Co-ordinator (ELACC).  However, the post holder took early retirement in October 2017 and a replacement Co-ordinator had been appointed and was due to commence duty on 1 April 2018.  

She explained that Swansea Council also engaged a Deputy LAC Co-ordinator and four LAC Project Workers, one part time LAC Administrator and one part time LAC Education Welfare Officer.  One LAC Project Worker and the part time LAC Education Welfare Officer were core funded and the other 3 LAC Project Workers and part time LAC Administrator were funded from the Pupil Development Grant (PDG LAC).  

It was outlined that a Designated Person for LAC was appointed for all Swansea schools.  This was usually a teacher but in some primary schools the Designated Person for LAC is the Headteacher.  Appendix B outlined a role profile for each designated school person for LAC and this had been adopted by ERW.  All Swansea schools had a designated LAC person, even without any LAC pupils attending the school in order to ensure that support could be put in place if a LAC pupil commenced at the school at any time.

The Committee were informed that since September 2013, all school governing bodies were required to designate a governor to take responsibility for looked after children (LAC) at the school and reminders were circulated annually to headteachers and chairs of governing bodies outlining the need to assign a governor with responsibility for LAC.

The governance of the Education LAC Management Group was also explained and the terms of reference were provided at Appendix B.

The Committee discussed the following: -

·         Status of the Deputy LAC Co-ordinator post;

·         Overall numbers of looked after children, including supporting looked after children of school age from other authorities;

·         School performance of looked after children and the ambitions of getting all LAC into mainstream education;

·         EOTAS provided for looked after children;

·         The need for stability in the lives of children in order for them to perform better at school;

·         Actions of schools when issues arose with LAC;

·         The availability of relevant LAC information to Councillors / general public;

·         Highlighting good practice / areas for development;

Resolved that: -

1)    The contents of the report be noted;

2)    The Democratic Services Officer establishes if Corporate Parenting Board papers can be published without restrictions;

3)    Relevant aspects from the report be included in ‘super joined up around children’ discussions.

The Chair presented an updated Work Plan 2017-2018.

Resolved that: -

1)    The following be added to the Work Plan for 21 March 2018 meeting:

·         How can the Council become more joined up around children and young people;

·         Presentation – Local Area Co-ordinators;

·         Corporate Safeguarding Policy.

2)    The following be added to the Work Plan for 18 April 2018:

·         Day Services Commissioning Review

·         Residential Services Commissioning Review

·         Adult Services Model