Agenda and decisions

The Chair will welcome everyone to the meeting and announce any apologies received.

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting and apologies had been received from Cllr Karen Allison, Jo-Anne Sanders, Keith Fielding, Barry Lockwood, Melanie Tiernan, Martin Green and Tom Brailsford.

To approve the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on the 19^th November 2018.

The minutes of the meeting of the Board held on the 19th November 2018 were agreed as a correct record.

The Board Members will be asked to say if there are any items on the Agenda in which they have disclosable pecuniary interests, which would prevent them from participating in any discussion of the items or participating in any vote upon the items, or any other interest.

No interests were declared.

Most debates take place in public. This only changes when there is a need to consider certain issues, for instance, commercially sensitive information or details concerning an individual. You will be told at this point whether there are any items on the Agenda which are to be discussed in private.

It was agreed that all agenda items would be held in public session.

The Board will receive any petitions and hear any deputations from members of the public. A deputation is where up to five people can attend the meeting and make a presentation on some particular issue of concern. A member of the public can also hand in a petition at the meeting but that petition should relate to something on which the body has powers and responsibilities.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 10 (2), Members of the Public should provide at least 24 hours’ notice of presenting a deputation.  

No deputations or petitions.

The Board will hear any questions from the general public.

No questions were received from members of the public.

The Board will consider a 6 monthly report from One Adoption West Yorkshire covering period April to September 2018, to include comparable data for other West Yorkshire Local Authorities.

(10.35 am)

Contact: Mandy Prout, One Adoption West Yorkshire

(1)  The Board noted the One Adoption Agency 6 monthly report (April to September).

(2)  The Board thanked Mandy Prout from One Adoption for her contributions and for attending the meeting.

(3)  That the Board consider an update from One Adoption on the joint work taking place between One Adoption, Grandparents plus and the five Local Authorities on providing support for special guardians in the region – date to be determined.

The Board will review the revised Terms of Reference and agree the changes to the Membership of the Board.

(10.50 am)

Contact: Helen Kilroy, Principal Governance

(1)  The Board noted the report on Review of Membership and Terms of Reference of Corporate Parenting Board.

(2)  The Board agreed to amend the Membership of the Board to include the Director of Children’s Services, Service Manager (Looked after Children and Leaving Care), Practice Improvement Lead (Family Support and Child Protection) and Improvement Partner (Children’s Services).

The Board will consider a verbal update on key issues from Ofsted and the Improvement Board. The Board will also consider the latest letter from Ofsted on the recent monitoring visit.

(10.55 am)

Contact: Steve Comb, Head of Corporate Parenting

(1)  The Board noted the update on Ofsted and Improvement Board and thanked Steve Comb for his contributions.

(2)  The Board agreed to consider further feedback from the Improvement Board and other monitoring mechanisms in the future.   

The Board will consider a verbal update giving key highlights on Performance Monitoring data for the Children’s Service.

(11.05 am)    

Contact: Steve Comb, Head of Corporate Parenting

                           Janet Tolley, Virtual School Head Teacher

(1)  That the update on Performance within Children’s Services be noted.

(2)  The Board agreed to consider monitoring changes in supported accommodation for care leavers in future Performance reports.

(3)  The Board agreed to extend an invite to representatives from the Care Leavers Forum to present information to the Board on their experiences of living in supported accommodation.

The Board will consider a report on the number of children in care with a Youth Offending Order, showing comparable data and trends.

(11.15 am)

Contact:  Julie Bragg, Service Manager, Family Support and Child Protection

The Board noted the report on Overview of number of children in care and thanked Julie Bragg for her contributions.

The Board will consider a report on the number of children in care with a Youth Offending Order, showing comparable data and trends.

(11.20 am)

Contact:  Richard Smith, YOT Service Manager

(1)  The Board noted the report on number of children in care with a youth offending order for the period April 2016 to March 2017 and thanked Richard Smith for his contributions.

(2)  The Board agreed to consider an update report in September 2019 on the number of children in care with a youth offending order which would provide comparative data for 2017/18. 

(3)  The Board agreed to consider a future report giving an update on the work being undertaken jointly between the Youth Offending Team, Children’s Social Care and the Police regarding criminal exploitation to develop systems and to ensure we are keeping children safe – date to be determined.

The Board will consider a Quarterly Report (Quarter 3) on the Independent Visitors Scheme.                                                                           

(11.25 am)

Contact: Christopher Berridge, Independent Service Officer

(1)  The Board noted the report on the Independent Visitors Scheme – Quarterly Report (Quarter 3) and thanked Christopher Berridge for his contributions. 

(2)  The Board agreed to receive information which had been sent to all Councillors regarding the Independent Visitors Scheme and agreed to actively promote the scheme wherever possible to help recruit more volunteers. 

The Board will consider the Marketing Plan for the Recruitment of Foster Carers.                                                                                    

(11.35 am)

Contact: Andy Quinlan, Service Manager (Fostering)

(1)  The Board noted the report on Marketing Plan for Recruitment of Foster Carers and thanked Andy Quinlan, Service Manager (Fostering) for his contributions. 

(2)  The Board offered their support for the Fostering Fortnight event and Andy Quinlan agreed to liaise with the organisers of the event and report back to the Board.

The Panel will consider the future focus and agenda plan of the Corporate Parenting Board for the 2018/19 municipal year and beyond.

(11.45 am)

Contact: Helen Kilroy, Principal Governance & Democratic Engagement Officer

(1)  The Board noted the report on the Future focus of the Corporate Parenting Board and forward agenda plan.

(2)  The Board agreed that further work should be undertaken to develop the forward agenda plan of the Board to ensure that future focus for the Board was on the wider responsibility of the Council as a corporate parent.

(3)  Members of the Board agreed to bring forward ideas for future agenda items and areas for further exploration.

(4)  That the Governance Officer be authorised to liaise with officers on agreed actions.

The Board will consider verbal updates from Board Members on interaction with Services.

Contact: Helen Kilroy, Principal Governance and Democratic Engagement Officer

The Board noted the updates from Board Members on interaction with services. 

To note future meeting dates of the Board during the 2018/19 municipal year:

-       Thursday 14^th February 2019, 10 am

-       Monday 11^th March 2019, 10.30 am

-       Monday 15^th April 2019, 10.30 am

(1)  That the Corporate Parenting Board meet on the following dates:-

-       Thursday 14th February 2019, 10 am

-       Monday 11th March 2019, 10.00 am

-       Monday 15th April 2019, 10.00 am

(2)  That the Board will consider potential future dates for the meetings during the 2019/20 municipal year at the next meeting.