Venue: Council Chamber - Town Hall, Huddersfield. View directions
Contact: Jodie Harris Email: jodie.harris@kirklees.gov.uk
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Membership of the Board/Apologies To receive apologies for absence from those Members who are unable to attend the meeting.
Minutes: Apologies were received Councillor Elizabeth Reynolds, Sara Miles, Head of Safeguarding and Quality Assurance, Gill Addy, Designated Nurse, Kieran Lord, Interim Service Director - Resources, Improvements and Partnerships, Kieth Fielding, Kirklees Fostering Network.
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Minutes of Previous Meeting PDF 370 KB To approve the Minutes of the meeting of the Board held on the 23rd January 2024 Minutes: The Board considered the Minutes of the meeting held on 23rd January 2024. When reporting on action undertaken in response to matters arising the previous meeting it was noted that in response to action point:
RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the meeting of the Board held on 23rd January 2024 be approved as a correct record.
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Declaration of Interests PDF 20 KB Members will be asked to say if there are any items on the Agenda in which they have any disclosable pecuniary interests or any other interests, which may prevent them from participating in any discussion of the items or participating in any vote upon the items. Minutes: No interests were declared.
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Admission of the Public Most agenda items take place in public. This only changes where there is a need to consider exempt information, as contained at Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972. You will be informed at this point which items are to be recommended for exclusion and to be resolved by the Board. Minutes: All Items were held in public session.</AI5><AI6></AI2>
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Deputations/Petitions The Board will receive any petitions and/or 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 submit a petition at the meeting relating to a matter on which the body has powers and responsibilities.
In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 10, Members of the Public must submit a deputation in writing, at least three clear working days in advance of the meeting and shall subsequently be notified if the deputation shall be heard. A maximum of four deputations shall be heard at any one meeting. Minutes: There were no deputations or petitions received.
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Public Question Time To receive any public questions.
In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11, the period for the asking and answering of public questions shall not exceed 15 minutes.
Any questions must be submitted in writing at least three clear working days in advance of the meeting Minutes: There were no questions received from members of the public |
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Head of Service Update The Board will consider a verbal update from a Head of Service giving an overview of work and progress in respect of the role of corporate parents.
Contacts: Joel Hanna, Head of Service, Corporate Parenting and Children’s Residential Services Minutes: The Board considered a verbal update presented by Joel Hanna, Head of Service for Corporate Parenting and Children’s Residential Services. During the update Joel Hanna gave a presentation highlighted that:
· In relation to children accommodated out of area, it was noted that 80 children (13%) were placed over 20 miles from their home address, and of these 58 (72.5%) were living in family-based care arrangements. · 45 (56%) of those children were confirmed as living in accommodation identified as part of their plan (e.g. - connected carers /kinship carers etc…) · The remaining young people included 6 sibling groups, where placements were identified to retain children together. · At its meeting held on 7th February 2024, the Council formally moved to recognise care experience as a protected characteristic in line with several other Local Authorities. · This was a positive development and had been well received by the Children in Care Council (CICC). · The immediate work to recognise this would include referring to groups with protected characterises when making changes to policy and taking decisions, as well as undertaking work to rebalance negative connotations around growing up in care. · Following on from the 2-day review of the Care leaving service provided by Mark Riddell (MBE) work had been undertaken to: o Establish better links between the CICC/CLF o Work with the Children Looked After Team to provide early preparation for becoming a care leaver. o Work closely with North Yorkshire around improving the quality of pathway plans. o The delivery of an ambassador event (hosted by Kirklees College) where over 40 organisations and partners had been invited.
In the discussion to follow, questions and comments were invited from Board Members, with the following issues being covered:
RESOLVED: The Board noted the Head of Service Update.
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One Adoption West Yorkshire - 6 monthly report PDF 4 MB The Board will consider the One Adoption West Yorkshire 6 monthly report.
Contact: Michelle Rawlings, Head of One Adoption West Yorkshire
Minutes:
The Board considered the One Adoption West Yorkshire (OAWY), Half Year Performance Report – Kirklees Highlights presented by Michelle Rawlings, Head of One Adoption West Yorkshire who provided a summary of the activity in relation to Kirklees children and families during the first 6 months of the year. It was noted that:
In the discussion to follow, questions and comments were invited from Board Members, with the following issues being covered:
RESOLVED: The Board noted the report ‘One Adoption West Yorkshire, Half Year Performance Report – Kirklees Highlights’.
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Children's Performance Report PDF 634 KB The Board will consider a report giving key highlights from the latest performance monitoring data for the Children’s Service.
Contacts:
Joel Hanna, Head of Service, Corporate Parenting and Children’s Residential Services Vicky Metheringham, Service Director, Family Support and Child Protection Louise Hallas, Virtual School Headteacher Gill Addy, Designated Nurse for Looked After Children Ian Mottershaw, Head of Service –Contextual Safeguarding and Y.E.S, Family Support and Child Protection
Minutes: The Board considered the latest Children’s Performance Highlights Report which was presented by; Joel Hanna, Head of Service for Corporate Parenting and Children’s Residential Services, Louise Hallas - Virtual School Headteacher,Stewart Horn - Head of Children’s Integrated Commissioning, Ian Mottershaw - Head of Children’s Integrated Safeguarding and Y.E.S and Anna Gledhill, Head of Sufficiency. It was highlighted that:
· Changes in social workers were another element affecting stability, and work had also been undertaken with the CCIC to develop a pen picture to introduce social workers to children and young people prior to meeting. · In relation to Children Looked After Education Outcomes, a breakdown for the reasons why young people were persistently absent was provided (as requested by the Board) and it was noted that: o 51% of young people who were currently persistently absent were seeing improved attendance. o 25% were currently ranked ‘amber’, which indicated there had been progress but improving the stability of progress was required. o 24% were currently ranked ‘red’ which indicated concerns around the absence of those young people. o Reasons for absence that affected Persistent Absence data included illness, lates, suspension and emotionally based school avoidance. · In relation to Children Looked After Health Outcomes, it was noted that: o In relation to Review Health Assessments strong compliance with targets was being achieved and stability had been established in the staffing team. o Work continued to address challenges relating to Initial Heath Assessments, and there had been improvements in attendance at clinics.
In the discussion to follow, questions and comments were invited from Board Members, with the following issues being covered:
RESOLVED: The Board noted the Childrens’ Performance Highlights Report, and it was agreed that the feedback of the fostering diagnostic be presented to the Board.
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The Voice of Children and Young People and Care Experienced Young People The Board will consider a verbal update in respect of the representation of the voice of Children and Young People and Care Experienced Young People.
Contact: Joel Hanna, Head of Service, Corporate Parenting and Children’s Residential Services Minutes:
The Board considered a verbal update in respect of the Voice of Children and Young People and Care Experience Young People presented byJoel Hanna, Head of Service for Children Looked After and Care Leavers. Joel Hanna gave a presentation which explained that:
· The voice of young people was heard by the Head of Service through weekly attendance at the Children in Care Council (CCiC) and Care Leavers Forum (CLF) alternately.
In the discussion to follow, questions and comments were invited from Board Members, with the following issues being covered:
RESOLVED: The Board noted the verbal update ‘The Voice of Children and Young People and Care Experience Young People’.
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Corporate Parenting Strategy - Initial Update on Review The Board will consider a verbal update on the Corporate Parenting Strategy – (Initial Update on Review)
Contact: Joel Hanna, Head of Service, Corporate Parenting and Children’s Residential Services Minutes: The Board considered a verbal update on the Corporate Parenting Strategy – Initial Update on Review presented by Joel Hanna, Head of Service, Corporate Parenting and Children’s Residential Services. During the update Joel Hanna gave a presentation which set out an overview of work undertaken to refresh the Corporate Parenting Strategy, it was noted that the key elements of this work which included:
· Setting out the refreshed Corporate Parenting Strategy and priorities for 2024-2027. · Reconfiguring the Corporate Parenting Board arrangements including a revision of the Boards Terms of Reference with the ambition to establish a broader membership with wider partners and the development of new performance report. · Establish the delivery of the arrangements to implement and deliver those priorities through partnership approach. · Engagement with the Children in Care Council (CICC) and Care leavers Forum.
In the discussion to follow, questions and comments were invited from Board Members, with the following issues being covered:
RESOLVED: The Board noted the verbal update ‘Corporate Parenting Strategy – Initial Update on Review’ and it was agreed that: 1. The Board the presentation be circulated to all Board members. 2. The Draft Strategy to be brought to the Board in the near future.
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Updates from Board Members on interaction with services The Board will consider verbal updates from Board Members in relation to progress and key issues following interaction with Services and partners to challenge the role of the Corporate Parent.
Contact: Jodie Harris, Principal Governance and Democratic Engagement Officer
Minutes: The Board considered verbal updates from Board Members in relation to progress and key issues following interaction with Services and partners to challenge the role of the Corporate Parent.
During the update the Chair noted attendance at:
RESOLVED: The Board noted theUpdates from Board Members on Interaction with Services.
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Corporate Parenting Board Agenda Plan PDF 552 KB The Board will consider the agenda plan for 2023/24.
Contact:
Jodie Harris, Principal Governance and Democratic Engagement Officer Minutes: The Board considered the agenda plan for 2023/24.
RESOLVED: The Board noted the agenda plan for 2023/24 and it was agreed that the following reports be added: 1. Corporate Parenting Strategy 2. Fostering Annual Report 3. Update from Fostering Diagnostic Visit
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