Agenda item

The Board will consider the Statement of Purpose for Children’s Homes (Annual Report).

Contact:

Sara Miles, Head of Homes for Children, Quality Assurance and Safeguarding

The Board considered the Statement of Purpose for the Fostering Service presented by Sara Miles, Head of Service for Resources, Improvement and Partnerships who highlighted that:

·         The Statement of Purpose had been revised in line with ongoing works in relation to the modernisation of the Fostering Service.

·         It evidenced the aims and objectives of the service, and those for carers and children and young people.

·         It shared the same view and aims as any parent, for their child to grow and achieve their full potential.

·         It included information in relation to skills level payments, available services and work that was being undertaken with the placement support team.

·         It included the development and support for foster carers and children / young people.

·         The mockingbird offer was to be extended.

·         Work had been undertaken regarding the review processes and another Independent Reviewing Officer was to be recruited.

·         A draft financial policy was being developed to review Foster Carer finances and allowances.

·         There were 12 fostering assessments ongoing and 19 active stages at enquiry.

Sara Miles also shared that she would like to provide more detailed information to the Board in relation to the recruitment and retention of Foster Carers.

The Board highlighted the Mockingbird programme and their keen interest for a 2^nd constellation to be developed. The Board questioned if there was a timescale for this?

Sara Miles was unable to provide a timescale but agreed to come back and share an update on the progress.

Elaine McShane suggested that Kieran Lord shared an update on The Mockingbird programme as well as other services including MSTFIT and placements support.

The Board highlighted the increase in Asian children entering care and questioned the successful recruiting of Foster Carers of an Asian background?

Sara Miles responded and advised that community work was being carried out to seek enquiries across all communities and agreed to provide a more detailed report to include the data showing what had been achieved and what work was ongoing.

The Board highlighted Independent Fostering Agencies (IFA’S) and questioned if any work had been carried out to identify what they offer compared with the Kirklees offer?

Elaine McShane advised that a piece of work had been done previously and highlighted that there were different layers of provision within IFA’s depending on the needs of the children which replicated the Councils skills level, and in comparison, financially, there wasn’t much difference. Elaine acknowledged that in terms of reviewing the financial policy and payments to Foster Carers, it was the right time to re-look at IFA provision.

RESOLVED:

The Board noted the Statement of Purpose for the Fostering Service and agreed that:

1.    Detailed information in relation to the marketing and recruitment of Foster Carers in relation to the recruitment, retention and ethnicity be shared at a future Corporate Parenting Board meeting.

2.    An update be provided in relation to the development of the mockingbird programme, as well as other services including MSTFIT and placement support.

3.    A comparison be undertaken to identify IFA provision and how this differed from Kirklees provision.