Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence for the meeting.

Apologies were received from the Co-Chair andCllr Adams joined the meeting virtually.

Following a request from the Chair, everyone present in the room and online introduced themselves.

To receive information on any changes in the membership of the Committee.

Note – When a member of a Committee is unable to attend a meeting of a Committee or Sub-Committee, the relevant Political Group Leader (or their nominated representative) may, by notice to the Monitoring Officer (or their nominated representative) prior to the meeting, appoint a substitute member from within the same Political Group. The contact details on the front of this agenda should be used for notifications.

None.

To elect a Vice-Chair for the Corporate Parenting Baord for the 2024/25 Municipal year.

It was proposed and seconded that Cllr Adams be elected as Vice Chair for the 24/25 Municipal Year.

Councillors are requested to declare any interests on items included in this agenda. Please refer to the workflow on the preceding page for guidance.

Declarations received will be reported at the meeting.

Any other members of the Board may declare an interest for the purpose of transparency.

None.

To confirm and sign as a correct record the minutes of the Meeting held on 22 July 2024.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 11 March 2024 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair subject to the following amendments:

Under Minute 52 – the sentence be completed to read: The minutes of the meeting held on 22 July 24 were confirmed as an accurate record and signed by the Chair.

The Chair also requested that any future minutes or agendas referred to him as Chair, not Chairman.

Members of Insight and Unite will lead an icebreaker activity for all meeting attendees.

The Insight representatives ran an ‘ice breaker’ called Tic Tac Toe and then explained the purpose of it to help Board Members understand how confusing it can be for young people when dealing with various situations and council services at once.  The need to ensure communication was clear and that all the relevant partnership services were working towards the same goal for a young person was highlighted.

To consider a verbal update from Goal 17 partners.

The Youth Services Manager introduced the item to the Board.

The Project Manager from Goal 17 gave a presentation on the befriending and mentoring programme which was a BCP Council and Goal 17 partnership.

The presentation detailed the following:

• What is mentoring?
• What is the offer for young people?
• How is Goal 17/BCP performing?
• Lessons learned along the way.

The Board discussed the presentation, including:

• Goal 17 was named with the UN sustainable goals in mind ensuring equality and accessibility.
• An insight representative (Theo) gave their positive personal experience of using the service and felt that the support should continue to cover those aged 21-25 where they felt there was a lack of support.
• An insight representative (Emily) explained the positive impact having mentors had on them as consistent support and how they felt it was a very good initiative
• The Corporate Director of Children’s Services was appreciative of the positive feedback from the young people and advised of the need to ensure the service was sustainable and continued.
• In response to a query, the Board was advised that mentors needed to care about the outcomes for young people, be persistent and patient and the group had a wide range of people with different career experience to widen their knowledge and offer advice and support to achieve goals.

The Youth Services Manager concluded that an important part of this programme was the learning and the need to expand the number of referrals and consider the best way to engage hard to reach young people into the programme.

The Project Manager from Goal 17 advised that they were partnering with other local authorities with this programme and that lessons learnt from all would be shared to benefit all.

The Board noted the verbal update.

Rachel Lachlan joined the meeting virtually at 5:30pm.

The Baord will receive a presetnation from Homewards.

The Director of Housing introduced the item and advised of the partnership working with Homewards and invited its representative to address the Board.

The Homewards partner gave the Board some background information that it was a royal charity five year programme working across six locations in the UK to demonstrate that by working together collaboratively, it was possible to end homelessness.

The programme aimed to bring together different partners and stakeholders in order to bring about positive change.  The Board was advised of the work which had been undertaken in BCP by bringing together a coalition of partners from the private sector, health, education, housing, voluntary and social sector who were working on initial priorities and how Homewards can amplify and add value to the work already being undertaken.

The Board was advised of the ongoing work to develop a national and local action plan about Homewards can support BCP including leverage of funding to support initiatives including to build more homes, provide wraparound care, and improve employment opportunities.

The Board was advised that the focus was on early intervention and prevention and details of the work that was being undertaken was provided, including working with colleges, charity partners and employers and gaining experience and expertise from those with lived experience.

A housing project was also highlighted which focused on young people and to show there was different ways to deliver housing, including housing which had support and provided a platform and not a barrier.

The Homewards partner concluded by advising that the programme was aimed at building on the good work underway but also to bring in new resources and partners to help share burden of overcoming challenges both nationally and locally.

The Board discussed the item:

• In response to a question, the Board was advised of why BCP was chosen as one of the 6 locations.  The selection process was detailed, and it was highlighted that each location had different content and issues but at least 3 of the 6 wanted to focus on care experienced young people.  The main drivers for all the locations were housing, employment and support.
• A Board Member provided positive feedback from some of the sessions they had attended with Homewards including all the partners and those with lived experience which helped to highlight challenges and help drive conversations forward and develop relationships.
• There was some discussion regarding how best to gather and use lived experience together with reaching out to a broad range of stakeholders and local businesses to consider the current experience and help shape longer term aspirational plans.
• In response to a query regarding the action plan, the Board was advised that that it was owned by the coalition bought together by BCP and was building on the good work already underway in the homelessness strategy.  It was highlighted that it was hoped to be finalised before the end of the year.
•  A Board Member highlighted the importance of early intervention to prevent young people from being at risk of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 68.

The purpose of the report is to provide the Board with an overview and assurance of Children in Care Health services for the year 2023-24.                      

The Designated Nurse for Children in Care (CIC) presented a report, focusing on the BCP elements, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'A' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

It was highlighted that the report was based on the period from April 2023 to March 2024 and provided a full overview of developments since the previous reporting period 2022-23, demographics for children in care, performance, challenges, and areas for development 2024-25.  The report included details on:

• Focus on IHA performance.
• Launch and dissemination of pregnancy pathway for children in care.
• Access to dental care for all children in care and care leavers
• Analysis of performance data and outcomes for CiC
• Reducing serious violence funding and fruition of role
• Addressing dataset variations

·       Care leaver voice – PCN pilot

·       Development of DiiS care leaver page

·       Adoption regulations

·       Blood borne virus and TB screening audit

Demographics – as at end March 2024 a total of 1000 children were in care for BCP and Dorset, with another 346 children placed in Dorset by other local authorities. 397 children came into care in 2023-24 which is a 3.5% increase since start of the year. UASC represented 119 of the number in care with 72.7% placed outside of the county of Dorset.

Performance

·       Challenges

·       Out of area delays

·       IHA 20-day timeframe

·       Dental health outcomes

·       Care leaver outcomes

·       Areas for development

·       IHA performance and delivery model

·       CiC Health Forum

·       Health provider activity and performance

·       Addressing variations dataset

·       Dental Health

·       Reducing serious violence role

·       Mental capacity and consent training

·       Emotional and mental health services

·       Scrutiny of residential placements

·       SEND and transition

The Board discussed the report, including:

• The Chair highlighted that Children in Care and Care Experienced were classified as a protected characteristic within BCP Council however it was acknowledged that they weren’t in terms of the Equality Act and what it actually means needed to be considered.
• The Chair also highlighted the comparisons with physical neighbours and felt that consideration should be given to BCP’s statistical neighbours as it was noted that BCP’s physical neighbours were much more rural.
• In response to a query regarding the dental risk being removed in 2022, the Board was advised that it was removed from the Integrated Care Board risk register as it was felt to be a national issue and there had been positive progress in terms of commissioning.
• In response to a query regarding emotional and mental health services and the introduction of wellbeing hubs that were currently targeted at adults, the Board was advise of the current work including drop in sessions by a care leavers transition nurse who attends the Insight Group, however it was noted that this could be considered within the PCN pilot to offer that additional support to care leavers.
• An Insight Representative highlighted the importance of the care leavers transition nurse and acknowledged that covering the whole of Dorset stretched her accessibility to those in need.  The Designated Nurse for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 69.

Members of CPB are asked to note the key issues in this report:

• Progress against the priorities identified

• Current position in respect of accommodation sufficiency within BCP

The Interim Director of Commissioning, Children’s Services, presented a report and appended presentation, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'B' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

The report outlined the Commissioning priorities for the remained of 2024/2025 and provided an update on the interim commissioning intentions from April – September 2024. The aim was to provide an update on the priorities / commissioning intentions and advise the Board on the progress to date regarding the current sufficiency and quality of commissioned accommodation within BCP.

The presentation detailed:

• Sufficiency of homes for CiC and CEYP for 2024-2027
• Aims
• Values
• National Sufficiency Overview
• Current Overview of Local Sufficiency
• Interim Commissioning Intentions; and
• Next Steps.

The Board discussed the report and presentation, including:

• An Insight Representative highlighted that some CiC who were placed outside of BCP were happy with that decision as did not want to be in the place that has potentially caused them trauma and the Board was advised that only those who it was appropriate to move back to BCP would be progressed as any decisions would only be made fully understanding the young person’s needs and circumstances. 
• An Insight Representative advised the Board of the lack of support they received when wanting to move independently outside of the area and the challenges of what support could be provided was detailed as well as some learning which needed to be considered.  It was noted that there was new legislation around the eligibility and support to be given to CE who wanted to move out of the area and the implications of that were being considered.
• The Interim Director of Commissioning advised of the importance of using the voice of CE young people to help shape the market.
• An Insight Representative provided the board with detail of the abrupt end of their placement once they had reached 18 and enquired whether communication in this area had been strengthened. 
• The Board was reassured of the strengthening of the joint housing protocol which was launched in September 2023 aimed at young people from the age of 17, the creation of the accommodation planning panel and the Independence and Transitions Gateway and the work of those was detailed.
• In response to a statement, the Board was advised that the purpose of the sufficiency work was to enable the service to invest money in the right areas to give the best possible outcomes for BCP’s CiC.
• The Participation Manager advised the Board of some work with CE young people about housing issues and lived experience and to add that work to the work plan for future consideration.

RESOLVED that the Board note the key issues in this report:

•       Progress against the priorities identified

Current position in respect of accommodation sufficiency within BCP.

To consider and amend the Board’s Forward Plan as appropriate.

The Chair advised of the addition of the work identified in the last item of the work with CE young people about housing issues and lived experience and consideration needed to be given on how to receive that.

The Board was advised that the compliments and complaints report would be moved to the December meeting.

The Rights and Participation Officer highlighted that the Insight Representatives had received a large amount of reports and information for the Board meeting and that thought needed to be given on how they could receive it earlier to enable more time to digest the information and greater input.

The Chair advised that the following items were for information only and that should any Board Members have any queries then they could email him to gather any response.

The Corporate Parenting Board requested for this to be circulated to all Board members following its input to it at the last meeting.

This report was circulated for information only.

This report was circulated for information only.

The Participation Manager enquired about the next steps and the Board was advised that the guide was going to be sent out shortly to all foster carers, both in house and IFA’s and to work with the commissioning to circulate to young people in residential placements.  The need to provide guidance on how to use the guide was highlighted.

This report was circulated for information only.

This report was circulated for information only.

This report was circulated for information only.

The Board is asked to note the future dates arranged for meetings of the Board as follows:

·       Monday 16 December 2024 5.00 pm

·       Monday 17 March 2025 5.00 pm

·       Monday 16 June 2025 5.00 pm

·       Monday 29 September 2025 5.00 pm

·       Monday 15 December 2025 5.00 pm

The 16 December 2024 was confirmed as the next date of the Board.