Agenda item

The Care Experienced themed report presents an update on the progress of improvement work within the Care Experienced Young People’s Service in Children’s Social Care. It highlights activity undertaken within a recent themed ‘practice week’, including a summary presentation within Appendix 1. In addition, it details updates on progress on the provision of health passports, housing options and the recent opening of the BCP Care Leaver Hub ‘333’. Appendix 2 highlights the voice of the young people involved in the design and development of the Hub, with their views on the outcome. There are a number of actions identified for the next quarter to continue the service’s improvement journey.

The Director of Corporate Parenting & Permanence presented a report, 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.

The Care Experienced themed report provided an update on the progress of improvement work within the Care Experienced Young People’s Service in Children’s Social Care. It highlighted activity undertaken within a recent themed ‘practice week’, including a summary presentation included at Appendix 1 to the Report. In addition, it detailed updates on progress on the provision of health passports, housing options and the recent opening of the BCP Care Leaver Hub ‘333’. Appendix 2 of the Report highlighted the voice of the young people involved in the design and development of the Hub, with their views on the outcome.

There were several actions identified for the next quarter to continue the service’s improvement journey.

The Committee discussed the report and comments were made, including:

• In response to a query about making sure all care leavers had access to the Hub, including possible transport support, the Committee was advised that the service would ensure that care leavers got the support and advice they needed which might be virtual, if appropriate.
• The Committee was advised that the health passports provided details of a child’s health and improvements had been made in ensuring children and young people understood them and they were presented and available in a young person friendly way
• A Member of Youth Parliament enquired about housing and the Youth Homelessness Board and the Committee was advised that it considered care leavers from the age of 18, however planning for accommodation started once a personal advisor was allocated when a young person turned 16.
• In response to a query regarding accommodation needs and priority for housing, the Committee was advised that support was provided up to the age of 25.  Reassurance was given that Children’s services worked closely with housing and that gold band priority was given to all care leavers until the age of 25.
• In response to a query regarding out of hours support, the Committee was advised that the care leavers hub was opened on a flexible basis, opening some evenings and Saturdays, in addition out of hours support was also provided and there could be additional named support for example a foster carer providing support to an identified young person.  The Care Leavers Offer was highlighted which provided a suite of information was currently being updated and would be provided by personal advisors to care leavers
• In response to a query regarding educational opportunities, including providing funding to enable care leavers to attend university.  It was advised that there was a bursary for this purpose and the service would provide assistance with accommodation where possible.
• A Committee Member who also sat on the Corporate Parenting Board wished to express support of the Care Leavers Hub ‘333’ and supported the youth homelessness board and funding for a prevention worker.
• In response to a query regarding staffing, the Committee was advised that the structure would be fully recruited and permanent soon
• In response to a query regarding ensuring the voice that of the children were heard, the Committee was advised that the service wanted to ensure that the voice of the child could be evident and demonstrated throughout their case files.  It was noted that the care leavers hub had enabled young people who had not previously engaged. 
• The Committee was advised that there were a couple of young people who lived outside of the area and had not taken up the offer of housing back within BCP
• The Committee was reassured that any care leaver who had additional needs which prevented them from gaining employment would be supported up to the age of 25 and if they had significant needs that met the requirements of adult social care then they would be passed to that service.
• In response to a query regarding continuity of social worker support, the Committee was advised that Social worker turnover was a national problem but the service was trying to ensure that a proper handover was undertaken and communicated
• In response to a query regarding personal supervision, the Committee was advised that social workers need time to reflect on whether they were making a positive impact and if not, to consider different ways to engage.  Consistency across the teams was highlighted as important and the need to strive to improve circumstances for the young person.
• In response to a query regarding engagement, communication and feedback and how data could be collated, the Committee was advised that newsletters were sent out to young people and information was shared with carers to pass on.  The Committee was advised of the methods used to collect young person’s views for the care leavers strategy and whilst it was acknowledged that engagement had increased, some care leavers did not want to engage
• In response to a query, the Committee was advised of daily and monthly reports for visits to young people to ensure that children and young people were seen.  It was highlighted that there had been work around personal advisors ensuring that their visits were recorded on the system.

RSOLVED that the Committee note the progress made and areas for further action.