The Manager, Access to
Resources Team (ART) presented a report, a copy of which had
been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as
Appendix 'F' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.
The Sufficiency Strategy sets out how
Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole Council (BCP Council) intend
to meet its sufficiency duty as laid out in section 22G of the
Children Act 1989. This required local authorities to take steps
that secure, as far as reasonably practical, sufficient
accommodation for children in care within their local authority
area.
The Portfolio Holder confirmed
that the Strategy would be going to Cabinet only for
approval.
The Committee discussed the
Report and comments were made, including:
- In
response to a query regarding the seven key priorities, the
Committee was advised that each of those priorities was underpinned
by others and that they all fed into the action plan.
- In
response to a query regarding the need to register provision for
Children in Care (CiC), the Committee was advised that Priority
five in the strategy dealt with this and BCP had been successful in
minimising this type of provision and was working with local
providers to ensure their offer was registered and regulated prior
to September. It was highlighted that
some providers were exploiting this change and had increased
charges to address it.
- Suitable local provision was discussed and it was noted that the
services edge of care offer supported enabling families to stay
together where possible, however if alternative provision was
required, sometimes the risk of exploitation meant that the service
user had to be relocated out of the local area.
- A
Member of the Youth Parliament was pleased that in capturing voices
of young people, the voice of the MYPs was being reflected and
wished to continue to work with Officers in this area.
(Action)
- A
Member expressed the importance of all the Strategies and Plans
being linked to the Children and young People’s Plan to
ensure there was dynamic engagement between them.
- The
service was asked to double check the figures in the strategy, in
relation to the percentages of BAME detailed as there was two
different figures which did not correlate.
(Action).
- When
considering how the Committee could scrutinise the strategy moving
forward, it was discussed that qualitative responses would be very
beneficial to see what difference the strategy was making for the
children and young people
- A
request for the equality impact assessment to be shared with the
Committee once completed was made. (Action).
- The
Committee requested an update once a review had been undertaken to
Committee in early 2022. (Add to Forward Plan).
- Accommodation was discussed and it was noted that the six studio
flats had been a great success, whilst some had been accessed in
times of crisis, they had provided a great step in preparing the
young people for independence. The
Committee noted that the service had a clear housing pathway and
transition for when young people were ready
- Foster carers were discussed, together with the issue of
available housing. It was noted that
the Services partnership with Housing was very strong.
The Chair summarised
discussions as follows:
- Unregulated provision, residential and suitable
local
- Capturing voice of MYPs
- Dashboards - qualitative
- Data
– check BAME
- In
line with good and outstanding for 2022
- Foster carers
- Supported flats
RESOLVED that the
Committee endorse the Sufficiency Strategy to
Cabinet.