Agenda item

The Children in Care Performance Scorecard for October 2020 is attached.

Officers spoke to the performance scorecard and in summary highlighted that in care proceedings less children were entering care in comparison to the previous year. Though the number of looked after children was still high with 78/10000 child population comparison to the national average which is 65/10000 child population, the service had been working with children returning safely home with support.

The red indicators on the scorecard highlighted the care planning and participation which was deemed lower and one that required improvement. Since November 2020, there had been changes in staffing and in performance.

Panel Members discussed the scorecard.

Councillor Shafi Khan arrived at the meeting at 5:27pm

In response to a question raised by the Panel Co-optee foster carers’ representative, regarding the process and expectation of looked after children returning home, officers informed that there was a statutory responsibility to review if any child in care could safely return home. During statutory children looked after reviews for each looked after child, the services involved were present and the child circumstances considered. What was essential was to consider if the parents had made sufficient changes since the child was initially removed to consider safe rehabilitation. The foster carer representative had a follow up question seeking clarification on the involvement of foster carer’s advocacy for the looked after children they looked after, as foster carers had not been involved with or understood the process and was often informed of change of circumstance when a child was returning home. Officers responded that social workers had a statutory responsibility to review the care plan and foster carers were part of a child review so they should be aware of plans and their views heard.

The officers talked about circumstances in which parents may request an immediate return home; if accommodation was provided under a section 20 (voluntary sending children into care) and a parent requested for their child to return home, the service cannot prevent the request unless there was an immediate risk.

A section 20 under the Children Act 1989 was a voluntary agreement by the parent. This meant the Local Authority would need to undertake an assessment and provide support after a child returned home if a parent would not agree to a planned return.

The foster care representative further enquired about whether section 20 was a danger to children in care aged 15 years as court proceedings did not often go ahead. Officers responded that Croydon Children’s Service had been trying to make positive use of section 20 and ensure works in partnership with families, rather than having orders. It was rare when section 20 did not work as intended. 

The Panel Co-optee care leaver representative commented on section 20 and 15 year olds, indicating that consideration needed to be given to young people on section 20 who were returning home, against their wishes but at their parents’ request, may suffer. She further informed that it was very important for services to not get complacent on an agreement due to parents or due to a young person’s age.

It was noted that there were lower homelessness since the pandemic and national lockdown, and there needed to be a hard offer of early help; though with the change within the Early Help service there was concerns that support was required for young people and the impact on families going forward. Officers responded that there was reductions within the Early Help service and acknowledged that children and families in need was the focus, though children entering care was a lot less due to the pandemic and national lockdown.

Comments were raised by Panel Members that foster carers experiences should be acknowledged as they worked with children every day and also understood the legislation. It was important that foster carers were fully engaged and involved and had their voices heard as it would strengthen the concept of working together. The Chair noted and highlighted to the Panel that the involvement of foster carers was also part of their improvement plan.

Panel Members welcomed the great improvement to the scorecard, though it was recognised that the red indicators was consistent and asked officers how this could turnaround. Officers recognised that the service was not always converting care plans into a pathway plan in a timely manner, and that it was a priority to the service. Currently the service had an 84% completion rate.

The Chair noted that the pathway plan was also a priority to the annual Corporate Parenting Panel.