Agenda item

This report sets out work undertaken to improve the quality and sufficiency of placements for Children Looked after and Care Leavers since February 2020 and outlines future next steps.

[To Follow]

Officers spoke to the report and in summary, highlighted that the borough had a sufficiency plan around looked after children after accommodation and the plan is from 2019 to 2021.

The service was in process to develop an accommodation strategy that provided sustainable high quality and value for money accommodation provision. It was noted that there was still a number of key decisions to be made in light of the market situation, current commissioning arrangements and practice improvement in addition to the current section 114. Some accommodation placements challenges faced included emergency placements where accommodation was provided on the basis of best available rather than better matching process to meet the needs of the young people; some residential placements have been placed further than twenty miles away, our of the borough and even further away from their birth family.

Officers effectively were promoting Staying Put as the best option for young people, and also to find financial sustainable accommodation options for the council and commission used but would also be appropriate for care leavers and young people when they reached that appropriate age and working along neighbouring services – leaving care, adults services and housing.

Officers shared ongoing work with leaving care, housing and finance to ensure demand for future commissioning and this was in line with the wider supported housing strategy. This work was being led by the Adult Social Care. Tenancy and financial management training both internal offering within the Council, and potential external charities were other options. Work was also being held with the housing team around issues for care leavers in the private rented sector. There was also work with the transition service to support the care leavers who had extra needs or fits into the vulnerable adult’s category.

The Panel Co-optee care leaver representative was congratulated by all Members of the Panel and officers for her work in “All About Me” project.

Panel Members commented on the report.

One Panel Member raised a point that the report noted radical change of models alongside the South London Commissioning Programme, and was concerned that there was no acknowledgement of the radical change of delivery to the wider administration Member group, which had financial implications and how it would provide greater opportunity for children. There was a request to learn more and what the risks entailed. The Chair made note that the placement sufficiency report was to be heard at this Panel to address sufficiency around Children’s Social Care, for example Staying Put, and thus there were no new models. Officers clarified in response to Member’s concern that the radical changes focused on the action in improving quality and sufficiency.

The foster carer representative commented in relation to Staying Put that it would seem that foster carers were often consulted, though this was not the case and that there was a gap between Staying Put and the Shared Lives provision. Officers acknowledged the continued issue that required further attention between Staying Put and Shared Lives. The criteria for a Shared Lives arrangement was more than having a successful Care Act assessment that entitled them to that provision, thus in order for a Shared Lives arrangement to happen, adult services or the transition team needed to first carry out a character assessment to ensure the young person was entitled to services under the Care Act, and if so whether there was duty within that act to provide accommodation Shared Lives should be recommended if appropriate for them. Further, officers informed that there was progression for a revision of the service’s Staying Put policy to be compared to other local authorities. The foster care representative requested for clarification following the review of Staying Put in 2018; foster carers were advised that they would no longer be classed as a foster carer at this time. Officers confirmed that this assertion was incorrect and that foster carers would remain on the register if they had no looked after child within their household, further, foster carers was encouraged no not deregister.

Another Panel Member noted that more needed to be done to achieve goals though this implemented more costs, and wondered whether the service could achieve its required goal with a reduced budget. It was also pointed out that in semi-independent homes, the vast majority was male and queried whether single-sexed accommodation was available, guaranteed, or whether there was simply no choice for females. In response, officers informed that the service was working very hard with children under 18 years old, and unfortunately there was a high number of girls in placements, approximately a 40:60 split. Officers shared that the service used semi-independent support accommodation when there were no other options. There was very little match ability and the service needed to improve in better placed matching. Officers acknowledged the gap in providing support to vulnerable girls and were looking for the best cost efficient service. Further, it was clarified that foster carers were paid by Croydon Council and the housing benefits were paid back. The Chair questioned whether semi-independent homes was available to just Croydon children or extended for cross-borough use, however this was not known by officers. The care leaver representative informed the Panel that was important to also review the pros and cons sustaining single-sexed accommodation which could also be deemed a risk.

Further comments by the care leaver representative informed that young people were not previously involved in strategies and processes, and with the voices of young people heard this shaped Croydon Services, and was thankful for the changes. 

The Panel RESOLVED to:

1.1       To note the progress and current action plan associated with the Council’s Sufficiency Plan 2019-2021.