Minutes:
The Head of Social Work, Children Looked After and Care Leavers talked through the actions which had been completed.
Officers updated the Panel with the status of the actions agreed at the previous Panel meeting.
In regards to the actions in November 2019:
1 - The Chief Executive Officer had attended a meeting in November 2019 in response to virtual school and how the service supported children in education to close the gap. The service encouraged reading and how staff could support reading activities with looked after children and how this would be maintained.
There were discussions regarding the improvement of the apprenticeship and volunteering programme and the Chief Executive Officer had requested that the Human Resources team took lead and also directors within the council to offer apprentice opportunities. Officers was to receive a detailed feedback on this progress in June.
In relation to exploring reading initiative in virtual school, the service was supporting the programme to encourage social workers and foster carers to be involved in further reading to children of all ages which would promote more reading. The Panel discussed the action and EMPIRE commented that young people should be given the option as support for long term outcomes may work for some young people having the extra person whilst others it may not be considered. The foster carer’s representative noted that foster carers required training in this area for improved parenting skills, to include reading materials. It was important that this training threaded from recruitment which would be a better practise for development and change.
It was further raised by EMPIRE that some young people obtained difficult relationships with their foster carers and see their carers for support around the home and thus another member or a tutor should be considered to provide help with something educational to give encouragement, this should vary on age i.e. being home for the younger children and at the centre for the older children for more independence.
At 5:29pm Councillor Bernadette Khan attended the Panel meeting.
Officers discussed the letter box which was packed with games and worked well for carers. This was aimed at young people aged 13, with the intention to build better relationships. The letter box was to follow the young person should they move between placements to provide consistency. Officers added that the advisory teachers would conduct phonics and reading support with children at The Arc School. There were also learning mentors currently in place to help support young people; the learning mentors are trained volunteers who could also promote the importance of reading. The notion for the support was to provide opportunity for young people to access additional support, as young people were not engaged with the process.
2 – Officers talked of the therapeutic support required for young people and the notion of group therapy. Current services included CAMHS offered support for emotional and mental health issues. There were also support services provided for looked after children. The Panel commented that it was important for supported staff to have life experience, for the young person to relate.
There was a suggestion for young people who were in care or had left care to sit on the Panel. EMPIRE suggested for past care leavers to plan a session for young people in care to help with their ongoing experience; in addition, for care leavers should be included in receiving therapeutic support. Panel Members supported the view that psychologists should be available to support children and foster carers. Officers shared the view of the budget, in that services would reallocate the money to fund the new requested therapeutic service. The budget would ensure children had greater access for support when required. Though it was noted that there would always be issues with demand, a much needed flexible service was desired. This service would also connect with school counselling services.