Neelam Bhardwaja Service Director for Children Young People

Neelam Bhardwaja Service Director for Children, Young People & Families Services Andrea Powell Service Manager (Permanency), Children, Young People & Families Services

CHILDREN YOUNG PEOPLE & FAMILY SERVICE CORPORATE PARENTING

Aims and Objectives § To assist elected members to understand meet their corporate parenting responsibilities. § To gain an understanding of the law and policy relating to corporate parenting. § To raise awareness of the needs of children who are looked after and leaving care.

What is a Corporate Parent? The Children and Social Work Act 2017 says that when a child or young person comes into the care of the local authority, or is under 25 and was looked after by the authority for at least 13 weeks after their 14 th Birthday, the authority becomes the ‘Corporate Parent’. There are 7 legal principles which serve to define the corporate parenting role……

Corporate Parenting Principles § Act in their best interests, and promote health and wellbeing. § Encourage expression of their views, wishes and feelings. § To take into account their views, wishes and feelings. § Enable them to access and get best use of the services provided by the local authority and its partners. § Promote high aspirations and the need to secure best outcomes. § Seek to ensure they are safe and have stability in their home lives, relationships and education or work. § Prepare them for adulthood and independent living.

Members’ responsibility: If this were my child? As corporate parents it is every councilor’s responsibility to make sure that the council is meeting the corporate parenting principles and to act towards looked after children and young people and care leavers as a parent would for their own child. Lead members and those on corporate parenting panels and scrutiny committees will have particular responsibility, but for all councilors being a corporate parent means that when any service is being reviewed that could impact upon relevant children and young people that they consider: Would it be good enough for my child? What can we do put things right? / make things better?

Why and How do children and young people come into care? Factors relating to: § The Child § The Parent/Carers

Profile of Plymouth Children in Care April 2019 § § § § There were 418 Children in Care Aged between 0 – 17 185 are Female and 233 Male 251 under a Care Order 69 Interim Care Order 33 with Placement Order Granted 64 S 20 Voluntary Accommodated 1 on Remand

Sufficiency of Placements The council has a duty to ensure, as far as is reasonably possible, sufficient accommodation is available locally to meet the needs of looked after children and care leavers. Councils should regularly review their position and report on how they intend to meet the sufficiency duty. This is a valuable source of information for members in relation to their role as corporate parents.

Placements Where are children placed: § Foster Care – In-House placements and Independent Fostering Agency placements § Residential Placements § Supported Lodgings

Support for Foster Carers How well do we support our foster carers? § § § § Training Reviews Supervising social workers Social Worker for the child/young person Finances Buddy Support Groups Respite if required

Safeguarding Local authorities have a responsibility for safeguarding all children, but there are certain risks for children and young people in care and care leavers that corporate parents need to be aware of:

Safeguarding – Missing Children § Three times more likely to go missing than children not in care. § Processes must be in place to report missing children, to take action to find the child, and then to follow up with them to establish the underlying reason for going missing. § Corporate parents should seek to monitor instances of children going missing, and how regularly return interviews are taking place, evaluating emerging themes.

Safeguarding – Child Sexual Exploitation/Child Exploitation § Children and young people in care disproportionately likely to be at risk of child exploitation than those in the general population. § Whilst the issues that led children and young people to enter care may increase vulnerability, the experience of care itself can also be a significant factor, especially where placements lack stability. § Those at risk of Child Sexual Exploitation/Child Exploitation need clear plans in place to protect them and all social workers and partners should know how to spot the signs of risk and deal with them appropriately.

Voice of the Child How are we giving children and young people the chance to express their views, wishes and feelings? § § § Participation team Monthly Group Work Sessions for YP with Care Experience The Junior Listen & Care Council 8 -13 yrs The Senior Listen & Care Council 13 -17 yrs The Care Experienced Council 18 yrs and over How do we know these are being acted upon? § Fed into the Listen and Care Council VOICE

Aspirations How do we show children in our care that we have high aspirations for them? § § § Individual Care plans Virtual school Pupil Premium Promoting Health and Well-being Statutory Reviews

Care Leavers What are outcomes like for our care leavers? § § Currently there are 211 Care Leavers 44. 9% currently in Employment Education and Training 94. 3% are in suitable accommodation 17. 2 % of those are in staying put arrangements

Key Statutory Duties Local Authorities have a duty to: § Publish information about the services it offers to care leavers which may assist them in preparing for adulthood and independent living. § Appoint a personal adviser for care leavers up until the age of 25, regardless of whether the young person intends to pursue education or training. The local authority has a duty to carry out an assessment of the young persons needs and to provide necessary advice and support. § Although Local Authorities are required to offer advice and guidance to care leavers, they have the choice to accept or not.