To consider the response to the recommendations arising from the Joint Scrutiny Review of the Transition from Leaving Care to Adult Life.

Cabinet considered the response to the recommendations arising from the Joint Scrutiny Review of the Transition from Leaving Care to Adult Life attached to the report.

The Chairman of the Scrutiny Review Group presented the report. She had hoped that the review would be submitted to Cabinet at an earlier date but due to other reviews taking place at the same time this had not been possible. She referred to paragraphs 12 and 13 of the review. With regard to Paragraph 12 – ‘Personal Education Plus (PEP)’, she suggested that not all looked after young people had a PEP and that it was paramount that all such young people should have a PEP. With regard to paragraph 13 – ‘Out of County Placements’, she had expressed concern that when young people’s transfer of placements took place their personal possessions were placed in a black bin bag.  She had since been assured that young people were provided with a suit case for the moves.

The Cabinet Member Children’s Services thanked the Chairman of the Review Group for presenting the review. She informed Cabinet that some of the main points of the review had been actioned and that the number of looked after young people attached to the transition project had doubled. She thanked the Head of Safeguarding and Assessment and the Service Manager (Safeguarding and Looked After Children) for their support and input to the review.

The Cabinet Member Social Care Adults suggested that part of the review could encompass children when they leave high school. She was of the view that more work was needed in this area.

The Cabinet Member for Corporate and Customer Services and Human Resources was of the view that the review could be referred back and considered in a more holistic way in respect of the health and environment culture. She referred to PEPs, Health Plans and This is Our Lives Plan and asked if these were in place. The Cabinet Member Children’s Services informed Cabinet that these issues were currently being reviewed by Children’s Services.

The Leader expressed the view that there is a need to take note of the length of time that reviews are taking and that a task and finish process should be put in place. He agreed that a holistic approach should be taken on the health and environment culture.

RESOLVED:   That

(i)                 the proposed response recommendations arising from the Joint Scrutiny Review of the Transition from leaving Care to Adult Life be approved; and

(ii)               a report be submitted to Cabinet in six months detailing the recommendations referred to in (i) above, together with the actions taken on those recommendations and that the report also takes a more holistic approach on the health and environment culture.