To review fostering service performance and approve related documents.

The cabinet member health and wellbeing introduced the item. She thanked the fostering team and the foster families for their work. She noted that some long standing Herefordshire foster carers had received honours for their work.

The head of looked after children presented the report. She noted that the annual fostering report was a statutory requirement. She highlighted the following points:

·         that there had been a 15% increase in the number of foster carer households

·         that Herefordshire was performing well against a background of a national shortage of foster carers, this allowed more children to remain in the county and retain links to their school and family members

·         that the number of LAC remained high and that there was still a need to recruit additional carers

·         that some additional carers had been recruited to the Herefordshire Intensive Placement Support Service (HIPS), providing specialist support for children with more challenging needs

·         that provision of mother and baby placements were avoiding high cost independent or residential unit costs

·         that there was expected to be an increase in the number of unaccompanied asylum seekers.

In response to a question from a group leader it was noted that carers had been attracted to Herefordshire by its good reputation. Carers valued the support and training provided. Fees and allowances had been increased to better match those paid by independent agencies but it was the co-ordinated support strategy that was the most important factor in recruiting carers from other agencies.

A query was raised by a group leader as to whether the service would be able to keep pace with the rising demand predicted. Officers stated the importance of continuing to recruit additional carers. They also drew attention to funds made available by central government to support councils in caring for unaccompanied asylum seekers and the importance of accessing and carefully utilising this support.

A group leader asked how many children were now in in-house placements compared to the previous year. It was noted that as the number of in-house carers had increased, the council was more able to accommodate children in in-house placements. It was agreed that details of the figures involved would be provided in writing.

Resolved that:

a)    the activity, quality and impact of Herefordshire Council’s fostering service as detailed in appendix A was reviewed and no additional actions to support improvement were identified;

b)    the Herefordshire foster carers charter (appendix B) be approved;

c)    the guide for young people that are looked after (appendix C) be approved; and

d)    the statement of purpose (appendix D) be approved.