To provide an update on the reduction strategy to reduce the number of children looked after (CLA). To include an update on cases that had been identified for Special Guardianship Orders (SGOs) or reunification.

The committee considered a report from the assistant director safeguarding and family support (ADS&FS) which provided an update on reducing the number of children looked after (CLA). The report was introduced by the Head of Children Looked After (HCLA) who explained that the COVID-19 pandemic had impacted upon foster placements and the number of children looked after currently in residential units was a concern. An initiative to retain and recruit foster carers was in effect and marketing improvements were being made to the campaign. An update on changes to the Herefordshire Intensive Placements Support Service was provided to the committee.

The committee raised the points below in the debate that followed:

·         The edge of care service had been in effect since April 2020 and it was queried what percentage of children had been diverted from care during this period. It was recommended that monitoring and recording of numbers of children prevented from entering care by the edge of care service was undertaken. The HCLA explained that the service had worked with 14 children and prevented 12 from entering care arrangements. Of the two that had entered care one had returned home and the other had remained in care.

·         The reason for delays in progressing long-term matching decisions was queried. The HCLA explained that it had not been afforded sufficient priority which had now been corrected by ensuring there was more effective monitoring arrangements including a review at 9 month intervals.

·         The reasons that foster carers did not wish to enter into special guardianship orders (SGOs) were queried. The HCLA explained the variety of reasons including concern over reduced financial support and the requirement to manage contact with family members. The ADS&FS explained that the notion of SGOs was being introduced to foster carers at an earlier stage of contact with potential carers.

·         Statistics concerning the number of children leaving care and preventing admission to care were raised and how they compared to other areas. The timescales for matching neighbouring areas were queried. The HCLA explained that the number of children leaving care was improving and coming into line with neighbouring areas however the objective of the service was to improve to a level that was better than the performance of neighbours. The ADS&FS explained children would always be taken into care and it was important to avoid drift and delay in decision making over children in care which was potentially harmful to families and children.  The HCLA explained that more detail would be available at the end of the financial year and that the year 2024 had been identified to match neighbouring performance. The Director Children and Families (DCF) explained that it was intended that the level of children looked after would not exceed 320 by the end of 2021 and that an increase in the level of children looked after in residential provision was a trend consistent across a number of councils resulting in overspending budgets. There were a number of plans in effect to reduce  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13