To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillor Seldon, Councillor McEvilly, Mrs Fisher, Mr Sell and Mr Burbidge.

To receive details of members nominated to attend the meeting in place of a member of the committee.

Councillor Summers attended the meeting as a substitute for Councillor Seldon.

To receive any declarations of interest by members in respect of items on the agenda.

The following members of the committee declared non-pecuniary interests in agenda item no. 4, corporate parenting strategy 2017-2020:

·         Councillor Hyde as the support team member (looked after children), the chairman of the corporate parenting panel and a member of the fostering panel.

·         Councillor Norman as a member of the corporate parenting panel.

To review the draft Corporate Parenting Strategy and action plan and identify recommendations to the cabinet member. 

The committee considered a report by the head of looked after children which provided the draft corporate parenting strategy 2017 – 2020. The report was introduced by the cabinet member young people and children’s wellbeing, the assistant director safeguarding and early help and the head of looked after children.

The cabinet member outlined the significant responsibility that members of the council and all officers had as corporate parents to looked after children (LAC) in Herefordshire. The assistant director safeguarding and early help explained that the strategy had been considered by the corporate parenting panel and would be presented to the cabinet for formal approval. The annual reports for the adoption and fostering services were listed as background papers to the report which provided valuable detail concerning the allocation of resources for LAC. The head of looked after children explained that individuals who were LAC tended to face disadvantage in life which the strategy sought to address. Through the children in care council priorities had been developed by LAC to which the strategy responded.

The committee heard from two young people regarding their experiences of care and support provided. Comments included: the importance of expediting processes through the care system; the need for greater contact between LAC and social workers; rules governing the activities of children in care tended to be too strict and the reasons for the rules were not adequately communicated; the importance of communicating face-to-face with LAC but an acknowledgement of the value of other forms of interaction such as texting; the turnover of social workers had been high previously but there had been consistency over the last two years; the importance of being clear and honest whilst communicating with LAC; and the elements required to support care leavers which included a personal adviser, a good network of friends and continued contact with groups such as the foster forum.

The committee made the following queries and comments in regard of the strategy:

·         The annual reports relating to the fostering and adoption services should be received by the committee as separate agenda items in future years. An important role of the committee was to understand and consider the annual reviews of these services to provide assurance that the structures in place and resources allocated were sufficient to meet the needs of LAC;

·         The strategy referred to the virtual school and it was requested that a briefing note be prepared for circulation to members of the committee on the subject.

·         The current situation regarding number 4 in Blackfriars Street was raised and when a permanent new location would be identified. The temporary measure was not felt to offer good accommodation and a better longer term solution was required. The head of looked after children confirmed that an alternative location was being sought and in the interim the venue in Bath Street would be opened shortly as a drop-in centre. It was anticipated that this arrangement would operate for one year.

·         The number of LAC in Herefordshire was higher than the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

To receive any written questions from members of the public.

Deadline for receipt of questions is 5:00pm on Friday 30 June.

Accepted questions will be published as a supplement prior to the meeting.

Please submit questions to: councillorservices@herefordshire.gov.uk. 

No questions were received from members of the public.

To receive any written questions from members of the Council.

Deadline for receipt of questions is 5:00pm on Friday 30 June.

Accepted questions will be published as a supplement prior to the meeting.

Please submit questions to: councillorservices@herefordshire.gov.uk.

No questions were received from members of the council.

To review the attached work plan for 2017/18 and propose updates and additions to forthcoming committee business.

The committee noted the work programme for items of business for meetings in the current municipal year and noted that a briefing note on the virtual school and the regional adoption agency would be provided. It was commented that timings for the key decision to tender for new health visiting and school nursing services meant that the committee would be unable to scrutinise the draft decision in advance of publication. A briefing note would be provided on the decision and the committee could determine if a future agenda item on the subject was required.  

Monday 2 October 2017 – 10.00 a.m.

The remaining meeting dates during 2017 – 18:

4 December 2017

22 January 2018

16 April 2018

The committee considered a proposal to hold pre-meetings ahead of formal meetings. It was agreed that the practice would be trialled and that a pre-meeting start at 9.30 a.m. with the start-time of the committee meeting scheduled for 10.15 a.m.

The next meeting would be on 2 October 2017.