To receive the annual reports from the fostering and adoption services and consider the outcomes and recommendations. To make recommendations to the cabinet member on the operation of the services during 2019/20.

The committee received a report by the cabinet member children and families which provided the annual reports from the fostering and adoption services. The report was introduced by the head of looked after children who explained that the annual reports showed that the two services were performing well. The council’s recent membership of the Adoption Central England (ACE) regional adoption agency was raised as a recent achievement but it was confirmed that the adoption service remained in Herefordshire.

The committee raised those points below in the discussion that followed:

·         The reasons for the decrease in adoption orders was queried? The HLAC explained that it was only a relatively small number of children that were the subject of an adoption order and was therefore prone to fluctuations. There was no one answer regarding a decrease in adoption orders but there were a variety of reasons why an adoption order was not appropriate for an individual child; it may not be appropriate for the child and the possibility of care from other family members was explored. The ADS&FS explained that viability assessments of family members to provide care were undertaken at an early stage.

·         How special guardianship arrangements were deemed appropriate and financial support for family members was queried. The HLAC explained that special guardianship arrangements could be appropriate for a child depending on their care plan. Financial support in line with the level paid to foster carers was provided to special guardians but with respect to adoption it was very unusual for an allowance to be paid and it was more likely that any financial support would assist initial set-up costs.

·         The issue of recruiting sufficient numbers of foster carers was raised and the recruitment and retention strategy currently in place was queried. The HLAC explained that work was ongoing with communications at the council on a campaign which included use of social media to target potential foster carers. The campaign had increased the number of enquiries and applications. With respect to retention the children’s social work manager explained that work was ongoing to investigate the support provided to carers and there was a review of the fees and allowances paid.

·         The training that was provided to foster carers was queried and how training was kept relevant and up to date without over burdening carers. A briefing note covering the training that was undertaken was requested. Themed training was undertaken and online training. Mandatory training was provided in order to keep carers up to date and upskilling was also important with training in areas such as understanding attachment and trauma. The ADS&FS explained that foster carers were caring for the most vulnerable children in the county therefore it was essential that their training was kept up to date.

·         The lack of capacity in the occupational therapy service at the Wye Valley Trust (WVT) was raised and the need for the purchase of private assessments on a case-by-case basis. It was proposed that the scrutiny committee write to the WVT to understand the provision of occupational therapists in Herefordshire.

·         It was requested that details were provided of the process that was undertaken to determine what form of care was appropriate for a looked after child. The ADS&FS suggested that the service could take members of the committee through some case examples to demonstrate the processes followed and decisions taken.

·         It was queried why the council had responsibility for young people up to the age of 25. The HLAC explained that after the age of 18 young people became care leavers and the council was required to keep in contact and support until the age of 25.

The committee proposed, seconded and agreed the recommendations below:

RESOLVED: That:

·         The achievements in the adoption annual report and the compliments in the fostering report are recognised and the officers working in those teams and carers of the council’s looked after children are commended;

·         A briefing note on proposals to increase the retention of foster carers and details of the training provided be provided;

·         A letter is sent to the Wye Valley Trust to request details of the provision of occupational therapists in Herefordshire; and

·         A session is organised to look at case samples of how appropriate forms of care are determined for looked after children.