Corporate Parenting Panel
MINUTES of a meeting of the Corporate Parenting Panel held in the Committee Room, County Hall, Lewes on 29 January 2021.
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PRESENT |
Councillors Charles Clark, Chris Dowling, Kathryn Field, Jim Sheppard, Colin Swansborough, Sylvia Tidy (Chair) and Francis Whetstone |
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ALSO PRESENT |
Teresa Lavelle-Hill
– Head of LAC Services Sally Williams
– Operations Manager Nicola Scott
– Operations Manager Ian Williams – Registered Homes Manager
Charlotte de
Retuerto – Registered Homes Manager Helen Simons
– Registered Homes Manager Janet Fairless
– Registered Homes Manager Georgia Carty
– Deputy Homes Manager Sarah Roper-Brooks
– Designated Doctor for LAC Susanne Beesley
– Chair, ESFCA Tina Henderson
– Trustee, ESFCA Aaron Sams – Democratic Services Officer
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65 Minutes of the meeting held on 30 October 2020
65.1 RESOLVED: to agree as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 30 October 2020.
66 Apologies for absence
66.1 Apologies were received from Liz Rugg, Assistant Director – Early Help and Social Care.
67 Disclosure of Interests
67.1 There were none.
68 Urgent items
68.1 There were none.
69 Annual Report of the East Sussex Foster Care Association (ESFCA) 2019 - 2020
69.1 The Panel considered the annual report of the East Sussex Foster Care Association (ESFCA). The report provided an update on the work of the ESFCA and its plans for future development. This included:
69.2 The Panel
discussed the importance of social inclusion for children in care
and asked the ESFCA about the impact Covid-19 has had on this
aspect of their lives. In response, the Panel were
informed that this has been a challenge for the charity.
However, creative approaches have been utilised to adapt to the
situation. For example, remote technology has to be used to
help children and young people feel engaged with their peers and
avoid feelings of isolation.
69.3 The Panel
recognised the important work the ESFCA does in East Sussex and
thanked the Association for the help and support it provides.
69.4 RESOLVED: to note the report.
70 Looked After Children (LAC) Statistics
70.1 The Panel
considered a report by the Director of Children’s Services
which provided an update on Looked After Children (LAC)
statistics.
70.2 The Panel heard
that there has been a slight rise in the number of East Sussex LAC
since the last quarter, but that this is in line with a national
trend. Members also heard that the Fostering Duty service
has, despite significant pressures due to Covid-19, continued to
place the majority of LAC in the County Council’s in-house
foster placements.
70.3 The Panel asked
about the location of residential placements for LAC and in
particular, whether children are being placed outside of East
Sussex. In response Members were informed that the choice to place
a child outside of East Sussex is dependent on the individual
circumstances of the case, with a range of factors being considered
before a decision is made. The Panel were also assured that the
Department aim is to place children within county whenever it can
and where that has not proven possible, children do return to East
Sussex as and when a suitable placement arises
.
70.4 RESOLVED: to note the report.
71 Exclusion of Press and Public
71.1 RESOLVED to exclude the public and press from the meeting for items 9 and 10 on the agenda (see minutes 26 and 27) on the grounds that if the public and press were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information as specified in category 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12(A) of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended), namely information relating to any individual. It was considered that the public interest in maintaining the exception outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information.
72 Ofsted Inspection reports for the following: The Bungalow, Lansdowne Secure Unit and Acorns
72.1 The Panel
considered Ofsted Inspection Reports for the following
Children’s Homes:
72.2 The Panel
welcomed the outcomes of the Ofsted Inspection Reports.
72.3 RESOLVED: to note the reports.
73 Children's Home Regulations 2015, Regulation 44: Inspection reports for October 2020 - January 2021
73.1 The Panel
considered Regulation 44 Reports for the period October 2020
– January 2021 for the following Children’s
Homes:
73.2 The Panel discussed a range of issues, including: recruitment, retention and staff changes, building improvements within the homes and the challenges posed by Covid-19.
73.3 The Panel gave
their thanks to the Registered Homes Managers and their
colleagues
for their excellent service and support to the children and young
people in the Council’s Care.
73.4 RESOLVED: to note the reports.
74 Any other exempt items considered urgent by the Chair.
74.1 There were none.
75 Any other non-exempt items considered urgent by the Chair.
75.1 There were none.