Agenda and minutes

51.1 RESOLVED to agree as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 27 July 2018.

52.1     Apologies were received from Sally Carnie, Mandy Lewis, Janet Fairless, Nicola Scott and Shirin White.

Disclosure by all members present of personal interests in matters on the agenda, the nature of any interest and whether the member regards the interest as prejudicial under the terms of the Code of Conduct.

53.1     There were none.

Notification of items which the Chair considers to be urgent and proposes to take at the end of the appropriate part of the agenda. Any members who wish to raise urgent items are asked, wherever possible, to notify the Chair before the start of the meeting. In so doing, they must state the special circumstances which they consider justify the matter being considered urgently.

54.1     There were none.

To consider excluding the public and press from the meeting for the next two agenda items 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 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended), namely information relating to any individual.

55.1     The Panel agreed to exclude the press and public for the next two agenda items on the basis that if they were present there would be disclosure to them of information considered to be exempt by virtue of Category 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended), namely information relating to any individual.

56.1     The Panel considered reports received from Ofsted on the following services:

a)    Acorns at Dorset Road

b)    Brodrick House

c)    Hazel Lodge; and

d)    Homefield Cottage

56.2     The Panel discussed the importance of prompt responses from Property Services to ensure that any physical damage to buildings is dealt with quickly.

56.3     The Panel welcomed the positive outcomes of the Ofsted reports and praised the hard work of staff.

56.4     RESOLVED: to note the reports.

57.1     The Panel considered Regulation 44 Reports for the period June 2018 to September 2018 for the following Children’s Homes:

a)    Acorns at Dorset Road

b)    Brodrick House

c)    Hazel Lodge

d)    Homefield Cottage

e)    Lansdowne Secure Unit

f)     The Bungalow, Sorrell Drive

57.2     Each Registered Home Manager (RHM) gave a verbal update on activity at the home covering the period since the last Panel meeting.

57.3     The Panel discussed the challenges faced due to the diversity and range of young people’s needs and the implications this can have on staff as well as the other young people at the homes. The Panel were advised that emergency admissions can often exacerbate disruption at the homes; but that staff are trained to minimise any disruption as much as possible.

57.4     The Panel discussed the reward systems in place for the young people in Children’s Homes. This includes, for example, a reward for having a tidy bedroom. The Panel were informed of the positive effect such rewards can have and how it helps create a routine.  

57.5     The Panel praised the hard work of the staff and RHMs within each of the homes.

57.6     RESOLVED: to note the reports.

58.1     There were none.

Report by the Director of Children’s Services

59.1     The Panel considered a report by the Director of Children’s Services which provided an update on the annual performance of the Looked After Children’s Service for 2017-18.

59.2     The Panel were informed that, in line with a national trend, the numbers of LAC in East Sussex are increasing. This increase is being caused by a range of factors, including more children coming into the service and fewer leaving. A change in policy of no longer using bed and breakfasts for 16/17 year olds which is also having an impact as these young people are now being treated as LAC. The Panel were also informed of the improved practice on both neglect and responses to exploitation.

59.3     The Panel discussed the issue of missing children. They were advised that in the last year, 54 LAC went missing with 32 missing more than once. The Panel were advised that there is joint working with the police who can assist with locating the missing children and that the majority of young people are missing for short periods of time.

59.4     RESOLVED: to note the report.

Report by the Director of Chilren’s Services

60.1     The Panel considered a report by the Director of Children’s Services which provided an update on the current situation in East Sussex with regards to Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children (UASC).

60.2     Liz Rugg, Assistant Director, Early Help and Social Care, informed the Panel that a specialist UASC service has been formed within the Through Care Service (TCS) so as to focus on this area. The Panel were informed that that this new service will be fully up and running by the end of November 2018.

60.3     The Panel discussed the challenges of finding suitable accommodation for the UASC. The Panel were informed that all UASC under the age of 16 were placed in Foster placements and those over 16 were placed in supported lodgings or supported accommodation.

60.4     RESOLVED: to note the report.

Report by Director of Children's Services.

61.1      The Panel considered a report by the Director of Children’s Services which provided an update on Looked After Children (LAC) statistics.

61.2     The Panel were informed that although there has been a rise over the last quarter East Sussex is still just below the Income Deprivation Affecting Children Index (IDACI) expected rate.

61.3     RESOLVED: to note the report.

62.1     There were none.