Agenda item

Report by Director of Children’s Services

25.1    The report provided the Committee with an update on progress in relation to an Action Plan developed by the Department following an Ofsted inspection of Children in Need of Help and Protection, Children Looked After and Care Leavers  (the outcome of the inspection was published in March 2014).  Ofsted judged the services in this area as ‘Good’, with the Adoption Service being judged as ‘Outstanding’.   However, one sub-judgement of ‘Requires Improvement’ was issued in relation to the Care Leavers service.  As a result the Department developed an Action Plan to address Ofsted’s findings for this service. 

25.2    Following introductory remarks from Stuart Gallimore, Director of Children’s Services, Liz  Rugg, Assistant Director (Early Help and Social Care), provided a summary of progress on the Action Plan.  This included confirmation that the Care Leavers Service is now one team, based in a single office location and that the Department have strengthened the proportion of qualified social work staff to non-qualified social work staff.   This strengthening has helped with planning and risk assessment.   Feedback from care leavers has also been sought to assist with developing effective pathway plans which are audited to ensure they are in a suitable format for young people.   Progress has also been made with regard to the Virtual School and the assistance it has provided in helping improve outcomes for Care Leavers.

25.3    The area that continues to be a challenge for the Department relates to accommodation.     Whilst there continues to be some supported accommodation available, such as the YMCA, there is insufficient provision to meet demand – particularly in the east of the county.   Given the savings required in the next 3 years, it is the Department’s view that this situation is likely to deteriorate further.   This may mean further use of Bed and Breakfast accommodation where no other provision is possible and the alternative would be street homelessness.

Comments and Questions

25.4   The Committee thanked the Department for the update on the Action Plan and debated a number of issues which are summarized below.

• Apprenticeships.   The Committee felt the current performance regarding take-up of apprenticeships by care leavers was disappointing.  A query was also raised about whether more could be done to look at alternative sources of funding and support for this area (so as to help boost the levels of apprenticeships taken-up by care leavers).  In response, Anna Brookes (Head of Virtual School and Education, Employment and Training Coordinator) explained that whilst the apprenticeship figures are disappointing, the Department had tried hard to improve take-up levels.  For example, a number of young people had started apprenticeships, but not all were successfully completed.   The main impediment to successful completion appearing to be an affordability issue, as young people lose housing benefits if they accept the offer of an apprenticeship.   In response to a suggestion that representations should be made to the Government about the complexity of the benefits system in relation to young people, the Committee were informed that this area is being looked at nationally.   The Committee were also assured that the Department were exploring all possible sources of funding and support for care leavers.   Other issues discussed included reference to the relatively low target the Department have for care leavers to take-up apprenticeships.   In response the Committee were informed that the target is linked to Personal Education Plans, the number of Level 2 courses and the views of the young people themselves as to what they want to do.   In the main 16-18 year olds enrol in Further Education if they are able to sustain this.   Others enrol in re-engagement programmes such as the Prince’s Trust Programme.   One positive development is the growth in numbers of young people going on to university.    The Committee were also informed about the Countywide Employability Strategy, which care leavers are considered a key part of.  East Sussex County Council (ESCC) itself has also developed opportunities for care leavers.  The main issue now is to match these opportunities with what young people want to do.  Progress is also being made with regard to the services that ESCC commission and to see what can be done to require external providers to offer opportunities for care leavers.   The Committee were also assured that this area of work is monitored via the Council’s Care to Work strategy.

• Accommodation.  Whilst the Committee recognised the complexity of this area, they expressed particular concern about the provision of suitable accommodation and the impact on young people of proposed savings to the Supporting People programme in Adult Services .   The Committee also asked what dialogue was taking place with borough and district councils regarding accommodation.    In response the Director of Children’s Services agreed that the proposed savings will have an impact, but that it is the role of the Department to work with a range of partners to mitigate so far as is possible the scale of this impact.    It was also confirmed that the Department is discussing with borough and districts councils the issue of accommodation.   This involves, for example, discussions around the processes followed by borough and districts and whether, if slight changes were made by them, ESCC might then be in a position to recoup some monies which could then be fed back into this area.   The Director assured the Committee that the Department will keep the matter of accommodation for this vulnerable group under close review. 

• Supported Lodging Providers.   The Committee also asked about the level of payments being made to supported lodging providers and whether savings could be made to help fund the establishment of more providers. In response the Committee were informed that given the competitive market within which ESCC operates, there is limited scope for re-negotiating terms with providers of supported lodgings. 

• Independence.   The Committee noted the high percentage of children with special educational needs – 89% or 40 out of the 45 children who had been in continuous care for the 12 months ending 31 March 2015 (Indicator CP07 on page 21 of the agenda).     The Committee were concerned therefore as to whether the Department was setting itself unrealistic targets regarding independent living for Care Leavers and identifying appropriate pathways.  In response Liz Rugg informed the Committee that one of the strengths of the Virtual School is that the Department have developed a good track record of mapping future pathways.   Ultimately each pathway must come down to the needs of the individual and the reality is that whilst some of these young people will be able live independently, others will continue to need some support indefinitely.    A central task for the Department therefore is to try and reduce the numbers of those who need support in perpetuity.   Anna Brookes also informed the Committee that an increasing number of young people are being identified with social, emotional and mental well-being needs.  The Department therefore aims to help these young people achieve emotional and mental well-being and to be emotionally successful.   This would hopefully then help them stabilize and avoid becoming NEET in the long term.  

• Key Documents  In response to a question from the Committee, it was confirmed that the relevant officers keep copies of key documents (such as passports and national insurance documents) in case they are misplaced by young people. 

25.5    The Committee decided that they would like to give further consideration to the issue of accommodation for care leavers and therefore agreed that the original Recommendation 2  in the report be amended with wording set out in paragraph 25.6 (2) below.

25.6    RESOLVED:-  It was resolved to:

1)               note the progress made in key areas within services to care  leavers; and

2)  ask for more information regarding the ongoing challenges in providing sufficient, suitable accommodation options for care leavers; to consider, as part of the RPPR process, whether the risks identified in the report to this group could be reduced; and to investigate whether further progress could be made with Borough and District councils to help address the accommodation challenges identified in the report.