Children & Young Peoples Overview and Scrutiny Committee 29 - - PDF document

Children & Young People’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee 29 June 2011 Looked After Children Presentation Report of Lorraine O’Donnell, Assistant Chief Executive

Purpose of the Report To provide Members of the Children & Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee with supporting information in advance of a presentation on Looked after Children by Gail Hopper Head of Safeguarding and Specialist Services at the Committee’s meeting on 29 June 2011. Background The numbers of children looked after by the local authority has increased compared to previous years. This is a topic that has been identified within the Altogether Better for Children and Young People of the Council plan as a cause for concern. Reasons for the Presentation Performance reports have highlighted an indicator that compares the numbers

• f children in local authority care with numbers of children in local authority

care from previous years. Currently the indicator is showing that there are more children in local authority care than previous years. This presentation will give members information as to the reasons why there is an upward trend for local authority care of children by considering the following areas:

• The trend increase in LAC – profiling the last 5 years
• Why children become looked after
• The profile of LAC (age, gender, context etc)
• The multi-agency practitioner’s view of why this is happening
• The regional picture – how do we compare and how does the size of

LAC population measure against deprivation levels

• What happens after they become looked after ie what does it tell us

about whether this is the right action or not

• What is happening to reduce the need for children to become looked

after

• Achieving long term / permanent outcomes for children
• Managing costs

Members will then be able to consider the information presented and decide whether the matter requires further overview and scrutiny consideration. Recommendations Members of the Committee are asked to:

• note information within the presentation
• Consider if the topic requires further investigation by Overview and
• Scrutiny. If so agree to arrangements to facilitate membership, scope,

and terms of reference for scrutiny investigation to take place. Background Papers - None Contact: Feisal Jassat, Overview and Scrutiny Manager Tel: 0191 383 3506 feisal.jassat@durham.gov.uk Ann Whitton, Overview and Scrutiny Officer Tel: 0191 383 3234 ann.whitton@durham.gov.uk

Appendix 1: Implications Finance – None Staffing - None Equality and Diversity – None Accommodation – None Crime and Disorder – None Human Rights – Looked after children are afforded the same human rights as any other child in County Durham Consultation – None Procurement – None Disability Discrimination Act – None Legal Implications – The presentation takes into consideration the safeguarding issues.