Agenda item

Corporate Parenting Committee - Work plan 2019-2020

Minutes:

Alasdair Smith, director of children and families introduced the corporate workplan 2019/2020

 

Alasdair summarised the following:

 

·  If members could submit their ideas and topics they would be considered for discussion at future corporate parent committee meetings

 

·  What Members should consider and what to expect from the committee meetings

 

·  Addressed issue regarding the non attendance of young people at corporate parent committee meetings. Representatives for the young people felt that the topics on the agenda were mainly data specific which they thought might not be relevant to young people wishing to attend the meeting.

 

The chair asked that the children’s and adult services should ensure the young people receive their invites for each meeting.

 

Summary

 

Alasdair drew members’ attention to the report which refers to the committee’s role and functions:

 

·  Officers would like to strengthen the role of non voting members and look at providing extra support as well as arranging for them to attend the corporate parent committee

 

·  Members agreed the person nominated or selected as a voting member should be a foster carer

 

·  A critical friend from the local community and a critical friend from an area of the council outside the children and adults service

 

·  Invite a representative from Southwark’s frontline service workforce, possibly a social worker or a senior council officer from the housing or environment departments. This would not include statutory linked officers. The named representatives would be identified by the committee

 

·  Alasdair proposed the housing and support for care leavers would attend a meeting with a presentation

 

·  Provide advanced notice on themes for the committee

 

·  Noted that the workplan would be reviewed at every committee meeting.

 

Alasdair also responded to questions from members on performance and outcomes particularly the numbers that were in care and those in independent living.

 

ACTION:

 

1.  That an annual report on regional adoption should be provided at the next meeting.

 

2.  The workplan must be reviewed at the end of scheduled meetings 2019/20.

 

3.  Keep track of ongoing issues with the corporate parent committee. Alasdair said they would be revisited at future meetings and what progress had been made on past topics and discussions.

 

4.  This would include what had been achieved as a result of discussion at corporate parent committee meeting.

 

5.  Teenage pregnancy and teenage mental health: Look at service providers to ensure they get the right level of support and assistance. 

 

6.  A report on the achievements of the corporate parent committee be made available to the committee.

 

7.  Members requested information concerning those A level students under care that went on to university – chair agreed this was an important point which was addressed under the topic care leavers.

 

RESOLVED:

 

1.  That the committee’s approach to the workplan be agreed.

 

2.  That any further items for consideration be reviewed and identified.

 

3.  That the additional reports as set out above be received by the committee.

Supporting documents: