Agenda item

Report to follow.

The report was not circulated within the five clear working days deadline for the reasons set out in the report. The annual report was considered as a late and urgent item to ensure the most current information had been provided on delivery of services and outcomes for children in care and care leavers.

Khalil Campbell and officers from the fostering team presented the annual report of Southwark Fostering Service.

·  The annual report was to inform on the activity of the fostering service in order to review and improve the quality of care and national minimum standards (2011)

·  It covers performance and developments in Southwark’s delivery of fostering services and how the council was compliant with key national minimum standards

·  The service offered to those seeking to foster and the children in care that were fostered

·  Southwark fostering service now part of the South London Consortium

·  Southwark fostering service was inspected by Ofsted – and judged as good in all areas

·  Ofsted mentioned recruitment and retention – outlined advertising someone to market the fostering carers

·  Fostering: Placements in general had been reduced with more children going into kinship or with people they know

·  Moving forward: Revisited internal processes, hold regular meetings, compliance review and ensure all social workers and carers were skilled

·  CAMHS model – focussed on outcomes – child adolescents, understanding strengths, and best practices

·  Placement disability forums – CAMHS fits in well with this – wider support

·  First UK local authority to adopt the practice

·  Care recruitment

·  Importance – need to show what the fostering service offer in comparison to other local authorities 

·  Communications officer – propose to recruit a dedicated person.

The chair mentioned the deputy mayor hoped to put this at the forefront (focus diverse groups) when she becomes mayor.

RESOLVED:

That the annual report of the Southwark Fostering Service be noted.