To consider and comment on the Looked After Children Placement Strategy for 2011/12.

The Panel considered a report setting out the Looked After Children Placement Strategy for 2011/13.  The meeting noted that the Strategy had been prepared in response to requirements set out within the statutory guidance issued in 2010.

The Strategy covered the following:

• Looked After Population Data and Trends
• Current Placement Provision
• Provision for Children on the Edge of Care
• Adoption and Permanence
• Principles of Good Placements
• Assessing Demand
• Planning for Change

The Head of Adoption and Fostering stated that the document had been prepared in the autumn of 2011 and it was expected that it would be updated on an annual basis.  She then worked through the Strategy introducing various matters for Members’ attention.  The Head of Adoption and Fostering referred to the need to remodel types of placements in order to meet need and referred the meeting to the Placement Strategy Action Plan, attached as an appendix to the Strategy document, which set out proposals to achieve this.

A Member commented on the absence of ‘as of’ dating within the document which made it difficult to know what period the data covered or to carry out any meaningful comparison.  Further, the document itself lacked a general publication date.  In response the Head of Adoption and Fostering explained how the data in the Strategy had been collected. 

The Member also sought information on the provision of hostel accommodation for 16-17 year olds.  The Head of Adoption and Fostering stated that hostel accommodation was available within Central Bedfordshire at Sandy and in neighbouring Bedford and Luton if required.  However, from the autumn of 2012, it was intended to expand the range of suitable accommodation within Central Bedfordshire.   The Head of Adoption and Fostering added that those persons placed in hostels were usually those who were homeless after the age of 16.  It was unusual to use hostel accommodation for Looked After Children unless absolutely necessary but, if it was, it would be accompanied by a package of supporting measures.

A Member sought clarification on the use of secure accommodation by Central Bedfordshire Council for one young person for part of the year.  In response the Assistant Director (Acting) explained that this arose from a court order issued for the young person’s own safety.  Secure accommodation in Essex had been used as it was one of the nearest of the type.  The Assistant Director (Acting) added that the time spent by the young person in secure accommodation had been the absolute minimum required and a package of support measures had been put in place to assist with rehabilitation.

In response to a member’s query as to why Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) children were over represented within the numbers of Looked After Children in comparison with the general population, the Assistant Director (Acting) explained that this could be due to there sometimes being a larger number of children in BME families.  However, she stressed that the percentage of BME children was at the same level as that experienced under the legacy authority (Bedfordshire County Council).  She also emphasised that officers challenged themselves on their response to ensure BME children did not become looked after as a result of unconscious stereotyping or a lack of culturally appropriate support.  The Head of Adoption and Fostering explained that the largest percentage was formed by Gypsy and Traveller children who, whilst white, had strong cultural differences.

In response to a query from the Chairman on the recording of LAC numbers the Assistant Director (Acting) explained that the collection of this data was a national requirement.  She added that it was also embedded in the Directorate’s working practices.

Last, the meeting noted that whilst the Adoption and Fostering Service was a shared service with Bedford Borough Council the latter had its own placement strategy.

RESOLVED

1          that the Looked After Children Placement Strategy be amended to include the publication date and one, consistent ‘as of’ date throughout which referred to the most up to date data available;

2          that the amended Strategy be referred to the Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee for consideration and comment.