To consider the Children in Care Council’s Annual Report for the period 1 April 2014 to 31 March 2015.

The Panel considered the Children in Care Council’s (CiCC’s) Annual Report for the period 1 April 2014 to 31 March 2015.  The aim of the report was to summarise and evaluate the work undertaken by the CiCC and the Participation Officer during this period. 

The Panel also received a presentation from the CiCC which complemented the Annual Report

A slide pack for the presentation was circulated and a copy is attached at Appendix A to these minutes.

The CiCC representatives worked through the presentation, each taking turns to introduce sections.  At the conclusion the Assistant Director Children’s Services Operations suggested that the Panel recognise the efforts of the CiCC representatives and thank them accordingly.  The Chairman, on behalf of the Panel, concurred with this suggestion.

A Member referred to the use of acronyms within both the report and presentation and requested that officers provide a full explanation of an acronym's meaning in future documents.  In response the Assistant Director Children’s Services Operations apologised for this occurrence and undertook to ensure that this situation was not repeated.

The Vice-Chairman sought the CiCC representatives’ views on their level of involvement in the development of the Passport to Independence.  A CiCC representative stated that she had actively participated and had attended a meeting with Housing officers.  The Team Manager 13+ Transition and Leaving Care added that support from the Housing team had been excellent and officers had encouraged participation.

The Director of Social Care, Health and Housing then asked the CiCC representatives what single matter had made the biggest difference to them over the past year.  In response one of the representatives explained how she was able to draw on her own experience to prepare a booklet which could be used by other Looked After Children going through a similar experience.  Another representative referred to work undertaken on the Passport for Independence.

The Assistant Director Children’s Services Operations referred to the Young Voices group and how he and the Chief Executive of the Council had played Jenga with some of the young people as a means to overcome boundaries and encourage them to talk about aspects of their lives.  A foster carer representative said she was unaware of the group and sought information on how younger people found out about it.  In response a CiCC representative explained that notification was made by letter and recruitment days arranged.  Another CiCC representative stated that this information would also be available on the website when it became available.  Discussion followed during which the Head of Corporate Parenting undertook to establish why the foster carer had not received information on the Young Voices group.  With regard to the website, the Assistant Director Children’s Services Operations acknowledged that there had been a substantial delay in its implementation but he felt that any problems had been overcome and the website would soon be available.

The Chairman expressed his thanks and stated that the Panel fully recognised the commitment of the CiCC representatives.  The presentation had illustrated the CiCC’s achievements and he asked that the CiCC representatives take a message back to their colleagues of the pride felt by the Panel.  The Chairman also thanked the representatives for their honesty and willingness to share their views and encouraged them to continue to do so.  He concluded by thanking, on behalf of the Panel, the CiCC for its contribution.  In response the CiCC representatives thanked the Panel for permitting them to participate.

A CiCC representative asked if Members and officers had found that working with the CiCC had been helpful.  In response the Chairman stated that it had been valuable whilst the Director of Social Care, Health and Housing referred specifically to how the CiCC’s comments on Looked After Children and young people’s housing provision had galvanised both her and the Assistant Director Children’s Services Operations to change their approach on this issue.  She added that she had been impressed with their contribution in general.

A Member expressed his congratulations to one of the CiCC representatives, an unaccompanied asylum seeker, for his English language skills given that he had only been resident in the UK for seven months.

Another Member referred to his own experience in encouraging young people to participate and take control of their lives.  He also acknowledged how difficult it was to appear before a meeting such as the Panel but hoped that their attendance would continue and that more young people would attend in the future.

NOTED

1          the Children in Care Council and Participation Annual Report 2014-2015;

2          the presentation by the Children in Care Council representatives.

RESOLVED

that the efforts of the Children in Care Council representatives be recognised and they be thanked for their contribution.

(Note: At the conclusion of this item the Children in Care Council representatives left the meeting).