To consider a report outlining the activity of the Independent Reviewing Officers/Conference and Review Service in relation to the reviews of Looked After Children during 2014-15.

The Panel considered a report by the Director of Children’s Services which introduced the Independent Reviewing Officers’ Annual Report for the period April 2014 to March 2015.  The meeting noted that, under the statutory guidance, the Independent Reviewing Officers’ (IROs’) Manager was responsible for the production of an Annual Report for consideration by members of the Corporate Parenting Panel.  To this end a copy of the Annual Report was attached at Appendix A to the Director of Children’s Services report. 

The Practice Manager Conference and Review, as the author of the Annual Report, worked through it and highlighted matters for information.  However, initial discussion centred on ensuring the content of future reports to the Panel was as accessible as possible for all readers by including a clear explanation of all acronyms and abbreviations used.  The Directors of Social Care, Health and Housing and Children’s Services undertook to ensure that future reports complied with this requirement.

Discussion covered the interactive event day organised by the IRO’s with the assistance of the Participation Officer at which 12 young people and four IRO’s had attended.  The response by the young people to the questions raised by the IRO’s on what made a good IRO and what made a good Looked After Review was considered as was the feedback by the IRO’s to their colleagues and the action which had subsequently been agreed.  Following comments by a Member the Practice Manager Conference and Review explained that the IRO’s were already challenged through both an internal auditing process and by Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills (OFSTED) reviews.

The Assistant Director Children’s Services Operations informed the meeting of the important role played by the IRO’s and their statutory right to directly approach the Chairman of the Panel and the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (CAFCASS) if they believed the Council was not acting in a child’s interest.  He added that the work involved a huge administrative and professional task and he expressed his thanks to the Practice Manager Conference and Review for undertaking this role. 

Discussion took place on the resilience of the IRO service and its ability to respond to challenges.  In connection with this issue the Practice Manager Conference and Review referred to the substantial financial pressures arising from the increase in unaccompanied asylum seekers.  The meeting noted the UK Border Agency’s practices in relation to the assessment of illegal immigrants and the impact on the IRO service.  Full discussion took place on the action Members should take should they become aware of the presence of illegal immigrants and/or unaccompanied asylum seekers.  The Chairman felt that clarification and further information on this matter was required.

The Panel considered a CiCC representative’s personal experiences with his IRO.  The Participation Officer explained how young people wanted to spend more time with their IRO’s.  She emphasised the importance of the relationship given that this remained a constant whenever possible.  The Participation Officer also acknowledged that Looked After Children were not seeing their IRO’s to a degree which the former found acceptable.

Arising from a query by the Vice-Chairman discussion took place on the availability of suitable accommodation for young people.  The Head of Corporate Parenting stated that this issue was being examined with the aim of examining the framework in the summer.  The Panel felt that this presented an opportunity for an update to be presented on the progress made.

NOTED

the activity of the Conference and Review Service in relation to the reviews of Looked After Children during 2013-14 as set out within the Independent Reviewing Officers’ Annual Report.

RESOLVED

1          that an update on accommodation provision for young persons be submitted to a future meeting of the Panel;

2          that the Director of Social Care, Health and Housing and Assistant Director Children’s Services Operations draw up a briefing note for circulation to Members setting out the impact of the growth in the numbers of illegal immigrants and unaccompanied asylum seekers and what action Members should take if they became aware of their presence.