Agenda item

Agenda item

Children in Care Council - Presentation

 

To receive a presentation on various matters from the Children in Care Council representatives.

Minutes:

 

The Panel received a presentation from two Children in Care Council (CiCC) representatives which updated the meeting on the following matters:

 

·         The CiCC (attendance at meetings and support activities)

·         Children’s Commissioner

·         Young Voices Review Consultation

·         University of Bedfordshire Sowing the Seeds and Aim for Uni Days

·         Summer Activities

·         Frontline Social Work Training

·         Future Work.

 

A copy of the presentation is attached at Appendix A to these minutes.

 

A Member stated that she would like to see the events, such as those set out under Summer Activities in the presentation, dated in future so that the Panel knew when they took place.  She then sought a gender and age breakdown of the CiCC membership and the numbers involved, especially regarding those who regularly supported the CiCC.  The Member sought confirmation that the experience gained by the older members, such as those representatives who attended the Panel meetings, would be passed on to the younger members of the CICC.  In response a CiCC representative explained that the same CiCC members usually attended the Panel’s meetings because others were attending school or had other matters to deal with.

 

The Chairman suggested that a calendar of CiCC events could be of assistance to the Panel so that Members were aware of what was happening.  In response the Assistant Director Children’s services Operations suggested including the CiCC Forward Plan with the Panel’s work programme on future agendas for this purpose.

 

A foster carer suggested that calendars detailing forthcoming events should be purchased for all fostered children so that they could make their preferences known to their carers.  The Assistant Director Children’s Services Operations welcomed this suggestion.

 

A Member expressed concern that some children were being called out of their classes for their Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO) reviews and asked that this practice be limited and, if possible, ended. Another Member referred to allowing a choice of venue for the child to pick from.  He also felt that the Council was interrupting children’s learning in apparent contradiction to its own stance of emphasising the importance of such time.  The Member then queried whether children and young people were becoming involved in the CiCC, the attendance levels and whether they continued their involvement.  In response to the latter query a CiCC representative explained the action taken to encourage interest in the CiCC including a recruitment day.  The Participation Officer assured the meeting that there was a strong group of 8-15 year olds coming forward within the CiCC.

 

With regard to the matter of venue suitability for IRO reviews the Head of Corporate Parenting explained that there were a range of possible venues to choose from, including meeting at the child’s home.  He acknowledged the need to be more sensitive to the child’s wishes and gave a commitment that such meetings would not take place during teaching time.  The Assistant Director Children’s Services Operations added that there were 1600 IRO reviews a year and finding a suitable time and place for all parties involved was a challenge.

 

A CiCC representative reported on the My Care survey and the introduction of boxes on the survey form to allow respondents to write out their views and opinions in their own words.  The representative stated that the response had not been particularly good but the boxes containing the children’s views had provided valuable data.

 

The Assistant Director Children’s Services Operations acknowledged that that it was time to refresh the CiCC representation and this issue should be examined by a working group.  He added that the older representatives had grown to be young adults and ambassadors and, whilst forming the backbone of the CICC, consideration needed to be given to their ongoing role. He indicated that it was also time to recognise their unpaid hard work.  He offered to show a video to the Panel illustrating the work they had undertaken.

 

Members congratulated the CiCC for the high standard of work the body had carried out with the Council and the contribution it had made to the wellbeing of other Looked After Children.

 

A CiCC representative stated that she had seen the fostering service change for the better whilst the other referred to the awards they had received for helping to train social workers, how much this had meant to them and how she wanted to continue working with the Council in the future.  She stressed that both representatives had not undertaken the work for financial reasons.  A Member referred to the leadership and teamwork qualities displayed by the CiCC representatives and queried how the Council supported them when they applied for jobs.  In response one of the representatives explained that she was able to use various officers as references.

 

Members acknowledged that the CiCC representatives were older, that they had made a positive impact on the Panel and that there was a desire to know more about the CiCC’s meetings and work and to become more involved in them.  The Chairman confirmed this and added that there was a positive feeling amongst the Panel to move on and that the Council’s officers could assist in the refresh of CiCC representation.  She also commented on the need to inform and educate the remaining Members of the Council.

 

A Member referred to a previous meeting where some of those young people leaving foster care had spoken to the Panel about their experiences and issues and suggested that it would be useful if this exercise were repeated.

 

One of the CiCC representatives reported on her experience of other care councils across the country and the differences in how they worked.  She stated that it had been useful to gain awareness of these differences.

 

The Participation Officer advised the Panel of a forthcoming conference in London on corporate parenting.  She undertook to circulate details to Members so that they could consider whether they wished to attend or not.

 

RESOLVED

 

1          that activities outlined in future Children in Care Council (CiCC) presentations be dated so Members are aware of when they had occurred;

 

2          that the CiCC forward plan be included with the Panel’s work programme on future agendas;

 

3          that a calendar of forthcoming events be presented to all Looked After Children so that they can make their preferences known to their carers;

 

4          that a video of the CiCC’s work be presented to a future meeting of the Panel;

 

5          that a selection of foster care leavers re asked to attend a meeting of the Panel to describe their experiences in care and raise any issues they had;

 

6          that the CiCC representation on the Panel be refreshed and a working group be formed for this purpose;

 

7          that an update report regarding resolution 6 above be submitted to the next meeting of the Panel.

 

 

Supporting documents: