Agenda item

This update was produced following a presentation made to the Corporate Parenting Board in October by four care leavers, their Personal Advisors and managers from the Care Leavers Service. During this presentation a 'wish list' was read out that was believed would greatly assist care leavers to make the transition into adult life.

Rhys Davies and James McDonald brought the Care Leavers and Housing Update to the Board to provide information on key areas of development work in respect of both the 'wish list' aims and other areas of joint development working.

There was a recommendation that the Corporate Parenting Board receive regular updates on the progress of housing and care leavers from both the Care Leavers Services and District Housing.

During the update a number of points were made with Marc Bayliss raising concerns that 10 – 11% of care leavers being in unsuitable accommodation and asked for clarification on the number of children in Bed and Breakfast accommodation. Rhys Davies confirmed there were none that he was aware of which was also confirmed by Nina Warrington who stated the figures for Worcester City were not easy to extract. In 2016 there were nine Care Leavers in temporary accommodation, five of these being young people from care with the others being aged up to 21 years old. In 2017 four Care Leavers were in temporary accommodation with two older Care Leavers being in B & B and two in Crash Pads at the YMCA.

Sally Clewes asked why quarterly information was not made available more frequently and where was it held.

Tina Russell advised this quarterly data enabled the team to complete a more useful analysis of trends. In monthly data this was more difficult and coul be quite reactive to little changes that were not really an actual trend of performance. For the purpose of this board quarterly data aided a more useful discussion. The business did monitor a range of data weekly and monthly. 

Councillor Roberts welcomed the quarterly data and felt more information around qualitative data would give a real life experience.

Jake Shaw suggested that the data specific to some of the youth groups be looked at and discussed with Speak Out.

Discussions arose around Crash Pad Plus. Councillor Marc Bayliss questioned how many units were in the north and the south of the County and asked if, in terms of current demand, this was appropriate.

Councillor Lucy Hodgson added that this was a staff intensive project and suggested volunteers may be able to take up some of the demand. She felt it would be worthwhile looking at what the VCS is already doing and what community projects were going on across Worcestershire.

Jake Shaw confirmed Care Leavers Services had started to make connections with VCS and refugee support groups and there were a number of volunteers waiting to help and provide support.

Nina Warrington advised the Corporate Parenting Board that there would be changes in funding and it was hoped that following the consultation which closed 23rd January, different streams of funding would be available.

Sally Clewes raised the issue of care leavers being referred to as homeless when they were actually searching for homes and asked that the Board look at changing how Care Leavers were referred to.

Nina Warrington confirmed that the housing team had already started looking at the terminology in their service area and this was noted by the Corporate Parenting Board.

Marc Bayliss was concerned that there was a need to use terms that raise the issue of homeless care leavers to keep it on the public agenda.

Councillor Roberts gave a recommendation on what terminology should be used and Sally Clewes agreed to take this back to discuss with care leaver groups.

Catherine Driscoll added that agencies needed to think about their lobbying voice and turning up the volume for care leavers. If the legislation was poorly drafted then the Board would need to think about how to get it heard in political circles.

Jane Potter referred to point 14 on the Care Leavers and Housing Update and requested more information on the discussions between the Care Leavers service and Speak Out.

Sally Clewes agreed to go back to the young people and if they agreed, would share the minutes of that meeting.

Councillor Roberts asked if things were improving. Catherine Driscoll felt she could not assure the Board that all the things the County Council were committed to have been done, although a lot of hard work had been done. She highlighted that the 2017 Social Work Act was clear Districts share corporate parenting responsibilities as Corporate Parents. She reminded the Board that OFSTED would be returning in April 2018 and agreed with Councillor Bayliss that they would be asking for numbers of how many young people are in B & B. 

Nina Warrington stated that under the Section 11 order there were a range of questions with the WM framework but nothing specifically about corporate parenting, she felt that something needed to be added on this.

Catherine Driscoll agreed to feed this back.

Councillor Fran Oborski requested an update on the proposal to exempt care leavers from council tax. Jake Shaw confirmed this had been discussed at the Worcestershire Leaders' Board on 1^st February and they had recommended that District councils will use their discretionary hardship funds to reduce the council tax liability to zero for care leavers under the age of 25 with effect from 1 April 2018, subject to the following:

1. The care leaver being in receipt of some council tax support for at least part of the year;

2. The district council being notified by the County Council promptly of all care leavers under the age of 25 living in its area;

3. If the financial burden / additional administration becomes unmanageable for any district council, then that district council reserves the right to seek financial assistance from the County Council.

Jake Shaw agreed to feed back to the Corporate Parenting Board if District Council Leaders endorsed this approach.

Councillor Bayliss asked if officers could provide assurance that if OFSTED came in tomorrow they would see an improvement as they would need to see a rapid improvement that B & B is no longer being used.

This was echoed by Councillor Andy Roberts.

Catherine Driscoll responded that she felt the Corporate Parenting Board could not be assured that all had been done that the County Council was committed to. Corporate Parenting did need to be continually highlighted and it was for District Councils to step up. A lot of work was still needed which was a joint responsibility and the Corporate Parenting Board was the vehicle to send this message. She was pleased with the measures that were being taken but as a Corporate Parent she was concerned the standard was not satisfactory and hoped people would work hard to eradicate B & B. 

ACTIONS:

1. The Corporate Parenting Board receives regular updates on the progress of housing and care leavers from both the Care Leavers Services and District Housing.
2. The data specific to some of the youth groups be looked at and discussed with Speak Out.
3. Sally Clewes to speak to young people looking for homes - to identify how they wish to be referred to as an alternative to 'homeless'.
4. Sally Clewes to share the minutes of those discussions.
5. Catherine Driscoll to feedback comments that the WM Framework does not include questions specifically on corporate parenting.
6. Jake Shaw agreed to feedback to the Corporate Parenting Board if Council Leaders agreed to endorsing care leavers being exempt from council tax.