To receive a presentation from Adam Johnston.
Minutes:
Adam Johnston gave a presentation on the Worcester Children’s First Sufficiency Strategy for 2021.
Adam explained that the sufficiency strategy related to the process of ensuring that there are enough adequate placements for children and the avoidance of children being unnecessarily looked after.
Adam began the presentation by outlining the legislation and requirements of a sufficiency strategy for local authorities. The core piece of legislation being The Children Act 1989. The Act provides guidance on the requirement to provide accommodation to children in care and care leavers. Adam discussed several aspects and requirements of a sufficiency strategy including:
· the corporate parenting responsibilities,
· the measurement of outcomes for children using KPIs,
· the requirement to determine what is ‘reasonably practicable’ when considering placing children with specialist or secure care needs,
· Ofsted service inspections which look at the experiences of children and their outcomes,
· separate focussed visit Ofsted inspections of children’s homes,
· the legislation relating to unregulated semi-independent accommodation. Adam clarified that unregulated provision for children aged 16+ is not illegal. No children under 16 would be placed in unregulated provision.
Adam moved on to discuss the principles which underpin the sufficiency strategy. These included principles of:
· placing children locally to their family and friends,
· providing a ‘family’ experience,
· only using care when absolutely necessary,
· placing children with carers who are connected to the child in some way,
· only using residential care as a short-term strategy with the aim to place a child in long-term family care,
· providing ongoing support to care leavers which fits their needs,
· using short breaks to promote ‘shared care’ and provide support to parents.
Adam moved on to discuss how Worcester Children’s First had developed over recent years and the journey of improvement which the organisation has been through. In 2016, Ofsted provided negative reports on several aspects of the service. Conversely, children’s homes were rated as ‘outstanding’. Adam explained that at the time, long-term, stable care was viewed as a criteria of a successful home. The focus in 2018/2019 shifted to improving permanency planning for children and placing more value on family life. Since 2019 the service has shown significant improvement across the board. In 2021, the sufficiency strategy aimed to sustain the improvements which Ofsted identified in 2016.
Adam moved on to present statistics relating to looked after children and care leavers which were used to inform the sufficiency strategy.
Finally, Adam summarised the planned elements of the strategy for the future. These included:
· Expansion of Supporting Families First provision to help WCF support care prevention aims.
· Foster care recruitment strategy, including the creation of a ‘buddy carers’ system.
· A review of Special Guardianship to allow children in family arrangements the opportunity to secure permeance by legal order.
· The conversion of Oak House into a semi-independent supported living provision.
· Refurbishment of all semi-independent provision.
· Maintenance of Riddings and Vale Lodge which have good Ofsted judgements.
· Planned closure of Hill View.
· Plans to maintain and expand relations with regional framework and local providers.
· In response to a trend of a rise in children with disabilities entering the care system, a pilot system was being developed where individuals with experience would go into the home to support the child and the parents.
· West Midlands bid for a new secure estate.
After the presentation questions were taken from the Board. Adam confirmed that he would distribute the slides and the sufficiency strategy to Board Members.
Fran Oborski queried how certainty is gained when a young person is taken into care that their experience is going to be better than their home life. Adam explained that this was established through a combination of approaches which are provided in the sufficiency strategy. Firstly, a child would only be accommodated if this is the only option for them. For children accommodated within Worcestershire, WCF ensure that the accommodation is to the highest possible standard. For children accommodated outside of the County, there is an expectation that the placements are well-rated by Ofsted. WCF will also maintain oversight of these external placements with the support of the regional framework.
Steve Mackay asked whether the regional framework applies to children’s residential homes in addition to semi-independent living provision. Adam confirmed that the established regional framework commissions external residential homes and foster placements. The regional framework for external semi-independent living had recently being established in partnership with several other authorities.
In reference to Greenhill Lodge Children’s Home, Matthew Jenkins asked whether any lessons had been learned from the process of the closure of the home. Adam referred to the change in culture and attitudes over recent years which was discussed earlier in the presentation. There is now a greater focus on ensuring that the right provision is available for children and that it is fit for purpose.