Issue - meetings

The Board received a presentation from the Operational Director for Children and Families which provided Members with an overview of the key service developments. 

 

Information on the following was included:

 

·       Caseload breakdown;

·       I-CART activity;

·       Contacts;

·       North West Profile;

·       Assessment Timescales;

·       Children in Need;

·       Children in Care;

·       Placement Stability; and

·       Current activity and developments within the service.

 

Following the presentation Members raised the following queries:

 

Why were children sometimes moved around?

 

This could be for a number of reasons but generally: the child goes missing; the foster carer gives notice; or it could be a social worker decision following a review.

 

Have there been any serious case reviews lately?

 

Not since the one two years ago following a teenager having an acute life-threatening event.

 

Would it be possible to have the child protection figures by Ward?

 

Yes this and other relative data would be arranged into Ward profiles and sent to Members.

 

How many children do foster carers usually have?

 

This depends on their accommodation i.e. number of bedrooms.  It also depends on the carer themselves as to how many they wanted.  Children over the age of 10 also have to have their own bedroom, so this was taken into consideration as well.

 

          Members welcomed the information provided and agreed it was very helpful, to the extent that they would like even more detail in future.

 

RESOLVED:  That the Board notes the contents of the report and presentation.