Issue - meetings
Scrutiny Review Task Group - Support for Care Leavers
Meeting: 14/04/2015 - Cabinet (Item 4)
4 Support for Care Leavers Task Group 
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Minutes:
Background:
This report asked Members to consider the final report of the in-depth review that had considered support for care leavers in Medway.
It was noted that the Task Group had considered the scope and complexity of the services available for care leavers, together with the potential impact on Medway Council’s children and adults services and the Council’s partners. Having reviewed existing internal and external provision of services, the Task Group brought together evidence and identified both positive practices and some gaps where improvements were already being made or could be made to close these gaps and improve the overall experiences for care leavers to smoothen their transition into young adulthood.
A copy of the Task Group’s final report was attached at Appendix A.
The Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee had considered the Task Group report on 25 March 2015 and details of the discussion were set out in section 7 of the report. The Committee had endorsed the report, subject to reference to the recent statutory guidance on promoting the health and wellbeing of looked after children (which had been incorporated within the version attached to the Cabinet report).
A Diversity Impact Assessment was attached to the Task Group report. This identified that a wide range of evidence was gathered to support the recommendations, which sought to improve opportunities for Care Leavers 18+ across a range of outcomes e.g. access to employment, education and training, suitable accommodation.
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Decision number: |
Decision: |
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50/2015 |
The Cabinet agreed that the future Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) include within its Children in Care section, information on health outcomes and needs data for Care Leavers and recommended the Medway CCG, in partnership with the Council, ensure a focus on care leavers when commissioning services using evidence about their needs by using the JSNA. |
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51/2015 |
The Cabinet recommended that the Medway CCG, in partnership with the Council, work with provider agencies to develop and implement all age pathways that help bridge the gaps caused from transition from children to adult services (e.g. CAMHS, ADHD, SEN). |
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52/2015 |
The Cabinet agreed that Personal Advisors receive additional support and training to provide: - a. Promotion of healthy lifestyles advice, including emotional wellbeing (engaging with Public Health on contributing to this via workforce development) b. Information on how to access support services where necessary. |
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53/2015 |
The Cabinet agreed to note and support the changes in relation to commissioning to improve choice and availability of accommodation and support options and that the impact and success of this be reviewed in six months time. |
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54/2015 |
The Cabinet agreed that Partnership Commissioning (on behalf of Children Social Care) and Housing Services: - a. Review the newly commissioned supported accommodation and floating support arrangements to ensure compliance and that care leavers are being supported appropriately. b. Monitor allocations policy to ensure adequate and appropriate priority is being awarded to care leavers. c. Review the provision of arrangements where care leavers are provided with temporary housing to ensure that it is meeting ... view the full minutes text for item 4 |