Issue - meetings

Background:

This report provided details of the 2015-2016 Medway Sufficiency Report, which set out how Medway Council would meet the placement needs of its current and future Children in Care and Care Leavers and improve their outcomes in light of an understanding of their needs and current provision.

The report explained that the scope was not restricted to just making good quality placements. The intention was to co-ordinate the range of activity across Children’s Services, including a clear focus on supporting families to stay together, wherever it was safe to do so, thus minimising the need for children to come into care, or supporting their timely return to their families.

The Sufficiency Report (attached at Appendix A to the report) identified a number of Commissioning priorities:

·                    secure sufficiency of provision for 16+ Homeless young people and Care Leavers

·                    drive up quality standards of supported accommodation

·                    address the gaps in provision around emotional well-being and behavioural support for 18+ young people

·                    drive forward improvements in performance in respect of Initial Health Assessments and Health Histories

·                    drive forward improvements in the number of Care Leavers in education, employment and training

·                    secure more cost effective provision for Looked After Children

·                    improve process for assessing and monitoring placements.

It was noted that the Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee had considered this report on 25 March 2015 and its comments were set out in section 7 of the report.

The report included a Diversity Impact Assessment screening form at Appendix B to the report. This indicated that a full assessment was not necessary.

Reasons:

The Medway Sufficiency Report is set within the context of national policy, legislation and guidance. The purpose of this document is to set out how

Medway Council will meet the placement needs of current and future children in care and Care Leavers, and improve their outcomes, in light of the Council’s understanding of their needs and current provision.