Issue - meetings

The Outline Sufficiency Report issued in October 2020 set out the challenges and trends affecting our children in and leaving care (CIC and CL). As at end of October 2020, there were 459 children in care (age 0-25). The current rate of children in care is the highest that Medway has seen (73.5 per 10,000 0-17 year olds).

This report seeks Council approval to make an addition to the Capital Programme in support of the proposals agreed by the Cabinet on 12 January 2021 following initial consideration by the Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 7 January 2021.

Discussion:

This report requested Council approval to make an addition to the Capital Programme in support of the proposals agreed by the Cabinet on 12 January 2021 following initial consideration by the Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 7 January 2021.

The comments, recommendations and decisions of the Committee and Cabinet were set out in sections 6 and 7 of report respectively.

The report outlined the options that had been available to the Cabinet to develop an Assessment Unit to support with the reunification of children back with families or into more suitable and longer-term arrangements. The report explained that due to the high levels of vulnerability of the young people undergoing assessment, one Assessment Unit would support no more than four young people at a time. The unit would be run as a children’s home and there would be a methodology behind the support programme to the young people that would run on a cyclical basis. The home would be staffed by a wrap-around multi-professional support team and additional support brought in as required by the care plans for the young people.

The Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services (Lead Member), Councillor Mrs Josie Iles, supported by the Portfolio Holder for Education and Schools, Councillor Potter, proposed the recommendation, as set out below:

“Full Council is asked to add £1,654,000 to the capital programme to fund the purchase and related fees and costs for the purchase and conversion of the 2 alternative properties to progress option 4b, and the refurbishment of the Old Vicarage, as set out in section 3 of the report”.

The Council was advised that the recommendation differed slightly from that set out in the report as the cost of refurbishment of the Old Vicarage children’s home had not been reflected in the recommendation.

Decision:

The Council agreed to add £1,654,000 to the capital programme to fund the purchase and related fees and costs for the purchase and conversion of the 2 alternative properties to progress option 4b, and the refurbishment of the Old Vicarage, as set out in section 3 of the report.

Councillors Adeoye, Browne, Curry, Johnson, Khan, Mahil, Maple, Murray, Paterson and Andy Stamp requested that their votes in favour of the decision be recorded in accordance with Council Rule 12.6.

Background:

This report outlined the options available to Medway Council to develop an Assessment Unit to support with the reunification of children back with families or into more suitable and longer-term arrangements.

The report explained that due to the high levels of vulnerability of the young people undergoing assessment, one Assessment Unit would support no more than 4 young people at a time. The unit would be run as a children’s home and there would be a methodology behind the support programme to the young people that would run on a cyclical basis. The home would be staffed by a wrap-around multi-professional support team and additional support brought in as required by the care plans for the young people.

The options were considered by the Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 7 January 2021, details of which were set out in an addendum report. The addendum report also provided an analysis of the Committee’s recommendation.

During the discussion of this item, the Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services (Lead Member) explained that the preferred option was to progress 4b, as this option would meet the requirement to deliver an Assessment Unit at pace and would offer the greatest flexibility.

Reasons:

Option 4b delivers the most cost-effective service in the shortest timeline while placing the management of our vulnerable and complex children in the hands of experts well-resourced to do the job, by operating two units after a two-year period.

Option 4b builds in the opportunity to improve outcomes for a larger number of Medway’s young people over time, whilst delivering value for money and the greatest cost savings of the options examined. It offers a long-term opportunity to contribute  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8