Agenda

To approve the record of the meeting held on 12 August 2026.  

The Chairperson will announce any late items which do not appear on the main agenda but which he/she has agreed should be considered by reason of special circumstances to be specified in the report. 

Members are invited to disclose any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests or Other Significant Interests in accordance with the Member Code of Conduct. Guidance on this is set out in agenda item 4.

Following consultation with the Director of People and Deputy Chief Executive, it was agreed that this meeting would be Children’s Social Care Reforms and Special Educational Needs and Disability Reforms themed.

Estimated time: 1 hour 30 Minutes.

This report provides an update on progress implementing the national children's social care reforms in Medway.

The reforms aim to:

·        help families receive support earlier.

·        strengthen child protection arrangements.

·        increase support available to kinship carers.

·        improve the availability of local placements for children in care.

·        improve outcomes for care leavers.

Progress continues across all reform areas. During the reporting period significant developments have included further design of the Family Help model, implementation of Family Network Support Packages, progress towards a Multi-Agency Child Protection Team, expansion of support for kinship carers and continued development of plans to improve services for care leavers.

The report highlights achievements, next steps and areas where continued partnership working is required.

The report sets out Medway's Local SEND Reform Plan, approved jointly by Medway Council, NHS Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board and the wider Local Area Partnership. The Plan sets out the next stages of whole-system reform creating a sustainable, inclusive, and outcomes-focused 0-25 SEND system.

The reform programme responds to significant growth in demand, increasing Education Health Care Plan (EHCP) requests, increasing reliance on specialist placements and persistent gaps in outcomes for children and young people with SEND.

SEND is not solely an education issue. Poor outcomes for children and young people with SEND are closely associated with health inequalities, poorer mental health, reduced school attendance, increased family stress, and poorer preparation for adulthood. The reform programme therefore seeks to improve educational, health and wellbeing outcomes through earlier intervention, stronger inclusion, integrated support, and improved access to services.

The Plan is closely aligned to Family Hubs, Best Start in Life and wider Children's Services reforms, creating a single preventative system where needs are identified earlier and support is delivered closer to home. Health partners are central to delivery, particularly through community therapies, mental health support, integrated commissioning, and the development of the Experts at Hand model. The programme adopts an invest-to-save approach, shifting resources towards prevention and mainstream inclusion to reduce reliance on expensive independent placements and improve long-term financial sustainability.

The purpose of this report is to present the Medway Youth Justice Plan 2026-2029, Appendix 1, for consideration and approval. The Plan sets out strategic direction for youth justice services in Medway over the period 2026-2029 and fulfils the Council's statutory duty under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 to prepare and publish a Youth Justice Plan. The Plan has been developed by the Youth Justice Partnership Board and its statutory partners, including Children's Services, Kent Police, Health, Education and Probation.

The Plan has been developed jointly with statutory and partnership agencies and responds directly to the findings of the HM Inspectorate of Probation inspection undertaken in May 2026. It outlines Medway's commitment to a Child First approach, reducing offending and reoffending, supporting victims, tackling disproportionality and strengthening the partnership response to risk and vulnerability.

Estimated time: 30 Minutes.

The purpose of this report is to provide an account of the IRO service activity for the period 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026, to consider the profile of the Local Authority cohort of children cared for, and trends and themes in how the Local Authority has discharged their duties for these children.

The IRO role is set within statutory framework of the Independent Reviewing Officers Handbook 2010 linked to the revised Care Planning Regulations and Guidance, established in the Children and Young People’s Act 2008, introduced in April 2011.

The IRO service provides high support and challenge to the Local Authority in respect of its corporate parenting and safeguarding duties towards children and young people they care for.

Estimated time: 30 Minutes.

The Corporate Parenting Board Annual Report 2025-26 provides an overview of how Medway Council and its partners have fulfilled their corporate parenting responsibilities during the year and the progress made in improving outcomes for children in care and care leavers. The report highlights achievements in permanence, placement stability, education, health and participation whilst recognising the growing complexity of need and increasing demand across the care system.

The report also outlines the strategic priorities for 2026-27 and demonstrates how Medway is responding to national children's social care reforms, strengthening partnership working and ensuring that the voices of children and young people continue to inform service development and decision-making.

Estimated time: 30 Minutes.

This item advises Members of the current work programme and allows the Committee to adjust it in the light of latest priorities, issues and circumstances. It gives Members the opportunity to shape and direct the Committee’s activities over the year.

Estimated time: 5 Minutes.