Agenda item

This report sets out the progress made within the areas covered by the Portfolio for Children’s Services (Lead Member), which fall within the remit of this Committee

Discussion:

The Committee considered the report from the Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services (Statutory Responsibility) which detailed an update on performance within Children’s Services for the period from March 2016-17, and in the case of education services, covered results from the 2015/16 school year and activity during that year and the first half of the current school year.

Members then raised the following comments and questions:

Medway Secure Training Centre (MSTC) – in response to a question about the serious case review at MSTC the Portfolio Holder confirmed that review findings would be shared with Members of the Cabinet and this Committee in due course where data protection guidelines permitted. 

Non-Statutory Youth Services – in response to a question about the 43% reduction in the Youth Services budget and criteria for commissioning future non-statutory services, the Portfolio Holder assured the Committee that new Youth Service provision would continue to be outcome focused and would be integrated with the Youth Offending Team, Early Years and other appropriate services where this made sense. The Portfolio Holder also commented that Youth Centre Management Committees had a beneficial role to play and conversations would continue with Management Committees regarding where they sit in the new structure.

Adoption Coffee Evening – the Portfolio Holder agreed that a recent event to encourage and recruit current and prospective adoptive parents had been very successful and welcomed more opportunities for Councillors to attend similar events in the future.

Aut Even – in response to a question about future service provision at Aut Even, the Portfolio Holder responded that the Committee would consider a report on proposed service changes later in the same meeting.

Supporting Care Leavers – in response to a question about activity to support care leavers, the Portfolio Holder noted that work continued across the Council and with partners to support care leaver’s access to housing and employment and training opportunities.

Improving rates of adoption for a wider range of children – in response to a question about aspirations to improve adoption rates of ‘hard to place’ children, for instance those from a large sibling group, the Portfolio Holder noted that the Council’s work in forming the Regional Adoption Agency would broaden the pool of prospective adopters.

Staffing Agency (Medway Commercial Group Ltd.) – the Portfolio Holder confirmed that the staffing agency would allow the Council to access a more stable agency workforce as well as reduce costs associated with recruitment through external agencies.

Looked-After Children placed outside Medway – in response to a question about how looked-after children could be supported to stay in the borough, the Portfolio Holder noted that the Council would continue to look at options for increasing residential care settings in Medway, especially for older looked-after children.

Budget constraints –.in response to a concern raised by a Member about the impact of budget reductions on service provision, the Portfolio Holder commented that the Council would continue to engage with young people and their families to ensure services, both targeted and universal, met need and represented best value for money.

Decision:

The Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services (Statutory Responsibility) was thanked for his attendance.