PAPER E

 

Purpose: For performance management aligned with the QPMR Report and decision.

 

                       

                        REPORT TO THE EXECUTIVE

 

Date :              1 DECEMBER 2004

 

Title :               CORPORATE PARENTING POLICY - UPDATE

 

REPORT OF THE PORTFOLIO HOLDER FOR CHILDREN’S SERVICES

 

                     IMPLEMENTATION DATE: 13 December 2004

 

SUMMARY/PURPOSE

 

1.                  This paper compliments the previous Executive report on progress made in relation to the key performance areas (set out in the Island’s Corporate Parenting Policy).

 

BACKGROUND

 

2.                  In the summer of 2003 an event was held in the Council Chamber regarding the Council’s corporate parenting approach and responsibilities, including presentations from young people regarding their experiences of the Directorate’s then Children’s Services.

 

4.         In May 2004 the Executive resolved that (minutes of meeting 5th May 04):

 

(i)                 The Corporate Parenting Policy be approved.

(ii)               The Chief Executive Officer report bi-monthly to the Executive on the   discharge of their corporating parenting responsibilities.

(iii)              The Portfolio Holder formally respond back in November 2004 on progress on implementing the policy

 

3.                  The Policy has now been published, as a sister document to the Local Preventative Strategy and was launched at the Corporate Parenting Conference on the 25th of November.

 

STRATEGIC CONTEXT

 

5.                  The policy is working from the same vision with respect to desired outcomes for Island children and young people as laid out in the Local Preventative Strategy and contained within the Children’s Bill. It is in line with the Island’s Corporate Objectives and will make a contribution towards the assessment of Children’s Services and the Council’s CPA rating.

 

PROGRESS TO DATE

 

6.                  The template attached to the QPMR reported to the Chief Executive and the Portfolio Holder shows the Directorate’s monthly performance in 14 key areas, from April to September 2004.

 

7.                  Performance, as of 31st March 04 against our comparator group shows the following to be excellent:

Stability of placements placed 4th out of 16 in the cohort

Looked after children who had health assessments placed 1st out of 16 in the cohort

 

The following are judged as weak or poor:

GCSE results 16th out of 16 in our cohort (NB results summer 03).

Re-registrations on the child protection register 14th out of 16 in our cohort

 

8.         Guidance has been drawn up for Elected Members in relation to the discharge of their corporate parenting responsibilities in relation to looked after children Appendix 1. Following the Executive Committees decision Members will be informed of the percentage of looked after children currently being cared for in their respective wards and looked after children will be informed of their Elected representative and encourage to make contact.

 

FINANCIAL/BUDGET IMPLICATIONS

 

8.                  There are no direct financial implications for this policy. The Policy aims to increase awareness of the Council’s corporate responsibilities in respect of children and young people, in particular with regard to cross cutting issues across the Council and in relation to monitoring and scrutiny.

 

LEGAL IMPLICATIONS

 

9.                  The section in the Policy in respect of Information Sharing has been approved by the Legal Services. 

 

OPTIONS

 

10.             To decide to implement the corporate parenting guidance to Elected members, or to recommend any changes prior to implementation.

 

EVALUATION/RISK MANAGEMENT

 

11.             This policy has been devised as guidance to aid the effective discharge of the Council’s corporate parenting responsibilities in respect of Island children and young people, and in particular those who are looked after by the Council. Effective implementation will have a benefit to the Council’s overall corporate performance assessment and the star rating of Children’s Services.

 

RECOMMENDATIONS

 

12.             To approve the Corporate Parenting Policy, Guidance for Elected Members.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

Appendix 1 – The Guidance

Appendix 2 – The distribution of looked after children on the island

Minutes of the Executive Committee 5th May 2004.

 

Contact Point :           Prue Grimshaw, Head of Children & Family Services ( 522227 email [email protected]

                              

 

DAVID PETTITT

Strategic Director of Children’s Services

JILL WAREHAM

Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services