PAPER B6

 

Committee :     SOCIAL SERVICES, HOUSING AND BENEFITS SELECT COMMITTEE       

 

Date :               4 SEPTEMBER 2002

 

Title :               BRIEFING FOR MEMBERS ON FOSTER CARE ISSUES

 

REPORT OF THE STRATEGIC DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL SERVICES AND HOUSING

 

 

1.                  SUMMARY/PURPOSE

 

1.1       To brief Members on a range of issues relating to Foster Care provision and support on the Island and with reference to concerns identified by the Isle of Wight Foster Care Association at the last meeting of the Select Committee. 

 

2.                  BACKGROUND

 

2.1       Members will recall that a number of reports relating to the recruitment and retention of foster carers have been presented to Select Committee during the past twelve months.  These outlined the difficulties, which exist in both attracting and retaining suitable carers for Island children.

 

2.2       It was recognised and accepted by Members that the authority’s ability to recruit and retain suitable carers to ensure a range of local placements remains central to achieving quality placements for children in the care system and in fulfilling the authority’s corporate parenting and other statutory responsibilities.

 

2.3       As a first and important measure, Members resolved to support the enhancement of foster care rates and these became effective on 1 April 2002.

 

2.4       The Isle of Wight Foster Care Association identified a number of concerns relating to support available to carers at the last meeting of the Select Committee.  They identified in particular: - inadequate Social Work and Out of Hours support; limitations of the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services in terms of therapeutic input and difficulties in managing children in placement who may be excluded from school on a fixed term basis.

 

2.5       It was pointed out by the Association that support available from the statutory agencies compared unfavorably with support provided by independent fostering agencies.  It was suggested that payments made by the Local Authority to independent agencies could be better invested in Island services.

 

3.0              REPORT

 

3.1       A number of points were clarified at the last Select Committee and it may be helpful to Members to confirm the current position once again: -       

 

·         Island Foster Carers received an uplift in fostering rates in line with the


·         Foster Care Network nationally recommended rates with effect from 1 April 2002. 

·         Support posts in the Family Placement Team have been increased although the national shortage of qualified social workers is contributing to difficulty in recruiting to these posts.

·         There is currently an out of hours service for emergencies accessed through Wightcare.  Family Placement Team members provide a direct access support service on a 24 hour basis.

·         A growth bid is being formulated at present to address some of the continuing support issues for foster carers.

·         New local Public Sector Agreement targets will potentially attract   funding, which may be utilised to strengthen multi-disciplinary working and support to children looked after and their carers.

·         A Recruitment and Retention Task Group has been reviewing strategies to improve social work recruitment and this will be the subject of report to Select Committee in October.

 

3.2       Valuing our foster carers is seen as an important element of the strategy to retain experienced carers.  During the summer a Long service Award Ceremony took place to recognise the contribution and commitment of 18 of our carers.  A successful foster families summer party was also held.  Events of this kind are seen as complementary to the ongoing training programme and encouragement of support groups for carers.

 

3.3       Fostering Services for Children Looked After operates within a total annual budget of £1.8m of which £329K is the nominal budget for Independent Fostering Agencies.  The Island currently has fourteen independent foster placements out of a total number of 150 Children Looked After at the July.      

 

3.4       Currently there are 101 Island Foster Carers, a reduction from 123 last year.    During the past year 14 foster carers were registered and 4 family link carers.  Since 1 April  this year 6 foster carers have been registered and 4 family link carers.  Along with most authorities, the Island utilizes Independent Foster Care agencies.  This is sometimes to supplement a local shortfall, in an emergency or where the circumstances of the particular situation dictate a need.

 

3.5       In order for the Local Authority to match the foster carer rates and particular support arrangements provided by independent agencies, it is estimated that a growth bid in excess of one million pounds would be required.  The support issues identified by the Foster Care Association are not unique to the Island. Most other Local Authorities are experiencing similar challenges.

 

3.6       Looked after children across the country have difficulty accessing mental health services, according to a recent report from the Mental Health Foundation.   The report calls for a change to the referral process so that looked after children have easier access to the CAMHS service (www.mentalhealth.org.uk).  The CAMHS service on the Island works closely with Social Services and seeks to prioritise looked after children through dedicated clinical psychology time.   However, demand is greater than the current service can provide in terms of support to carers.  The service is also constrained by recruitment problems.

 

3.7       There are particular difficulties for carers where young people may be out of school on fixed term exclusions.  Until the 15th day of exclusion schools have responsibility to set work for the pupil.  After that the LEA assumes responsibility for ensuring the provision of some educational support. Whilst officers have endeavoured to operate flexible arrangements through pupil support and other means, demand for such support outstrips available options. Respite arrangements are made, where possible, with other foster carers to offer day care and supervision on a limited basis.

 

3.8       Independent fostering agencies employ specialist teachers and education support workers and therapists. The scale of their organization means that they can offer a high level of support to individual carers, 1:7 as opposed to 1:23 within the Local Authority. The Directorate intends to submit a growth bid in the forthcoming budget negotiations with a view to enhancing support arrangements. Discussions to begin to address these support issues in collaboration with Education and Health services will also be held.

 

4.                  FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

 

4.1       As previously indicated there are potential implications.  These will be the subject of a further report to Committee in due course in the context of budget priorities for the year ahead.

 

4.0       LEGAL IMPLICATIONS

 

There are no legal implications arising from this report.  However, the authority’s capacity to recruit and retain carers and thereby ensure placement choice, remains central to the quality of the service offered and Corporate Parenting responsibilities.

 

5.0       RECOMMENDATIONS

            Members are invited to note the contents of this report and to agree to receive a further report later in the autumn regarding a proposed growth bid to support potential developments.

 

 

6.0       BACKGROUND PAPERS

 

Report to Social Services & Housing Select Committee 3 October 2001

Report to Social & Housing Select Committee 20 December 2001

 

Contact Point :  Jimmy Doyle, ( 520600,   Prue Grimshaw  ( 525790

 

 

     C WADDICOR

Strategic Director of Social Services and Housing