Hampshire County Council Corporate Parenting Board Meeting

Apologies were received from Cllrs Carpenter, North, and Tustain.

Members were mindful that where they believed they had a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in any matter considered at the meeting they must declare that interest at the time of the relevant debate and, having regard to the circumstances described in Part 3, Paragraph 1.5 of the County Council's Members' Code of Conduct, leave the meeting while the matter was discussed, save for exercising any right to speak in accordance with Paragraph 1.6 of the Code. Furthermore Members were mindful that where they believed they had a Personal interest in a matter being considered at the meeting they considered whether such interest should be declared, and having regard to Part 5, Paragraph 5 of the Code, considered whether it was appropriate to leave the meeting whilst the matter was discussed, save for exercising any right to speak in accordance with the Code.

No interests were declared.

The minutes of the meeting held on 15 June 2022 were reviewed. Cllr Davies asked that his attendance be recorded at the meeting. The minutes were agreed as a correct record.

No deputations were received.

The Chairman welcomed Cllr Henderson to the Board.

The Chairman had attended a meeting about engagement with Hampshire Hive which she had found very interesting and reported that she is keeping in contact with the Hive in Waterlooville.

Cllr Crawford reported that he had been in contact with his local Hive and arranged a virtual meeting that week. He was also due to attend an event at Wellington Primary School.

Cllr Hayre reported that she would like to visit the Gosport Hive before the next meeting of the Board.

Cllr Henderson made the point that it was important to continue engaging with the Fostering Team and to include feedback to local MP’s.

The Board received a report from the Director of Children’s Services, providing an overview of the Hampshire Approach practice framework, plans for its future development and its impact on children in care.

The Board heard that the framework had been developed since 2017-18 and that an iterative strengths based approach had been used in its development.  The language had shifted to ‘what you can do’ and the Board were given examples of positive outcomes from the Intensive Worker Schemes.

The Board heard about the future development of the Approach which included:

·         the creation of resources for families, partners and practitioners

·         revamping the toolkit so it is easier to access and use

·         continuing to evaluate the training and support packages.

The Board heard how the work would be embedded and evidenced and that the Approach would be filtered to all areas of practice.

As a result of questions, Members heard that:

·         Ultimately, the aim was a reduction in the number of children in care.

·         It would be difficult to determine exactly which parts of the system had made a difference to which outcome, as it was a whole system change.

·         There were plans to have more engagement with children and collate information systematically to demonstrate improvements and document how children feel involved.

·         The Team had worked with partners including those across county borders and assurance was given that, although the tools and ways of working with families had changed with the framework, the core fundamentals are the same in each area. 

·         Staff were highly skilled and trained and that social work practice ensured that they guarded against ‘hearing what they wanted to hear’ and missing risks.

·         That although the language had changed, staff could still identify and manage risks using the Approach.

The Chairman thanked the officer for the report and presentation and remarked that the work was all about keeping children at home.

Resolved:

The Corporate Parenting Board noted the update on the Hampshire

Approach.

The Board received a presentation from the Director of Children’s Services providing an overview of the Homes for Ukraine Scheme, specifically the impact that this will have on the Children in Care Service.

The Board heard that the Scheme had been opened up to include unaccompanied minors who wish to travel to the UK without a parent or guardian.

It was explained that if children no longer remain with a sponsor, which is seen as a private fostering arrangement, they could become ‘looked after’ and be the responsibility of the Local Authority.

At the time of writing the report, 17 names had been provided to the County Council by the Home Office to assess. However, the Board heard that the number fluctuates and although relatively low so far, it was difficult to anticipate numbers moving forward.

The officer explained that the Government provides an additional grant to the Local Authority to support these Looked After children, the amount of which will be reviewed after year one.

As a result of questions, members heard that

·         The costs when a child comes into care for a Local Authority are significantly different to those of host families. For example a placement has to be funded, and a social worker and independent reviewing officer are required to be appointed.

·         The team are looking at the needs of Ukrainian children and mindful of the impact of the trauma and looking to gain advice from partner agencies to help support children.

The Board summarised ‘that we will look after these children as if they were our own’.

Resolved:

The Corporate Parenting Board noted the content of this report.

The item was deferred to the next meeting of the Board.

The Board received a report from the Director of Children’s Services providing an update on the work towards commissioning a Children in Care Council and a Care Ambassadors group.

The Board heard that one of the priorities of the Council’s Participation Strategy was a renewed focus to embed the voices of care experienced children and young people into the planning of services for the future.

As a result of questions, members heard that:

·         It is more cost effective to run the engagement as a commissioned group and that expertise and creative and differing ways of doing things can be tapped into.

·         An element of independence should help avoid leading to ‘getting where we want to get to’. (Predetermined outcomes).

·         Tenderers would have to explain how they would get the participation and facilitate outcomes.

·         Views would not be filtered.

The Board discussed the terminology used in terms of Council and Ambassadors, and the engagement between them and the Board.

On considering the questions in paragraph 13 of the report, members gave the following feedback and suggestions to officers:

·         Educate the Board to the challenges they have in their daily lives, what it means to be a looked after child

·         Include an item on the agenda of each Corporate Parenting Board meeting relating to the Children in Care Council and Care Ambassadors

·         Two way communication is important

·         Get the views of children by them coming to a Board meeting

·         Ensure we have participation from children in care from each stage including those who left care some time ago, so that the experience at each stage is captured

·         Exit interviews

·         Those children who are with more traumatic experiences can provide important insight, but care needs to be taken regarding at which point engagement is made.

The Chairman asked the Board to contact Hannah Leat with any further thoughts on the questions and continue to engage with the events she sends out.

Resolved:

The Corporate Parenting Board noted the report and supported the

formation of the Children in Care Council and Care Ambassador Group.

The Corporate Parenting Board considered and agreed opportunities to

engage with the Children in Care Council and Care Ambassador Group to

assist in achieving their mutual aims, with reference to the discussion

points set out at paragraph 13 of the report and whilst being mindful of the

Board’s own terms of reference.

The Board received a report and presentation from the Director of Children’s Services to inform them about the Children’s Services campaign to find 150 new fostering households for children in Hampshire by the end of 2023, and ask for their support.

The Board heard that the campaign was taking a fundraising style approach with a child focussed message that was built on research. The campaign was tied into national awareness campaigns

The officer explained that the target is to increase the number of new foster carers by 150 by the end of 2023. To date the number achieved was 33.

Members were asked to help with local launch events, engage with district councils, identify venues, help with guest lists and create local interest.

The Board was asked to follow the campaign on social media and feedback any ideas they have with the team.

Members suggested that:

·         Officers contact parish councils to get items included in their newsletters

·         Communication should be at each level from parish councils to local MP’s.

Resolved:

The Corporate Parenting Board agreed to formally support and be champions for the Open Your Door campaign, to find 150 new fostering households for children in Hampshire by the end of 2023.

The Corporate Parenting Board members agreed to help the Fostering Recruitment and Assessment Team access opportunities for engagement, with district councils and support local campaign activity with districts.