Agenda and draft minutes

(1)          Dr Ahmad-Bhatti was welcomed to the meeting and she commenced by referring members to the comprehensive biography of her role in the papers.  Her position included being a Consultant paediatrician in community child health at East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust and the designated doctor for LAC in East Kent (EK), based in Ashford. In particular she manages epilepsy, assessment of neurodevelopmental disorders, suspected sexual abuse, complex needs due to physical and intellectual disability and teaching and training junior paediatric doctors.

(2)          A formal job description was currently being prepared in line with statutory guidance and intercollegiate competency frame work

Q - What is your interaction with the young people of Kent?

(3)          Oversee the LAC and Adoption service delivery in East Kent and Quality assure Statutory Initial Health Assessments undertaken by the EKHUFT Community Paediatricians - to identify health issues and deliver workable plans.

(4)          Direct clinical care to the LAC and YP on the clinical case load.

Q: Please outline the needs of Kent’s LAC?

(5)          In 2009/10 analysis of 187 cases identified a variety of needs including development delay, learning difficulties (ranging from mild to severe), problems with hearing, vision, obesity, speech and language problems, self-harming, smoking, teenage pregnancy and mental health. ADHD and autism also impacted on the stability of placements. A further analysis was planned to identify the current situation and trends.

Q: Are health assessments carried out before entering the care system to aid correct matching of Foster parents?

(6)          There is no absolute requirement to do so unless a medical is requested due to concerns about neglect or abuse. These assessments can be used to identify suitable placement to meet the individual child’s needs. However children with complex medical needs are usually well known to the Health services and the information from the involved professionals can be used to aid correct/appropriate matching of Foster parents or out of county placements.

(7)          Q: Does  KCC inform the service if any out of County placements are made?

(8)          Not always.

Q: Has there been an increase in numbers of foetal alcohol syndrome?

(9)           More awareness and training has led to increased diagnosis, although there are still problems as this remains relatively underdiagnosed especially Foetal alcohol spectrum disorder.  Working in the EK Team for the last 17 years has given the opportunity to provide continuity of care to the very vulnerable and needy families and now we have also seen the second generation of families who are already known to the Social care system. There is high unemployment and poor parenting skills with mental health issues in the parents of these LAC and the problems in the second generation are more intense, which are partly genetic and partly environmental i.e family dynamics, exposure to chaotic family life, Domestic violence, neglect, parental substance and alcohol misuse. There are more   single parent families and mums often have mental and emotional health issues.

Q: Are there any figures available that show the percentage of LAC whose parents  ...  view the full minutes text for item 1.

(1)          The Chairman welcomed Teresa Vickers to the meeting.

(2)          Teresa gave an overview of her role and responsibility for Fostering in Kent.  She explained that she had worked   in Children’s Social Care for 37 years covering Residential, Hospital Social Work, Children and Families, Adoption and Fostering.  She advised that following the restructure in 2012, the remit of her role included responsibility   for the recruitment, assessment, training and panel processes for prospective foster carers, as well as the commissioning and delivery of learning and development programmes for all approved foster carers.

(3)          She went onto advise that her role also included responsibility for the Specialist Fostering teams of Disability, Fostering and Therapeutic Reparenting (TRP).  The TRP Scheme is a fostering service for young children with severe attachment difficulties.

(4)          Theresa explained that Kent has 900 registered foster carers, caring for over 1,100 children and there have been 140 foster carers approved in the current financial year.

Q - Please can you clarify the numbers as yesterday we were quoted 1881?

(5)          Teresa responded that 1100 children were cared for by KCC registered foster carers others were cared for by Independent Fostering Agencies, some were residential and some placed at home.

Q - Clarification was requested regarding the placing of children?

(6)          Teresa explained that this took place in the North of the County by the Foster Team together with the Service Manager.

Q - Clarification was requested on the geography of North Kent?

(7)          Teresa advised that this covered Dartford, Gravesend, Swanley and Sevenoaks.

Q - Please explain about training, support and respite? Could this be improved?

(8)          Teresa explained that an initial training course entitled “Skills to Foster” took place which explored what fostering is, what to expect, areas around attachments, behaviours and learning about KCC and the processes.  This training last for 3 days and included a half-day session where potential foster carers are interviewed by young people in care.  All feedback and issues raised are then forwarded on towards their assessment.

(9)          Teresa went onto explain that once the foster carers are appointed, a Core Training Programme takes place which includes subjects such as 1^st Aid, attachment, and what it is like to be a foster carer.  During the first year there is also general training, core skills, very specific/specialised training, face to face and also E learning.

(10)       There is in addition a 20 week course entitled “Keep Safe” which is very hands on and has proved to be extraordinarily successful.  This is aimed at foster carers looking to foster older children. 

Q - Please can you advise of the dropout rate from the initial 3 day training course and also of the timescales from the initial contact to placing?

(11)       Teresa responded by explaining that after initial interest, statutory checks and references have to be carried out/requested before any training commences. In addition to all the training programmes a very thorough   Home Study is carried out with the family to look at how they  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

(1)               The members had a brief discussion regarding how to progress with their recommendations; consideration being given to the benefits an extension of the Select Committee versus the need to ensure the recommendations could be actioned as soon as possible.  Members agreed to discuss this further on the 24^th when they would be reviewing all their recommendations.

(2)               The Chairman welcomed Philip to the meeting and requested that all Members and Officers introduce themselves. 

(3)               Philip stated that he was currently the Acting Director of Specialist Children’s Services, having worked for thirty three years in Child services, including eight years as a consultant to poorly performing authorities.  His most recent posting prior to joining KCC was in the Acting Director role at North Kent.  At KCC, his responsibilities included all specialist children’s services, 1500 members of staff and a budget of £128m.  The range of services included foster carers, CAMHS, Early Help and Preventative Services, Safeguarding.

Q – What should Members do to be good corporate parents?

(4)               Philip stated that the main role for Member in this area was asking difficult questions of relevant officers to make sure they are aware of the issues.  This meant that Members needed access to accurate and regular information updates on a broad range of issues that affected the relevant young people, including health, education and criminal justice among others.  To keep Members informed, Officers must be able to articulate issues in a manner that will be accessible, ensuring that the information is passed on effectively.

Q – How is this information flow currently achieved?

(5)               Philip explained that the Corporate Parenting Panel was the formal body that oversaw the significant issues in this arena and was responsible for holding Officers to account.  Beneath the Panel sat the Corporate Parenting Group which was Chaired by Martin Vye.  This Group was responsible for examining the broader partnerships, not just the work of Specialist Children’s Services but also how work undertaken by the Health and Housing services impacted on young people.  Philip stated that this Group contributed to the holistic approach required to consider all the factors that were important in the care of young people and were therefore relevant to Members as Corporate Parents.  Supporting these considerations was a performance framework that provided a structure for assessing how the authority was managing key issues.  A new Councillor score-sheet had been introduced at the request of Members to improve their capacity to effectively assess performance.  This process also includes consideration of adoption outcomes.

(6)               Philip explained that he regularly met with the Lead Member in relation to Specialist Children’s Services and advised that Members were welcome to raise specific issues as required with him or his team.

Q – What is working well and what is not?

(7)               Philip explained that there varying issues from both internal and external sources.  Externally, there have been complications due to the fact that the District Councils and the Housing Associations manage the housing of relevant people, which  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.