To receive a verbal update from the Cabinet Members for Specialist Children’s Services and Adult Social Care and Public Health, the Corporate Director of Social Care, Health and Wellbeing and the Director of Public Health.
Minutes:
1. Mr P J Oakford, Cabinet Member for Specialist Children’s Services, gave a verbal update on the following issues:
Virtual School Kent awards day – 11 September – several Members had attended the event, which had been a fabulous day.
Tour of Immigration Services – Port of Dover –He had attended for a tour of the facility and to find out about the work they did. He and Mr Segurola would be going back, to explore opportunities for joint working with the Immigration Service.
Children in Care Adult Council – On 6 October he and Mr Carter had attended a meeting, and spoke with the young people about the challenges they faced when leaving care. Mr Segurola and his team would follow up on the issues raised.
Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children (UASC) – Other authorities placing in Kent was an ongoing problem. He had been made aware that week of another authority who had received two new UASC through the dispersal programme, and had placed them back in to Kent. A letter setting out the challenges and pressures placed on Kent through local authority placements had been sent to the Children’s Commissioner, signed by the Chief Constable, Police, and Crime Commissioner, Leader of the Council and himself.
However, he reported a decline in overall numbers of UASC. There were still 1326 in Kent, of which 723 were under 18 and 603 were over 18. There had been only three arrivals in the past month, with a dramatic decline in arrivals figures, compared with 2015. He gave the following statistics.
|
|
July |
August |
September |
October |
November |
|
2015 |
179 |
128 |
98 |
212 |
51 |
|
2016 |
47 |
42 |
42 |
20 |
1 * |
* at the time of reporting
So far, 115 young people had been dispersed via the National Dispersal programme.
UASC summit – On 13 October, he, Mr Ireland, and Ms Hammond had met with the Immigration Minister to discuss pressures placed on Kent, and the impact of the Dubs amendment and the Calais jungle being dismantled. All children brought in following the Calais jungle closing had so far gone to the dispersal centre in Croydon and been dispersed around the country, not in Kent. Mr Segurola had a team in France continuing to work with the Immigration Service on assessments, prior to dispersal.
In response to a question, Mr Oakford added that although the Dubs amendment would have an impact on arrivals, the reduction in overall numbers was a result of young people getting older and leaving the service.
2. Mr A Ireland, Corporate Director of Social Care, Health and Wellbeing, then gave a verbal update on the following issues:
UASC – with regard to children leaving care, KCC took almost 1,000 young people into care in 2015, many of whom would soon turn 18, but would have been in the care system for more than 13 weeks, so were entitled to care leaving services. There were around 30 young people each month turning 18, so the balance was shifting. A significant proportion of the young people had an official birthday of 1 January, so it was likely that the balance would tip in 2017 where there were more over 18 year olds. The current agreement with the Home Office covered costs for those under 18, but did not meet costs of over 18s. At 21, many care leavers were no longer entitled to a care leavers allowance, although some remained entitled until the age of 25.
Kent was the first point for arrivals and as a reception block, played a key part in the national process. Reception centres were not able to take children under the age of 16, or girls.
Mr Ireland stated that he felt the disruption of the Calais camp might lead to clandestine arrivals, but this had not happened. Those held in Calais were now in reception centres across France. Social Workers from three local authorities, including Kent were doing best interest and age assessments to find those that met the criteria for the Dubs amendment. He was sceptical that this work would be completed within two weeks.
UASC Placements were country wide, but he had been made aware of cases where the young person had relatives living in Kent and had been placed in Kent to be reunited with their families.
In response to questions, Mr Ireland and Mr Oakford made points including the following:
· Few authorities met the 0.07% threshold, and Kent certainly had more. Authorities with airport connections or where lorries stopped tended to have a higher number. Only 11 out of 101 authorities had more than the 0.07% threshold.
· The Leader of Medway Council had recently appeared on the Politics Show, and had explained that Medway only had three UASC, but it was fair to say that Kent had placed a number in Medway, and so this number was disproportionate.
Mr Ireland then went on to give the following additional updates:
VSK awards – the day had been followed up with an awards evening for those aged 16 plus. It had been a really good event, and encouraging to see a mixture of young people receiving awards and recognition for academic success.
Children and Social Care Bill – This was presently going through Parliament but one of its clauses had been defeated in the House of Lords that week. The Government had not commented on the next steps, but the final outcome would have important implications for Kent.
National Children’s Services Conference – Mr Segurola had attended the previous week. Government Ministers including the Immigration Minister had attended on the Thursday. There had been consultation and dialogue regarding the new Ofsted Inspection pilot. Kent could not volunteer as they had not yet received the Single Inspection Framework inspection.
3. Mr G K Gibbens, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health, gave a verbal update on the following:
Smoke free school gates – He had attended the Annual Public Health England conference on 13 September and met the Director of Public Health in Coventry who had spoken about Smoke Free school gates in Coventry. Mr Gibbens stated that following the success of smoke free play areas, he intended to promote smoke free gates too. He advised he was happy to provide further information to Members.
Community Pharmacies – The Adult Social Care and Health Cabinet Committee had written to Jeremy Hunt to express concern about proposed changes to funding.
Childrens and Adults Conference – He had been pleased to see Edward Timpson and Justine Greening in attendance at the conference, and impressed with their support of the work of social workers.
4. Mr Scott-Clark, Director of Public Health, then gave a verbal update on the following:
Dr Allison Duggal – He welcomed Dr Duggal to the meeting.
Publication of Health Profiles – Outcomes had been published at both county and district levels on 16 September 2016.
He then responded to comments and questions from Members, as follows:
· There had been lots of work on Health Needs Assessments, which would influence what the Department for Health did. This had also been shared with Croydon, to give them an idea of what they could expect, and what UASC’s health needs were. This had been published on the website.
· In terms of mental health, there had not been as many referrals as anticipated. However, there could be pressure for the Adult Service, as post-traumatic stress tended to affect people some time after the event.
RESOLVED that the verbal updates be noted.