Agenda and minutes

Introductions around the room were made and apologies were noted from County Councillors Case, Kay, Mein and Taylor and Marc Bentley, Diane Booth, Lin Fisher and Debbie Nolan-Plunket.

The notes of the meeting held on 7 February 2013 were agreed as an accurate record.

In respect of minute 75 the Board was informed that it was not pursuing the holding of the Celebration event at Blackpool Pleasure Beach.  The Board noted that it was hoped to hold the event at Woodlands later in the year.

With regard to minute 79 it was noted that Tony Morrissey, the Young People's Service and Brendan Lee would be taking the Young Inspector's Programme forward.

The Board noted an issue raised by CC Evans regarding one of the young people at The Willows and their application for university.

CC Winder, as Chair, updated the Board on a number of issues.

Regarding the Urban Patch, as it has completed its tour of Lancashire, it had yet to be decided where it was to be placed permanently.  It was agreed that the location chosen should be one that the young people are happy with.

Tony also told the Board about a children and young people conference he had attended in Manchester.  The conference discussed the current Children and Families Bill and he had been a panel member on the Question Time session.

As it was the final meeting before the county council elections Tony thanked people for their contribution to the Board.  He thanked the members for their contribution, Louise Taylor, Marc Bentley, the governance team and all officers past and present for the hard work in making the Corporate Parenting Board what it is.

Reflecting on some of the achievements of the board he particularly felt proud of the Golden Rules, the Action Plan, the Pledge, the Ambitions document and the A-Z guide.

Louise Mackender de Cari took the Board through the key messages circulated with the agenda.

The Board felt there was lots of good news in the messages.

The young people gave the Board an overview of the work that they had been doing in the three area groups.

The Board noted in particular that a newsletter was being prepared which would be circulated by email and that it was hoped to appoint a CiCC apprentice in the near future.

Brenda and Joan presented a PowerPoint presentation on the work of the Parent Partnership Service.

The Board noted the strong links that the service had with schools and agreed to strengthen them by the circulation of the information leaflet to the Chairs of Governors of all Lancashire schools.

The Board agreed to include a link to the Parent Partnership Service on the Board's webpages.

Louise Mackender de Cari presented a report giving an update on the Friends 4 U trial project.

The Board noted that the report identified there was still a role for volunteer/mentor support for some care leavers in Lancashire, but not all.

It was felt that there appeared to be merit in adopting a targeted approach to young people who are commencing their transition to becoming to become care leavers in 6-9 months time and therefore still currently in foster homes or residential care. This approach would offer an option to engage and for a positive relationship with the volunteer/mentor to be established prior to them leaving care. It was felt that this approach could be adopted across the county, with a targeted focus on young people with little or no established family relationships or networks.

It was agreed that funding will need to be identified to progress this, and options for this would be brought back to the Board.  A review of the numbers of care leavers who might benefit for this will also need to be conducted. There is opportunity to secure additional value by linking to existing provision across Lancashire, e.g. East Lancashire befriending Service and the Lancashire Volunteer Hubs.

Sue Parr took the Board through the PowerPoint presentation relating to the educational attainment of CLA.

The Board emphasised the importance of sharing this information with as many interested parties as possible.

In response to a specific question as to what schools spend the money that is allocated in respect of CLA it was felt that it may not be being discussed at the PEP meetings.  The young people were encouraged to put this question back to school governing bodies and school leadership teams.

The Board undertook an activity relating to what expectations young people have at various stages in their life.  The Board, in groups, considered what young people would want to have achieved by the age of 5, 5-11, 11-16 and 16+.

The Board's considerations are attached to these notes.

The Board noted that Barnardos would be undertaking further work on this topic with a view to it forming a focus of a future Board meeting.

The Board noted that the next meeting was scheduled to be held on Monday, 17 June 2013 at 6.00pm at County Hall, Preston.

The current position regarding applications was noted.