Agenda item

Andreas Feldhaar, Permanence Service, LCC

To receive a progress update from the four Corporate Parenting Board Priority Groups since the last Board meeting.

Andreas Feldhaar, Permanence Service, Lancashire County Council gave an update on the four Corporate Parenting Board Priority Groups and the progress that has been made so far: 

i)  Achieving Permanence – Aim is to promote the importance of permanence across the corporate family.

Progress so far was that County Councillor Stephen Clarke (and County Councillor Ash Sutcliffe) had met with Paul McIntyre, Head of Service for Fostering, Adoption and Residential, Mandy Williams, Head of Service for Family Safeguarding.  A review of the Corporate Parenting Board membership had also taken place.

Next steps were, that meetings have been arranged for County Councillors Clarke and Sutcliffe with the Head of Service for Safeguarding, Inspection and Audit (16 March 2022), Head of Service for Front Door, Assessment and Adolescent Services (FAAS) on 22 March 2022 and that a meeting would also be arranged with the Service Managers of Permanence and Children in our Care.

ii)  Improving sufficiency to provide the right home at the right place – Aim is currently to improve access to lasting homes for young people leaving care by holding a county meeting with district councils and selected registered providers.

Progress so far was that contact details had been confirmed, an agenda had been confirmed and the date set, and venue booked.

The next steps are for invites to be sent out on 18 March 2022, planning meetings to be held on 30 March 2022 and 27 April 2922 with the meeting for Lasting Homes for Lancashire's Care Leavers, County Meeting with district councils and selected registered providers taking place on 4 May 2022.

It was also noted that it was the first time in over two years that the Housing Policy was no longer in a draft format and that it had been circulated to the districts, accompanied by a letter signed by County Councillors Kay and Gibson.  County Councillor Gibson also reiterated that as part of this priority group they were keen to ensure that the voice of the young people was heard and that they were involved in the County meeting.  It was confirmed that this would be in the form of a video from young people who wished to express their requirements on their future homes.

iii)  Improving social, physical, emotional and mental health support and outcomes – Aim is to support the escalation process to access emotional and mental health support.

Progress so far was to explore referral pathways and provisions across Lancashire, identifying complexity of emotional wellbeing and mental health provisions for young people in care and leaving care.

Next steps were for officers to identify the escalation process and feedback issues at its next priority group meeting which would be held in April/May 2022.

It was noted that Caroline Waldron had requested that one of the Board meetings be health focused and interactive.

It was also confirmed that the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) provision was available up to the age of 19 years now.

In terms of mental health support waiting lists and remaining on these if young people  move house, is something that is being looked at in the Health Service.  Support is available up to 18 years of age currently, however it was felt that this should be 25 years of age to allow support to continue when a young person is transitioning into their own accommodation and moving from Children's Services to Adult Services and may not have the support of their family and prevent them from having to join a different waiting list,  to access Adult Services mental health support.  Further issues were also raised in terms of dental support and optical support for care leavers and that this was something that the Corporate Parenting Leads and Senior Officer Leads for this priority should look further into.

iv)  Improving education, employment and training opportunities and outcomes – Aim is to promote local employment opportunities for young people.

Progress so far was that the Education, Employment and training (EET) background information had been explored and the Corporate Parents' EET Support process with the Employment Support Team had been considered.

Next steps were to facilitate a briefing session for newly elected members/corporate parents and to launch the Corporate Parents' Education, Employment and Training Support process as well as Taster Days for young people.

Resolved:  That the Board noted the update from the four priority groups.