Agenda and minutes

Brendan Lee, Permanence Service, Lancashire County Council

To note that County Councillor Stephen Clarke has been appointed at Full Council to the role of chair of the Corporate Parenting Board for the municipal year 2021/2022.

Edwina Grant OBE, Executive Director of Education and Children's Services welcomed everyone to the meeting and gave a brief summary of the Board's remit.  All new members were welcomed to the meeting, particularly the new Chair and Deputy Chair of the Board.

Edwina also informed that Board that Sharon Hubber had secured a new position as Director of Children Services in Rochdale and asked the Board to join her in congratulating Sharon on her new role and thanked her for the work she had done for the Corporate Parenting Board and Lancashire throughout her time in post.

It was noted that County Councillor Stephen Clarke had been appointed at Full Council to the role of chair of the Corporate Parenting Board for the municipal year 2021/2022.

County Councillor Stephen Clarke

To note that County Councillor Ash Sutcliffe has been appointed at Full Council to the role of Deputy Chair of the Corporate Parenting Board (CPB) for the municipal year 2021/2022.

It was noted that County Councillor Ash Sutcliffe had been appointed at Full Council to the role of deputy chair of the Corporate Parenting Board for the municipal year 2021/2022.

County Councillor Stephen Clarke

To note who is attending and any apologies for absence.

All were welcomed to the meeting and apologies were received from County Councillor Jeff Couperthwaite, Dr Nicola Bamford, Barbara Bath, Lynsey Evans, Kirsty Clarke and Jo Swords.

The Board noted the following membership changes:

New members:

County Councillor Ash Sutcliffe

County Councillor Joan Burrows

County Councillor Jeff Couperthwaite

County Councillor Andrea Kay

County Councillor Scott Smith

Graham Lindley, Fostering Forum Representative

Lynsey Evans, Fostering Forum Representative

Co-opted Non-Voting representatives:

Andreas Feldhaar, Permanence Service, LCC

Moya McKinney, Permanence Service – Leaving Care, LCC

Gina Power, Permanence Service – Children in Our Care, LCC

Paul McIntyre, Safeguarding, Inspection and Audit, LCC

Neil Drummond, Lancashire Constabulary

Katy Driver, Department for Work and Pensions

Brian Wood, Child and Family Wellbeing Service (Participation)

Hans Mundry, Child and Family Wellbeing Service (Participation)

Suliman Hussain, Child and Family Wellbeing Service (Participation)

Observer:

Jo Swords, National Youth Advocacy Service

The Board also welcomed to this meeting Edwina Grant OBE, Executive Director of Education and Children's Services and County Councillor Cosima Towneley, Cabinet Member for Children and Families.

County Councillor Stephen Clarke

To agree for accuracy the notes of the meeting and receive any matters arising.

Resolved:  That the minutes were agreed as an accurate record with the addition of Maureen Huddleston, University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay to the attendees and there were no matters arising from them.

County Councillor Stephen Clarke

To review the current membership and terms of reference.

Sam Gorton, Democratic Services, Lancashire County Council presented the membership and terms of reference of the Board.

Following the presentation, it was agreed that the following amendments should be made:

·  Early Help Service, to be changed to Children and Family Wellbeing Service in the Co-opted Membership section.

·  There needed to be a stronger reference to children leaving care and transitioning out of care.

·  A review date needed to be added for the terms of reference.

Resolved:  that the comments above be addressed and the revised Terms of Reference be brought back to the Board at its next meeting on 22 July 2021.

Andreas Feldhaar, Permanence Service, Lancashire County Council

To review the 2018-2022 Corporate Parenting Strategy and develop a work plan for the Board.  Also to review Lancashire's Promises to Children in Care and Care Leavers from their Corporate Parents.

Andreas Feldhaar, Permanence Service, Lancashire County Council outlined to the Board, that following the new Permanence Service that has been established at the beginning of the year, it was timely with the new members of the Board, to revisit the Corporate Parenting Strategy 2018-2022 and the Corporate Parenting Promise 2019 to:

·  Ensure it reflects our vision today.

·  Agree priorities and actions for the next six months.

·  Improve partnership working and to work collaboratively with the principle of permanence at the core.

·  Ensure every child and young person looked after and leaving care is provided with a sense of security, continuity, support and stability.

·  To review the appropriateness and effectiveness of our priorities and corporate parenting strategy for the future.

The workshop focused on the objectives of the Corporate Parenting Strategy and identified what actions the Board intended to progress to achieve outcomes for each of the objectives.  The nine objectives in the strategy are as follows:

·  Children and young people have a voice in the way we deliver our services.

·  Children and young people can remain safely at home.

·  Care leavers in Lancashire will have a 'Local Offer'.

·  Children and young people will be supported in their education employment and training.

·  Children and young people will have a suitable place to live and be cared for.

·  The health and wellbeing of our children and young people in care and care leavers will be a priority for Lancashire County Council.

·  Children and young people will receive appropriate financial support.

·  Children are protected from harm and risk of exploitation.

·  Children and young people in our care and care leaver achievements are celebrated.

Following the workshop, the facilitators reported back from each of the three groups.  Feedback from the break-out sessions, can be found attached to the minutes and this will now form the next part of the Board's work plan going forward and four key priorities for discussion at the next meeting and actions, monitoring and outcomes for those priorities and report back to the Board on their progress at future meetings.

Resolved:  That feedback from the workshops will be analysed and four key priorities will be identified to take forward as a Board for the next meeting on 22 July 2021.

County Councillor Stephen Clarke

To receive any other business.

There was no other business received.

County Councillor Stephen Clarke

Thursday, 22 July 2021 at 1.30pm, format to be confirmed.

Thursday, 22 July 2021 at 1.30pm, via Zoom.