8 LOOKED AFTER CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE PDF 259 KB
To consider
a report on Looked After Children and Young People
Additional documents:
Decision:
The report was accepted and the observations noted
Minutes:
It was noted that the report was being submitted
with pride in the staff and foster parents.
A report was given on how the Service had responded to continuing with
the Service during this difficult period and responding to the demand during
the lockdown period.
It was confirmed that there were 294
looked after children at the end of September 2020, and that they were being
looked after for various reasons. It was
noted that placing a child in care was the last resort, but sometimes, there
was no other choice.
Reference was made to the figure of 27
first-time looked after children in the period between April and September -
i.e. they were not known to the Council prior to this period, whilst accepting
also that anonymous referrals had increased to 71%. On the other hand, it was confirmed that 24
had left the service during the period.
In relation to the children who were the subject of a Care Order, it was
confirmed that collaboration had taken place with the parents.
Reference was made to the attachment,
which detailed numbers and placements, noting that some children were at home
with family or members of the extended family.
In terms of fostering resources, it
was noted that 72 placements had been registered that had the capacity to offer
placement for 139 children, along with 60 other fostering placements by means
of extended family. It was confirmed
that additional placements had been registered during the period, and that the
method of holding meetings had changed and that a recruitment campaign had
taken place.
It was confirmed that it was difficult
to obtain placements for a small percentage, which was the Council's
responsibility, and that the real last resort was to place in unregulated
placement. It was confirmed, during the
past five years, that seven such arrangements had taken place for a period of
three weeks at the longest.
Reference was made to Welsh Government
policy to reduce the number of looked after children. The Committee was reminded that the policy
direction was given the highest priority some years ago and the Government had
been informed at that time that Gwynedd would not set a target, and avoid
previous targets: this was not an easy stance.
It was noted that Covid
had introduced new challenges and that the workforce had been incredible in
adapting quickly, and had dealt with matters such as:
Continuing to carry out Assessments
Continuing to keep in contact with
parents
Closing Hafan
y Sêr
Collaborating with the Education
Department
Virtual Reviews for Looked After Children
Establishing a Helpline
Assistance to access materials such as medicines
and baby food
Later on, matters such as the following were
dealt with:
Re-opening Hafan y Sêr
Re-commencing contact arrangements between
children and parents (with PPE of course)
Continuing to work from home
Concern was noted about staff and it was noted
that the Service executed its responsibilities in full, albeit in a different
way.
In relation to the staff, it was ... view the full minutes text for item 8