(Members Code of Conduct - Part 4A of the Constitution)

To receive disclosures of interests from members and co-opted members on matters to be considered at the meeting. The disclosure must include the nature of the interest.

An interest must also be disclosed in the meeting when it becomes apparent to the member during the meeting.

Notes:

(1)       Members may remain in the meeting and take part fully in discussion and voting unless the interest is a disclosable pecuniary interest or an interest which the Member feels would call into question their compliance with the wider principles set out in the Code of Conduct.  Disclosable pecuniary interests relate to the Member concerned or their spouse/partner.

(2)       Members in arrears of Council Tax by more than two months must not vote in decisions on, or which might affect, budget calculations, and must disclose at the meeting that this restriction applies to them.  A failure to comply with these requirements is a criminal offence under section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992. 

(3)       Members are also welcome to disclose interests which are not disclosable pecuniary interests but which they consider should be made in the interest of clarity.

(4)       Officers must disclose interests in accordance with Council Standing Order 44.

                                                                        (Sheila Farnhill – 01274 432268)

No disclosures of interest in matters under consideration were received.

Recommended –

That the minutes of the meeting held on 9 March  2016 be signed as a correct record (previously circulated).

(Sheila Farnhill – 01274 432268)

Resolved –

That the minutes of the meeting held on 9 March 2016 be signed as a correct record.

(Access to Information Procedure Rules – Part 3B of the Constitution)

Reports and background papers for agenda items may be inspected by contacting the person shown after each agenda item.  Certain reports and background papers may be restricted. 

Any request to remove the restriction on a report or background paper should be made to the relevant Strategic Director or Assistant Director whose name is shown on the front page of the report. 

If that request is refused, there is a right of appeal to this meeting. 

Please contact the officer shown below in advance of the meeting if you wish to appeal. 

(Sheila Farnhill - 01274 432268)

There were no appeals submitted by the public to review decisions to restrict documents.

Previous reference:  Minute 13 (2015/16)

The Assistant Director Children’s Specialist Services will present a report (Document “O”) which provides the Panel with an update in respect of unaccompanied asylum seekers and refugees in the district, as requested at the meeting held on 9 September 2015.

The report explains that Children’s Services care for a small number of children and young people who have arrived in the UK with no parents or guardians. These young people are assessed on referral to the department and become looked after. 

Recommended –

That Document “O” be noted.

                                                                        (Di Watherston – 01274 437077)

Previous reference: Minute 13 (2015/16)

The Assistant Director Children’s Specialist Services presented a report (Document “O”) which provided the Panel with an update in respect of unaccompanied asylum seekers and refugees in the district, as requested at the meeting held on 9 September 2015.

The report explained that Children’s Services cared for a small number of children and young people who had arrived in the UK with no parent or guardian. These young people were assessed on referral to the department and become looked after.

In presenting the report the Assistant Director highlighted the following points:

·        The numbers of unaccompanied asylum seekers and refugees in the district had decreased over the past four years.

·        Currently, the majority originated from Afghanistan and were male.

·        These young people were generally well motivated in terms of education and training and a significant proportion went on to access higher education.

·        General health was usually good but some young people could have issues with emotional health.

·        Work had been undertaken to improve the age assessment process and to ensure that the assessment for each individual met the required standard.

·        The service did its best to ensure that accommodation was appropriate for the young person’s needs.

She also responded to questions from Members as follows:

·        Discussions were taking place in respect of the possibility of the Authority accommodating additional young people subject to it being decided that this was the best placement for them.  All the necessary systems were in place to meet their needs, subject to the necessary resources being made available and this was an issue that was being explored.

·        Age assessments were undertaken by social workers using a range of information and had to be ‘Merton compliant’. (This related to a legal judgement requiring assessments to reach a certain standard). There had been no recent challenges to any assessments but there were established procedures in place to do so and the service had good links to legal advice, if required.

·        Interpreters were provided for the young people if necessary.

Resolved –

That Document “O” be welcomed and that the Assistant Director – Children’s Specialist Services be requested to monitor the situation to identify any increase in the numbers of unaccompanied asylum seekers and refugees to ensure that the necessary resources and funding are available if required.

ACTION:       Assistant Director – Children’s Specialist Services

Previous reference:  Minute 17 (2015/16)

The Assistant  Director,  Children’s  Specialist  Services  will  submit a  report  (Document “P”) which provides the Panel with a summary of attainment statistics for looked after pupils for the academic year 2014/2015.  The report relates to school children and young people, who had been in care for one year or more on 31^st March 2015 and provides data on attendance, exclusions, Special Educational Needs (SEN) and end of Key Stage attainment.

Recommended –

That Document “P” be noted.

                                                                        (Peter Gibbons – 01274 435777)

Previous reference:  Minute 12 (2015/16)

A report will be presented by the Assistant  Director,  Children’s  Specialist  Services (Document “Q”) which updates Members, further to the report to the Panel on 9 September 2015, in relation to the planned approach to deliver a residential review in Bradford.

The report explains that the review is now part of the wider ‘Journey to Excellence’ programme and provides an update on the authority’s placement strategy and changes planned within Children’s Homes locally.

Recommended –

That the Corporate Parenting Panel supports the approach being taken to revise the placement strategy and develop a model of care in children’s placements in Bradford.

(David Byrom – 01274 432986)

Previous reference: Minute 12 (2015/16)

A report was presented by the Assistant Director, Children’s Specialist Services (Document “Q”) which updated Members, further to the report to the Panel on 9 September 2015, in relation to the planned approach to deliver a residential review in Bradford.

The report explained that the review was now part of the wider ‘Journey to Excellence’ programme and provided an update on the Authority’s placement strategy and changes planned within Children’s Homes locally.

In presenting the report the Assistant Director commented that:

·        Significant progress had been made towards delivery of the new provision.   Work to make the necessary changes to the homes was starting in May and was expected to take approximately three months to complete.  Homes would be supported throughout this period.

·        Training was being developed for all staff on the new model of care .

·        The Placement Strategy would take between 6 and 18 months to be fully formed.

She responded to Members’ questions:

·        An active campaign was being undertaken to increase the number of foster carers in the district. (The Co-opted Member for the Health Service noted that this was also being done within the health sector.)

·        There had been no significant loss of foster carers further to the changes in funding some 18 months previously.  Further work was to be done in the development of a specialist payment scheme.

Members requested that a further progress report be submitted in due course.

Resolved –

That the approach being taken to revise the placement strategy and develop a model of care in children’s placements in Bradford be supported.

ACTION:       Assistant Director – Children’s Specialist Services

The Chair noted that this was the last meeting that would be attended by Gani Martins in her role as the Interim Assistant Director for Specialist Childrens’ Services and she thanked Gani for the work she had undertaken whilst with the Authority. 

She also expressed thanks to Councillor Leeming who had been a valued Member of the Panel but was not standing at the upcoming local elections.