(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 must consider their interests, and act according to the following:

(2)       Disclosable pecuniary interests relate to the Member concerned or their spouse/partner.

(3)       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. 

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

There were no declarations made relating to matters under consideration.

Recommended –

That the minutes of the meeting held on 8 February 2023 and the Young People led meeting held on 29 March 2023 be signed as a correct record (previously circulated).

(Su Booth – 07814 073884)

(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. 

(Su Booth – 07814 073884)

No requests to view documents were received.

A verbal report relating to the report (Document “A”) from Mark Riddell, National Advisor for Care Leavers and the response from the Bradford Children and Families Trust on progress and way forward.

(Amandip Johal – 01274 431620)

Mark Riddell had been in Bradford for 2 days and met with a variety of staff and children and produced a report with feedback and recommendations.  Looked at champions models where Executive who had responsibility across the Council had a link to this group and linking themes across all portfolios. 

There had been limited progress due to various reasons, i.e., Trust and board members had changed since initially discussed.  Agreed an action plan with timeline was needed to move this forward.

Discussed strengthening the Board as membership but would need to look at link to board Regulatory and Appeals, a review of membership would need to go to full Council to be agreed.  Board needed to have members with different backgrounds and strengths.

Action:

AJ to produce action plan with timeline to move report forward.

All to discuss/suggest who should be members of corporate parenting panel.

Strengthening of the board recommendations can be made from people here and if we do the proposed training, they may have recommendations the help strengthen board and ensure making a difference.

Discussed constitutional process, Cllr Duffy has spoken with Asif to ask how move forward at pace and to see where best fit and compare in relation to other authorities.  Corporate Parenting previously did not have minutes just recommendations which did not follow through as no names against recommendation and a process has been put in place to allow minutes.  There should not be verbal reports and moving forward will ensure there is a written report for each agenda item.

Asked whether a number of apprenticeships could be ring fenced.  Response discussed with local authority HR, there are several apprenticeships within the Council, however, it needs to be local businesses not just the authority.  Health has a new post looking at opportunities for care leavers.  Raised a range of opportunities were needed, not all care leavers will be ready for a fulltime apprenticeship or know what they want to do and may need some work experience.

The report raises dental care and optician costs.  Health currently looking at prescription charges which hopefully will be able to achieve a positive outcome.

Action:

Update to be provided at next formal meeting on apprenticeships.

No resolution was passed on this item.

The report of the Strategic Director, Children’s Services (Document “B”) will be submitted to the Panel and outlines the offer from the Local Government Association (LGA) to review and support Corporate Parenting Panels.

Recommended –

That Members accept option B

(Picklu Roychoudhry - 07811 088617)

Cllr Duffy met Helen Goran-Bell from LGA.  The training and peer review would require a self-assessment completing, interviews with partners, Trust and Council and attending meetings.  They would be on site for a 3 day period, suggesting February due to upcoming monitoring visits for SEND and Trust also the Trust embedding.  LGA and a lead member would provide the training.  Agreed February for training/peer review and would also be a good way to show our aspirations for children.

Resolved –

That the Panel accept option ‘B’ for a review and training of the Panel.

Action: Strategic Director, Children’s Services.

This item will take place as a verbal discussion for Members to agree items to be presented to the Panel for the remainder of the financial year and will be led by the Chair.

Needed to be done jointly with Council and Trust.  Timescales needed for annual reports.  There was a duplication of reports between Corporate Parenting and Overview and Scrutiny, needed an agreement to stop duplication and use different panels in the most effective way.   Forward Plan could be provided for Overview and Scrutiny and would also be looked at as part of DMT.

There were statutory reports to be tabled at Corporate Parenting, they don’t need to go to Overview and Scrutiny they just need to know the meetings have been held.

Action:

Cllr Pollard to look into scrutiny for Corporate Parenting Panel and to agree which reports will be tabled at September’s meeting.

Meeting with respective parties needed to agree scrutiny for Corporate Parenting Panel

Resolved –

That CPP Members and Officers will liaise with the Chair, Deputy Chair and Scrutiny Lead of the Children’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee to ensure that work and subsequent reports are not duplicated in order to formulate a Work Plan for CPP.

Action: Chair, Members and Officers

The Chair of Virtual Schools Governing body will provide a verbal overview from the Virtual School Governing Body meeting held on 17^th July.

Governing body met on 17^th July 2023.  One paper tabled has implications on aspirations and extension of the role of virtual school’s head.  CIN review in 2019 recognised the role of the Virtual heal was raising aspirations and the role is now extending to children who have ever had contact with a social worker.  Therefore, the Virtual school head and deputy head will have extended role looking at these children.  DfE will fund the additional work for 2 years.  Query whether funding is in place.

Actions:

Cllr Pollard to check funding is available with Jonathan Cooper

Roy to check funding is available with Sue Lowndes

There is a further proposed extension to include care leavers 18-25 within the remit of Virtual school.  Charlotte was in favour of the proposal; it will be additional burden and have to be funded but going into adulthood a lot of care leavers do their best education at 19 as they have matured. 

Amanda Dutton-Taylor had been given a remit to look how virtual school can increase PEP.  The report highlights previous confusion over who does what and an issue of engagement from social workers who are supposed to lead the process not the teachers.  Ruth raised these are done differently in different areas but need to get to a place where they are done together.  Teachers are the experts in education and social workers the care plans.    The PEPs will be electronic.  With Social Workers changing the teachers/teaching assistants know the children the best.

The meeting generally takes place after a care review and those that need to remain at meeting, might be helpful if the social worker pulls the meeting together.

Discussed the churn of social workers and know it is the biggest issues for children in care the change of social worker and having to repeat their story. 

To support the improvement of PEPs, Post-16 and support children in care placed out of area there will be an increase in staffing, which will bring in line with national averages.  There is national government funding and an increase in pupil premium uplift which will fund 2 x PEP support officers, a post-16 lead teacher and an out of area link teacher.

Discussed whether Skills House or Virtual School should be on Corporate Parenting panel.  Cllr Pollard chairs virtual school governing body and Sue Lowndes, Education attends Corporate Parenting.  Other partners could provide periodical report/annual report when invited to do so.

Action: Cllr Pollard to ask Jonathan Cooper to link with Pamela Stanyon-Carr and have conversation and agree who leads PEPs.

No resolution was passed on this item.

Members will discuss and agree dates for training and other matters as required.

Review and peer review agreed.

Number of dates for training have been sent to Amandip and Helen, may need to review dates and what training is offered.  The training needs to be done in a way it embraces people, do not think people understand corporate parenting.  Any training identified can be organised for the panel. 

Action:

Cllr Duffy to email Ruth and Roy dates for training.

Shani to arrange meeting with Roy and Cllr Sutcliffe for overview of Corporate Parenting.

Resolved –

That the training plan will be shared with the CEO of Bradford Children’s Trust for review.

Action: Chair