A report will be submitted by the Deputy Director (Children’s Social Care) (Document “M”) in relation to a review of the support for young people in care/care leavers undertaken by members of Bradford Council’s Future Leaders Programme 2016.

A document which sets out the findings and recommendations arising from the review is appended to the report for Members’ consideration.

The views of the Panel are requested.

Recommended –

That the findings and recommendations set out in the document ‘Improving the Support for Young People in Care/Care Leavers’ (Appendix to Document “M”) be adopted.

(Mustansir Butt – 01274 432574)

(Tina Butler – 01274 437963)

A report was submitted by the Deputy Director (Children’s Social Care) (Document “M”) in relation to a review of the support for young people in care/care leavers undertaken by members of Bradford Council’s Future Leaders Programme (FLP) 2016.

A document which set out the findings and recommendations arising from the review was appended to the report for Members’ consideration and was presented to the Panel by representatives of the FLP.

Members commented that:

·         The report and recommendations were welcomed and it was now important to ensure that this work continued and recommendations were implemented.

·         There was a need for clearer communication throughout the Council in respect of responsibility for the corporate parenting role.

In response to Member’s questions the FLP representatives and the Deputy Director (Children’s Social Care) explained that:

·         The brief for this review had been to look at the wider offer to young people in care other than relating to academic attainment. It was recognised that academic attainment was a hugely important issue but this was being addressed by Social Workers, the Virtual School and the Education Department.

·         The review had adopted the approach of ‘what would we do for our own child/children’, for example by assisting in gaining work experience or accessing an apprenticeship.

·         The focus of the work had been guided by the Children in Care Council (CICC). 

·         The report was intended to be the start of a process rather than a stand- alone document and it was hoped that it would form the basis of a conversation of how to move forward.

·         The former apprentice with the Leaving Care Service had now secured a permanent post and the apprenticeship opportunity was to be advertised.

·         It was considered that access to apprenticeships was an issue that should be further explored.

·         In terms of Key Finding 7 it was believed that there was some lack of consistency in terms of communication with those young people who were leaving care. This had resulted from discussion with young people who felt that there were key gaps in the information provided to them, for example about what support was available to them, and there was a need for simple and accessible practical guidance to assist in navigating the wider world.

Members and Co-opted Members commented that:

·         A certain level of academic attainment was needed in order to access an apprenticeship and it was very important to address the gaps in achievement.  In order to access many facilities a young person would also have to have the requisite confidence and skills.

·         The report was welcomed and how the recommendations would be progressed needed to be considered. It was felt that a number of the issues should be considered by the Head of Service who chaired the Care Strategy Group.

·         Having observed an initiative in a local primary school whereby a list of former pupils was displayed for staff to see their destinations upon leaving school, it was considered that this could be inspiring and would be something that could be replicated for foster carers and the staff in residential homes.

·         In terms of the views of the CICC; young people considered that they did not have sufficient information in respect of all the services that they were able to use and budgets/funding that they may be entitled to access. It would be helpful if they had someone to go through it with them and to ensure that they understood.

·         Anecdotal evidence was given of a young person who had not known how to vote.

Further answers were given, by the Deputy Director and the FLP representatives, in response to these issues and additional questions:

·         The purchase of an ‘app’ for young people leaving care had been discussed but it was recognised that not all young people had smartphones. The best way to provide information was something that was being explored. It was disappointing that an Election was something that had not been proactively discussed with a young person.

·         It was noted that this may well have been done but a young person might become overwhelmed with the amount of information being provided and thus not retain it all.

·         Data was kept in respect of education, employment and training for each young person up to the age of 21. Information was also recorded in respect of suitable accommodation. Information in respect of health needs such as having access to a dentist or mental health services was not recorded but each young person would have a key worker.  It was noted that it may be possible to get this information from the Care Leavers Nurse.

·         The challenge to the Local Authority was to ensure that opportunities were being made available to LAC across the wide range of jobs it encompassed for example through the provision of apprenticeships or ‘taster days’.

·         The events that it was proposed should be run by each Council Department were not intended to be of any particular format and there was an expectation that they would be guided by the views of young people.  This recommendation was about ownership of the corporate parenting role by all.

·         A specific aim was the development of a communications plan to determine the best mechanisms to use to communicate opportunities and information to young people.  This was an important issue and work was in progress.

Further comments were made as follows:

·         The Panel had looked at the NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) figures in detail previously.

·         Links should be made with other partners and the voluntary sector to see what they could offer in terms of work experience or mentoring opportunities.

·         In terms of the cultural offer it was considered that some significant discounts and other offers could be achieved for LAC without the need for huge investment if co-ordinated by a small team, perhaps with the assistance of an Elected Member.

·         The NHS co-optee said that a district wide group was currently looking at new entries into health and social care, one element of which was apprenticeships, she would feed the suggestion in respect of the potential to give priority to LAC into the process.

·         This was an excellent report and represented a great step forward but was just the start.  It was hoped that the new cohort of the FLP would take it forward.

·         Cultural experiences helped young people in their education and could assist them in setting goals for the future.  It was considered that any discounts and special offers would be well used.

The Chair expressed her thanks to all those involved in the production of the report.  This was echoed by other Members and Co-opted Members.

Resolved –

(1)       That the findings and recommendations set out in the document ‘Improving the Support for Young People in Care/Care Leavers’ (Appendix to Document “M”) be adopted.

(2)       That the report be referred to the Executive for information and with a recommendation that Recommendation 7:

That a new section be included in Bradford Council’s Report template called ‘Implications for Corporate Parenting’,

be implemented.

(3)       That the Deputy Director (Children’s Social Care) submit a progress report in six months time to allow the Panel to monitor the implementation of the recommendations.

ACTION:       Deputy Director (Children’s Social Care)

                        City Solicitor