Agenda item

To evaluate the work undertaken into Looked After Children, Care Leavers and Corporate Parenting.

8.1       The Committee received a report highlighting the role of the Corporate Parent, the educational outcomes of Looked after Children and Care Leavers and some analysis in relation to the general decrease in Looked After Children (LAC) numbers at the end of March 2016.  The Committee noted that the decrease in LAC was attributed to a number of factors, including the impact of the range of interventions linked to the Focus on Practice programme.

8.2       The Committee welcomed Matthew Blood, Tri-Borough Head of Virtual School and College, who highlighted the support given to Looked After Children (LAC) and the educational outcomes of the LAC of each cohort.  The Committee noted that Westminster’s LAC achieved higher than the national average and that five Care Leavers had just graduated from University.  The Committee then discussed the department’s work of promoting the benefits of education and the rigorous tracking of each child’s progress carried out during the year, the importance of good foster placements, the difficulties and challenges faced by children in care and the particular difficulties and fundamental issues that children post 16 years of age had to overcome to live successful and fulfilling lives.

8.3       Some of the key issues that emerged from the Committee’s discussion were:

• the importance of carefully assessing the ’risk’ of each individual’s circumstances in order to make the correct choice on whether they should go into the care system or stay with their family.
• the significant increase in the number of Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children Looked After Children UASC LAC within Westminster.
• the importance of undertaking some public relations work to encourage companies to employ Care Leavers.

• the lack of DfES guidance on how to measure attainment of children who attend lots of different schools.
• Hammersmith and Fulham’s voluntary fact finding expedition to Calais to help Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children wishing to live in the UK.
• the importance of continuing to locate missing children.
• the importance of improving the health of Looked After Children through additional help and healthy eating and cooking programmes.

8.4       The Chairman thanked everyone who had given up their time to attend the meeting and contribute to the discussion.

8.5       ACTION

1.    That a briefing note be sent detailing Hammersmith and Fulham’s voluntary fact finding expedition to the Calais camp to help Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children wishing to live in the UK.

8.6       RESOLVED: The Committee made the following comments which would be forwarded to the Cabinet Member for Children and Young People for consideration:

1. The Committee welcomed the report which highlighted Westminster’s ambition as a Corporate Parent.

2. The Committee welcomed the work to ensure that care is only used as appropriate and long term or permanent solutions were found as soon as possible.

3. The Committee highlighted the need for the Council to work to improve the health of Looked After Children and highlighted the importance of healthy eating guidance.

4. The Committee welcomed the work being carried out by Mathew Blood and his team to ensure that Looked After Children have access to good education and good employment opportunities.

5. The Committee acknowledged the achievements of the Looked After Children who had graduated from University and requested that the Lord Mayor’s officer and/or by the Cabinet Member write to congratulate them.