The Corporate Parenting Advisory Committee of Haringey Council met on Tuesday 27 February 2024 to discuss arrangements for care leavers, the stability of placements for children in care, and the annual reports of the Fostering Panel and private fostering. The committee noted reports on Staying Put arrangements, the Stability Panel, and Corporate Parenting Week, and agreed to defer a discussion on family stress factors leading to Public Law Outline proceedings.

Staying Put Arrangements

The committee received an update on Staying Put arrangements, which allow young people in foster care to remain with their carers after they turn 18. Emma Cummergen, Head of Young Adult Service, explained that these arrangements are discussed from the age of 16 and are documented in pathway plans. The report highlighted that an increasing number of young people are choosing to remain in Staying Put arrangements, indicating greater placement stability. These arrangements help care leavers transition to independence by guiding them through responsibilities such as money management. Currently, 31 Staying Put arrangements are in place for care leavers, including unaccompanied minors and young people with additional needs. The service supports over 400 individuals aged 18-25. Concerns were raised about the potential trauma for young people if foster carers opt out of Staying Put, with assurances that services like First Steps are available to provide psychological support. The committee noted the report.

Stability Panel Update

Keith Warren, Head of Children in Care & Placements, provided a verbal update on the Placement Stability Panel. The panel's purpose is to intervene early to prevent children from experiencing frequent changes in foster placements, carers, or schools, which can negatively impact their relationships, academic performance, self-esteem, and confidence. Ofsted has identified key strengths in the panel's approach to preventing placement breakdowns and mobilising support services sooner. The panel monitors the stability of placements for children in the care system by assessing the frequency and length of moves, and the overall well-being of the children. Since April 1, 2023, the panel has reviewed 53 children who had two or more placement moves, with 81% remaining in their placements with support. The committee noted the information.

Private Fostering Annual Report

Keith Warren also presented the Private Fostering Annual Report for 2022-23. The report detailed notifications, assessments, and monitoring activities related to private fostering, aiming to ensure the safeguarding of privately fostered children. The committee heard that accurate data on private fostering is challenging to obtain, and efforts are being made to increase reporting through community outreach and partnerships. The service has been working with partners, including the Haredi community, to raise awareness, with social workers developing relationships with Rabbis and engaging with the MASH team. Communications, including flyers for schools and newsletters, are being distributed, and private fostering champions are being identified. Most referrals are received through educational institutions. The committee noted the report.

Fostering Panel Annual Report 2022-23

Shirley Walker introduced the Fostering Panel Annual Report for 2022-23, which details the panel's activities and assessments. The Fostering Panel provides quality assurance, challenging the quality of reports and feedback. The committee noted that children have various options for providing feedback, including written submissions, voice notes, and face-to-face discussions. Training for foster carers remains an ongoing challenge, with Haringey offering online and virtual training, which has been effective, particularly for carers with children. The report highlighted that foster carers often prefer more bespoke training methods, such as podcasts or one-to-one conversations. Feedback from health clinics is collected via QR codes on clinic letters. The committee recommended that a report on health be considered at a future Corporate Parenting Advisory Board and that this report be reviewed every six months alongside the annual report. The committee noted the report.

Corporate Parenting Week

Keith Warren provided a verbal update on Corporate Parenting Week, the first of its kind for Haringey. The event received positive feedback, and plans for the following year include opening the event to wider communities and businesses to secure funding and grants to support children in the borough. A Just Giving page has been established to collect funds for children in care, and the Proud to be me initiative aims to support children from Black and other minority backgrounds. The committee noted the information.

Dental Checks for Children in Care

During the Any Other Business section, Lynn Carrington, Designated Nurse for Children in Care, provided an update on dental checks for Haringey's children in care, following a request at the previous meeting. The Healthy Smiles Looked After Children's Oral Health Pilot, which began in November 2021, aims to ensure children receive statutory oral health assessments and routine NHS dental care. The service refers children unable to secure appointments, and Whittington Health dental services also see Children in Care. For children living outside London and SW, the CIC health team contacts counterparts in other areas to identify dentists accepting Children in Care. Some foster carers have reported difficulties in booking appointments for newly placed children. It was noted that the data on dental checks was not up-to-date, with 101 children between the ages of 2 and 18 not having a recorded up-to-date dental check on Liquid Logic.