The Corporate Parenting Panel were scheduled to meet to discuss the annual report, the pre-birth intervention service, the Future Hope programme, and performance data relating to children in care and care leavers. The panel was also scheduled to receive updates from the Head of Children's Social Care on the Ofsted inspection of Durham Local Authority Children's Services (ILACS), from strategic managers on 'proud moments', and from young people of the Children in Care Council (CiCC).

Corporate Parenting Panel Annual Report 2024-25

The Corporate Parenting Panel Annual Report 2024-25 was prepared for discussion and agreement. The report covers the period from April 2024 to March 2025.

The report notes that Ofsted undertook an Inspection of Durham Local Authority Children’s Services (ILACS) between 24 March and 28 March 2025, with the outcome letter published on 13 May 2025, giving an overall grading of ‘outstanding’.

The report also includes information on:

• What a Corporate Parent is
• The role of the Corporate Parenting Panel
• The Corporate Parenting Panel’s Terms of Reference
• Key performance data
• Achievements and Proud Moments during 2024/25

The report also states that young people from the Children in Care Council had the opportunity to develop the Corporate Parenting Panel Annual Reports, considering the design, content and language of the Annual Report to ensure it is easy to read and understand.

Performance Update Quarter Four 2024/25

The Corporate Performance Manager was scheduled to deliver a presentation providing an overview of performance in relation to children in our care and care leavers.

The quarterly performance management framework is structured around the Local Government Association’s Key Lines of Enquiry for Corporate Parenting Panel members.

The report pack included a performance scorecard, containing data on topics such as:

• The characteristics of the cohort of children in care and care leavers
• Partner agencies' understanding of their role in supporting the council as corporate parents
• How the council is giving children and young people the chance to express their views
• Whether the council is providing stable environments for children in our care
• What the council is doing to look after the health and wellbeing of children in our care
• What outcomes are like for care leavers

Some of the key statistics included in the report were:

• There were 1,184 children in care at the end of March 2025.
• 49 Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children were in care.
• 69% of children in care received an Initial Health Assessment within 20 working days of coming into care.
• 60% of care leavers aged 17-18 were in education, employment or training.
• 90% of care leavers aged 17-18 were in suitable accommodation.

Pre-birth Intervention Service

The Head of Children’s Social Care, Rachel Farnham, was scheduled to present a report providing an update on the progress of the Pre-birth Intervention Service (PBIS).

The PBIS was re-established in Durham’s Families First (FF) Service in May 2018, with the aim of enabling babies to remain with their parents, or within the birth family where it is safe to do so.

The report notes that a review of the PBIS criteria was undertaken in 2020, and the criteria was amended to enable the team to have a renewed focus and to target their intervention towards those parents who would benefit from intensive support and intervention.

The current criteria is as follows:

• Teenage mothers under 16 who are still in full time education
• All active care leavers up to the age of 25, who are currently permanently resident in Durham, and where the unborn meets the requirement for a statutory pre-birth assessment
• Parents who have had a previous child removed through care proceedings, where there is evidence of some positive change of circumstances.

The report also details the development of specific pre-birth pathways for parents with learning needs, young parents, concealed/late booking pregnancies and a general pathway. The development of a specific pre-birth pathway for parents with learning disabilities has been quoted within recent national good practice guidance by the Nuffield Family Justice Observatory as a first in the country and a beacon of good practice.

The report includes a case study of 'Baby D', whose mother was 14 and father was 15 when he was born. Care proceedings were issued shortly after D was born, but concluded with A and D remaining in the care of grandparents.

The report also mentions the use of 'Hope Boxes', which are provided to mothers when the plan is removal at birth to start early life story work and to provide the mothers with some comfort/hope during the early stages of separation, and 'real care' babies, which are used to assist in completing assessments by looking at parents’ ability to meet the needs of their baby.

Future Hope

The Head of Children’s Social Care, Rachel Farnham, was also scheduled to present a report providing an update on Future Hope, formally known as Pause Durham.

Future Hope aims to reduce the number of children being taken into care and improve the lives of women who have had one or more children permanently removed from their care, providing intensive, ongoing practical and emotional support.

In order to participate, women must agree to take effective contraception, and Future Hope offers them an intensive, flexible programme of support, to tackle destructive patterns, develop new skills and avoid further trauma in order to build a more positive future for themselves. The Future Hope programme is delivered with each woman over a period of 18 months.

The report notes that over the past 12 months Future Hope have reached out to 58 women, who between them have had 162 children removed from their care, and that Future Hope are currently working with 26 women, who have had 85 children removed from their care. There are currently 26 women on the waiting list.

The report includes a graduate story of 'L', who before Future Hope attended accident and emergency frequently, was a victim survivor of domestic abuse, and was at a huge risk of exploitation. During/after Future Hope, L now uses her GP and pharmacy appropriately for health concerns, has moved home and likes where she now lives, and has been able to save small amounts of money.