The Children's Social Care Cabinet Panel met to discuss the Children's Social Care 2024/25 Quarter 4 Performance Report, and to endorse the Children and Young People's Strategic Plan 2026-2031 for approval at Cabinet. The panel noted the performance report, and endorsed the strategic plan for approval at the next cabinet meeting.

Children and Young People's Strategic Plan 2026-2031

The panel endorsed the Children and Young People's Strategic Plan 2026-2031 for approval at Cabinet. The plan sets out the council's ambitions for improving outcomes for children and young people in Hertfordshire and how these outcomes will be achieved.

The plan outlines four key ambitions:

• To deliver the education and early help children, young people and families need to thrive together
• To help children and young people stay safe from harm, at home, where they live, in their wider neighbourhood, community and online
• To provide help to children and young people within their family networks and local communities
• To support children and young people to live in stable homes and build relationships with them for the future

The plan also details 'enablers', which are effective systems that support children and young people to achieve positive outcomes. These enablers include prioritising partnership working, leadership driving performance, and equipping the workforce to be effective.

The plan recognises pressures on families such as wellbeing, cost of living and mental health, as well as increases in children missing from education, referrals into social care, and those on education, health and care plans.

During the meeting, councillors discussed the plan's timeline, communication strategy, and accessibility. They also considered how the plan aligns with the National Social Care Framework and the National Children's Services Families First Partnership Program reforms.

Councillor Sandy Walkington, Vice-Chairman, raised the potential impact of local government reform in 2028, when the districts and the county council in Hertfordshire may be split into multiple unitary authorities. He asked about the implications for the plan and whether localisation could help in some ways. In response, it was noted that the five-year plan was designed to have stretched targets and maintain ambition, but changes would be needed depending on the structure of the new unitary authorities. It was also noted that there could be benefits to bringing districts and counties together, particularly in areas like housing for children in care and care leavers.

Children's Social Care 2024/25 Quarter 4 Performance Report

The panel received the Children's Social Care 2024/25 Quarter 4 Performance Report, which provided an overview of key performance indicators across various areas of children's services.

Children Looked After

The report highlighted that five out of six performance indicators not in the top quartile related to children looked after. Councillor Sandy Walkington, Vice-Chairman, questioned whether the council was truly acting as a corporate parent and suggested a briefing to explore how individual councillors could better support children looked after and care leavers.

In response, it was confirmed that corporate parenting was taken seriously and a briefing for members would be organised. The briefing would focus on how councillors can use their networks and experience to help young people with work experience, skills development and job opportunities.

Care Leavers

The report indicated a slight decrease in the percentage of care leavers aged 17-21 in education, employment, or training (EET), dropping to 54.4% in March.

Councillor Nigel Bell, Leader, Labour Group, asked whether research had been conducted to identify specific areas of the county where efforts should be concentrated. It was noted that there were differences between areas, with Watford potentially having lower levels of care leavers in EET. It was agreed that this information would be checked and shared with the panel.

Placement Stability

The report highlighted challenges in finding suitable placements for children in care, with a national shortage of foster placements.

It was noted that over 70% of children in care are teenagers with acute needs, making it difficult to find appropriate placements. Efforts are being made to support teenagers to remain at home with wraparound support and to increase the number of foster carers and children's homes in Hertfordshire.

Special Guardianship Orders and Adoption

The report noted that for the first time in several years, the number of children exiting care via special guardianship orders (SGOs) was higher than those exiting via adoption.

It was explained that there has been a huge emphasis on improving support for special guardianship carers, and the government is offering grants to support this. There has also been a drop in adoptions, reflecting national trends towards children growing up knowing their birth families and having contact where appropriate.

Councillor Fiona Thomson, Deputy Leader, Conservative Group, raised concerns about the financial impact of the shift from adoption to SGOs, as it could put greater pressure on the local authority. It was clarified that SGO payments are currently means tested, and the council has bid for pathfinder status to equalise SGOs and fostering payments.

Child Protection Plans

The report indicated a significant increase in the number of children subject to a child protection plan, rising by 62% since September.

It was explained that this increase was a planned response to a high proportion of children returning to repeat child protection plans. Audit work revealed that insufficient support was being provided to maintain improvements, so children are now being kept on plans for longer. Despite the increase, Hertfordshire still has some of the lowest numbers of children on child protection plans nationally.