The Corporate Parenting Advisory Committee was scheduled to meet to discuss social care performance, permanency planning, and collaborative commissioning. The committee was also expected to review the minutes from their meeting held on 25 March 2025.

Here's what was scheduled to be discussed:

Social Care Annual Performance

The committee was scheduled to review the Children's Social Care annual performance report for 2024-25. The report included an analysis of performance data and trends related to Children Looked After (CLA), children on Child Protection Plans (CPP), and Children in Need (CIN).

The report noted progress and performance in safeguarding children and young people in Haringey. It also identified key developments, summarised performance activity levels, and detailed priorities for vulnerable children.

Appendix i of the Social Care Annual Report 24- 25 Appendix i - CPAC contained performance highlights and key messages, identifying areas of improvement and areas for focus. It provided an overall assessment so that committee members could assess progress in key areas within the context of the local authority's role as Corporate Parent and duties under section 17 of the Children Act¹.

The report also provided data on:

• contacts and referrals to social care
• children with disabilities
• Special Educational Needs & Disabilities (SEND)
• assessments
• Section 47 enquiries[^3]
• Initial Child Protection Conferences (ICPC)
• Child Protection Plans
• Children Looked After
• Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children (UASC)
• Adoption
• Leaving Care
• Workforce

Permanency Planning

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on permanency planning, including performance data for Haringey. The report also provided an update on the progress since the Ofsted² inspection in 2023.

The report described permanency planning as:

the process of securing a long-term, stable living arrangement that provides children with a sense of belonging and supports their overall well-being. It aims to minimise disruptions and promote security.

It stated that effective permanency planning considers the child's social and emotional needs, educational and health requirements, cultural and religious background, and sense of identity and belonging.

The report also detailed the legal framework for permanency planning, including the Children and Social Work Act 2017 and the Children Act 1989³.

The report outlined the following routes to permanency:

• Return to Parents
• Special Guardianship
• Connected Carer Placement with someone known to the child or family
• Long-Term Foster Care
• Adoption

The report included information on Special Guardianship in Haringey, noting that the number of Special Guardianship Orders (SGO) granted in Haringey has steadily increased since 2020–2021, reaching national levels in 2024–2025.

The report also provided information on long-term foster care, connected carer placements, and adoption, including early permanence.

Finally, the report detailed progress made since the Ofsted inspection in 2023, including support for social workers.

Collaborative Commissioning

The committee was scheduled to receive a strategic update on collaborative commissioning initiatives across North Central London (NCL) and Pan-London, with a focus on market management and placement sufficiency.

The report outlined key developments, emerging opportunities, and Haringey's contributions to regional efforts aimed at improving outcomes for children in care and children with complex needs.

Key Pan-London (Regional) Activity projects that were scheduled to be discussed:

• Secure Children's Home (SCH) & LARP: Development of a new Pan-London secure children's home with reintegration accommodation.
• London Accommodation Pathfinder: Expansion of supported accommodation across London, including recommissioning for 2026.
• ASD/SEMH Commissioning: Five regional projects to improve early support, crisis response, short breaks, and local care options for children with autism and SEMH needs.
• Parent and Child Residential Assessment Framework: Now fully operational across London, providing a consistent model for parenting assessments.
• Commissioning with Health: Development of Pan-London principles for jointly funded placements, particularly for children with complex needs.
• Capital and Market Engagement: Seven successful capital bids supported. Ongoing engagement with providers to stimulate development aligned with the London Sufficiency Plan.
• Top 330 Analysis: Regional analysis of high-cost, low-incidence placements to inform sufficiency planning and reduce reliance on expensive out-of-borough provision.
• Government Engagement: Ongoing lobbying with MoJ, DfE, and DHSC to address placement costs, funding models, and national policy reform.

North Central London (NCL) Sub-Regional Activity that was scheduled to be discussed:

• Joint Funded Placements Review: A task and finish group are reviewing complex care, continuing care, and Section 117 placements to identify commissioning inconsistencies and develop standardised protocols.
• Fostering Hub Development: A DfE-funded bid has been submitted to establish a North London fostering recruitment hub to increase in-house carers and reduce reliance on Independent Fostering Agencies (IFAs).
• Residential Sufficiency Strategy: NCL boroughs are working to improve occupancy of in-house residential homes and shape the private market through block contracts and shared protocols.
• Data and Intelligence: A sufficiency needs assessment is underway using DfE, LIIA, and local data to inform future commissioning.
• Market Engagement: Engagement with P&V providers to align provision with local needs and improve cost-effectiveness.

The report also detailed Haringey's commissioning activity, including the London Accommodation Pathway and the NCL Complex Needs Children's Home.

Finally, the report provided information on market management, including quarterly provider forums and a new Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) for Independent Fostering Agencies (IFAs) and Children's Residential Homes.