The Children's Social Care Cabinet Panel met on Monday 16 March 2026 to discuss a range of important issues affecting children and families in Hertfordshire. Key topics included a comprehensive performance report for the third quarter of 2025/26, an update on the refreshed Hertfordshire Carers Strategy, and the allocation of the new Crisis and Resilience Fund. The panel also received updates on the Family Support Service and the Holiday Activity & Food Programme (HAPpy).

Children's Social Care 2025/26 Quarter 3 Performance Report

The panel received a detailed performance report for the third quarter of the 2025/26 financial year, covering October to December 2025. Joanna Hunt, Performance Manager for Children's Services, presented the findings, highlighting both areas of strength and those requiring further attention.

Key Performance Indicators:

• Early Help: The number of Family First assessments completed was 162, a decrease from the previous quarter, but the number of children supported increased to 447, indicating larger families being assisted. Referrals accepted into children's social care showed signs of reduction, with every month in Q3 being lower than the previous year. However, referral numbers remained higher than in all years except 2024, though still less than half the national average.
• Child and Family Assessments: Performance in completing assessments within the 45-day timescale was strong, reaching 93.1% in December, with November seeing 98.3% completed on time, the highest level in 12 months.
• Child Protection Conferences: Initial child protection conferences completed within 15 days of a Section 47 investigation dropped to 75.4% in December, a level not seen since April and significantly below the national top quartile of 89%. A working group has been reconvened to address this.
• Children Subject to Child Protection Plans: The number of children on a child protection plan increased by 21.9% compared to the previous year, though it had reduced month-on-month from a peak in October. The percentage of children on a child protection plan for a second or subsequent time decreased slightly from November but remained a concern.
• Children Looked After (CLA): Total CLA numbers decreased quarter-on-quarter by 17, to 1,038. This was driven by a decrease in non-separated migrant children, though separated migrant children numbers increased. The number of children looked after who had experienced three or more homes in the last 12 months reached an all-time best performance of 8.2% in December, significantly lower than national and regional averages.
• Children Exiting Care: 6.5% of children exited care through adoption, and 8.2% through Special Guardianship Orders (SGOs).
• Care Leavers in Education, Employment or Training (EET): Performance remained strong, increasing to 60.6% in Q3, marking four consecutive months above 60% and a 4.9% increase on the same time last year.

Discussion on Performance:

Councillor Anthony Rowlands, Chair of the Panel, acknowledged the strong performance in many indicators but highlighted concerns regarding the timeliness of initial child protection conferences. Janet, an officer, explained that reasons for delays included IT and administrative process issues, capacity issues with child protection chairs, scheduling pressures, and occasional appropriate delays due to specific family needs. Actions underway include a task and finish group, and a specific workstream within the Be Excellent continuous improvement plan. Encouragingly, performance in February had already improved to 80.7%.

Councillor Paula Hiscocks expressed concern about the dip in initial child protection conferences, emphasizing the vulnerability of these children and requesting the issue be brought back to the panel. She also raised concerns about children being on child protection plans multiple times and the impact on them, as well as fluctuations in Families First assessments and the checking process for special guardianship orders. Councillor Hiscocks also inquired about the service's overspending.

Officers provided assurances regarding the rigorous assessment process for Special Guardianship Orders, involving a dedicated team of experienced social workers and family court agreement. They also addressed financial concerns, referring to ongoing transformation programmes and budget uplifts for Children Looked After (CLA) budgets.

Councillor Mark Pope raised concerns about staffing vacancies, noting 232 vacancies across Children's Services, with 151 deemed critical. Janet responded by outlining recruitment and retention strategies, including apprenticeship programmes and a whole-service approach. Councillor Pope also inquired about staff morale and retention efforts.

Miriam Swainston found the reassurance that children are not left without support while awaiting conferences encouraging, and noted the effectiveness of working groups. She also expressed concern about the high percentage of care leavers not in education, employment, or training (NEET) nationally.

Dee Hart asked about the increase in Educational Health Care Plans (EHCPs) and the limited placement options offered. Kirstie Taylor-Moran sought more information on the cohort of children subject to multiple child protection plans, particularly regarding the link to poverty, and the number of care leavers with EHCPs who are NEET.

Louise Price asked about the reasons for children being on protection plans more than once and the breakdown of care leavers who are NEET. Officers explained that repeat plans can be due to various factors, including time between plans, new partners, or isolated situations, and that quality assurance work is ongoing. Data on care leavers with EHCPs who are NEET would be circulated.

Refresh of the Hertfordshire Carers Strategy

Sue Chapman, Service Manager in Children's Services, presented the refreshed Hertfordshire Carers Strategy for 2026-2028. The strategy is an all-age, multi-agency approach, with a specific focus on young carers.

Key aspects of the strategy include:

• Definition of a Young Carer: Anyone under 18 who cares for a friend or family member due to illness, disability, mental health issues, or substance use. There is no lower age limit.
• Current Situation: Hertfordshire has nearly 3,000 registered young carers, though this is likely an underrepresentation. National evidence suggests approximately one in five children in a classroom could be a young carer.
• Impact of Caring: While many young carers thrive, those with significant or excessive caring responsibilities can be negatively impacted, sometimes missing up to 23 school days a year.
• Strategy Development: The strategy was co-produced with young carers, parent carers, and professionals, focusing on five key objective areas: Be Informed, Life Beyond Caring, Maintain Health and Wellbeing, Receive Consistent and Joined-Up Services, and Being Safe.
• No Wrong Door Approach: A national approach to ensure young carers can access support regardless of where they seek help.
• Shared Responsibility: The strategy emphasizes that no single agency can address all carer needs, requiring a shared approach.
• Action Plan: A two-year action plan will guide the implementation of the strategy, with an iterative approach to allow for adjustments.
• Communication and Implementation: Plans include accessible versions of the strategy and action plan, alongside a young carers data dashboard.

Discussion:

Councillor Nigel Bell welcomed the updated strategy, particularly the No Wrong Door commitment and the focus on young carers. He noted the increase in identified young carers in schools and the importance of monitoring support for ethnic minority communities.

Councillor Paula Hiscocks inquired about the budget for the strategy, the gender and age breakdown of young carers, and the provision of breaks for young carers. Sue Chapman confirmed that the budget is retained and that the contract with Carers in Hertfordshire is continuing. She also mentioned plans for a young carers-specific webpage and annual conferences.

The panel discussed the role of schools in identifying young carers and whether recent white papers strengthen their responsibilities. Joe, an officer, confirmed that while there isn't specific mention of young carers in the schools white paper, the broader focus on inclusive education and engagement of children outside the education system is relevant.

Councillor Mark Pope asked about the review process for the action plan and how updates would be provided to the panel. Sue Chapman confirmed that the strategy and action plan would be reported back to the panel, likely in the early autumn.

Councillor Dee Hart asked about out-of-hours provision and online support for carers. Sue Chapman confirmed that out-of-hours support moves to adult services, and a young carers-specific webpage is being launched.

Family Support Service Update

Melanie Knowles, Head of Early Years, and Apolline Festraets, Commissioning Manager, provided an update on the Family Centre contract and the charging policy for universal services.

Key points from the update:

• Family Centre Service: Comprises the Family Support Service (FSS) and Public Health Nursing (PHN). The FSS delivers services previously known as Children's Centres.
• Vision and Ambition: To ensure every child has the best possible start in life, enabling them to become healthy, resilient adults.
• Integrated Offer: The service provides a wide range of support, including targeted support, SEND support, and antenatal education.
• Charging Policy: A cost recovery element was introduced for universal sessions, with charges ranging from £1.50 to £35 for a six-week course. All charges contribute to venue costs, refreshments, and resources.
• Income Generation: Between April and November 2025, over £33,000 was generated through charges.
• Loyalty Programme: A loyalty scheme offers the sixth session free.
• Concessions: Free access is provided for families for whom payment would be a barrier, using pre-stamped cards to avoid stigma. These cards are also distributed by partner organizations.
• Data and Monitoring: Data on concession card usage is being monitored, with a focus on understanding engagement gaps and improving family engagement. The effectiveness of the scheme and uptake related to protected characteristics are also being reviewed.

Discussion:

Councillor Paula Hiscocks inquired about the automatic registration of families and the continuation of midwife and health visitor visits. She also expressed concern about the low usage of concession cards in some areas, such as Three Rivers, and the potential for fees to deter families.

Councillor Kirstie Taylor-Moran questioned whether attendance at rhyme time sessions had been impacted by charging and the demographic of attendees. She also asked about the threshold for concessions and whether the income generated justified the administrative costs, suggesting free access with an optional donation system.

Councillor Nigel Bell expressed concern about the figures and the impact of charging, suggesting a need for more information on whether fees were a deterrent and advocating for better communication and increased family usage of the centers.

Officers responded by explaining that registration is not currently automatic but is being explored with Public Health Nursing colleagues. They acknowledged concerns about low concession card usage and are investigating this further, including reviewing communication strategies. The cost of administering the scheme was noted as low (£91 for 4,000 cards).

The Crisis and Resilience Fund

Kristy Thakur, Head of Service in Adult Care Services, and George Gearing, Commissioning Manager, presented the delivery plan for the Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF).

Key points from the presentation:

• Replacement for Household Support Fund: The CRF is a new DWP grant replacing the Household Support Fund, designed to support residents facing cost-of-living pressures.
• Funding Allocation: Hertfordshire County Council receives £9.1 million per year for three years, increasing to £11.4 million in year three with the addition of Discretionary Housing Payments post-Local Government Reorganisation. This represents a 26% reduction in funding compared to previous years.
• Fund Structure: The fund is divided into four categories: Crisis Payments, Housing Payments, Resilience Services, and Community Coordination.
• Delivery Principles: Support will be person-centred, needs-based, holistic, and trauma-informed, with a focus on warm referrals and a no wrong door approach.
• Restrictions: Blanket provision of vouchers to those on free school meals is not allowed.
• Proposed Delivery Plan: A joint plan by Adult Care Services and Children's Services includes a three-year commitment to services like Citizens Advice, Money Advice Unit, Community Supermarkets, and a new Care Leaver Project.
• Children & Families Crisis Support Fund: A new £1.8 million per year fund will be application-based for professionals supporting families in deep material poverty, offering food or energy vouchers, or tangible items.
• Communication: A comprehensive communications plan is being developed to inform residents and partners about the changes and available support.

Discussion:

Councillor Nigel Bell welcomed the three-year settlement and the emphasis on emergency payments and resilience-building. He inquired about community supermarkets and the criteria for cash payments.

Councillor Louise Price expressed concern about the significant challenge of splitting the funding between potential new unitary authorities in year three.

Councillor Paula Hiscocks raised concerns about families accustomed to receiving vouchers and whether sufficient support is in place for them, as well as the criteria for deep material poverty and addressing loneliness among care leavers.

Councillor Kirstie Taylor-Moran asked about a cap on referrals to the crisis support fund, anticipated increases in children undergoing assessments, and the funding level for Citizens Advice.

Officers clarified that there is no cap on referrals, but reporting will focus on those receiving multiple payments. The criteria for deep material poverty involve lacking four out of thirteen essential items. They confirmed that Citizens Advice funding is similar to previous years and that loneliness among care leavers is a priority, with initiatives being developed. The funding for the Crisis and Resilience Fund is considered adequate, with flexibility to adjust allocations.

Update on the Holiday Activity & Food Programme (HAPpy)

George Gearing, Commissioning Manager, and Tina Powell, Service Manager Strategic Partnerships, provided an update on the Holiday Activity & Food Programme (HAPpy).

Key points from the update:

• Programme Reach: In 2025, the HAPpy programme supported 9,623 children, with 1,878 being SEND-specific. A total of 67,708 session spaces were booked, with a 92% booking rate.
• Local Providers: Hertfordshire works with 59 regular providers and attracts 10-20 new applicants each delivery period, offering diverse activities.
• Summer Parks Programme: This festival-style pop-up programme for older children (12-16) in public parks supported an additional 1,267 young people.
• Three-Year Extension: The government has announced a three-year extension to the HAF programme, providing a budget of around £200 million annually.
• Partnership: Herts Sports and Activity Partnership and the University of Hertfordshire were successful in continuing to run the programme for three years, in partnership with Hertfordshire Community Foundation for financial governance.
• Easter Bookings: Over 13,000 of the 16,000 offered places for Easter had already been booked.
• Future Plans: The programme will continue to offer summer parks events and is exploring a young carer-specific offer.

Discussion:

Councillor Paula Hiscocks thanked George and his team for their work and inquired about the eligibility criteria for the programme in layman's terms, particularly regarding the shift from universal credit eligibility.

Councillor Nigel Bell also thanked George and his team and asked about the criteria for areas included in the summer parks programme, questioning why areas like South Oxhey were not included.

Councillor Kirstie Taylor-Moran asked about the potential increase in demand due to the loss of free school meal vouchers, how non-attendance is managed, and whether the programme could be extended to half-terms.

George Gearing explained that HAF eligibility will remain based on benefits-related Free School Meals until September 2026, with future eligibility to be confirmed. He clarified that the summer parks programme uses FSM data and accessibility to determine locations, and that South Oxhey has been considered previously. He also addressed non-attendance, noting that while there's a gap, reasons are often genuine crises, and the programme is exploring ways to reduce this, including linking with the Crisis and Resilience Fund for transport. He confirmed that HAF does not currently extend to half-terms due to funding limitations.

Councillor Caroline Smith-Wright's question about the quality of food and sugar drinks was answered by George Gearing, who detailed the council's auditing of camp operators, training on healthy meals, and provision of healthy recipes.

Councillor Mark Pope raised a point about the retirement of John O'Callaghan from the Herts Sports Partnership, acknowledging his significant contribution.

The panel noted the report and expressed thanks to George Gearing and his team.