Growth and development.pdf

The rate of looked after children is low, having remained at a similar level for 3 years. The rate oflooked after children who are living in residential accommodation is relatively low. The Councilhas managed to cut the numbers of children in residential schools from 24 to 10, due in largepart to a successful joint re-integration project. The number of children in foster care increasedbetween 1999 and 2001 but remains low in comparison with most other authorities.The rate of child protection referrals is higher than in many other authorities but the rate ofchildren subject to a case conference is relatively low. The rate of children placed on the childprotection register has fallen and is now relatively low. The number of adoption applications hasincreased between 1998 and 2000 and the rate is now higher than in most other authorities.A recent best value audit of child protection services recommended improvements in guidanceand training for education and childcare staff and also a joint assessment framework for educationand social work staff.In partnership with the voluntary sector, the Council is providing preventative services focusingon alcohol misuse and family support. A Homeless Families Co-ordination Group aims to improveinter-agency working, improve the joint assessment framework and formalise links between theChild Protection Committee, the Substance Misuse Action Team and the Domestic ViolenceForum. It has prompted initiatives which address the health and welfare needs of children caughtup in their parents’ homelessness, substance misuse and domestic abuse. The initiatives –funded from diverse sources – range from the provision of advice and information, family support,and crisis intervention to rehabilitation.The Council has adopted an action plan to implement recommendations of Learning with Care.The following action has been taken:• designated teachers have been appointed;• joint staff development training is in progress;• an audit of residential homes is complete;• targets for educational attainment are set in the Children Services Plan; and• education and children’s services are developing a management information system; amodule for data on exclusions is already in use and another is being implemented for dataon educational attainment from secondary schools; that data has yet to be linked toinformation about looked after children.Agreement on multi-disciplinary assessments is outstanding.Throughcare and aftercare services rely on partnership working. Wellbank has been developedas a purpose-built resource for those leaving care and for homeless young people. A SocialInclusion Partnership initiative for care leavers (the Go Project) is directed at young people age16-26. Managed by a multi-disciplinary team, it is linked with a mentoring scheme provided inassociation with the Prince’s Trust, and also has links with schools, careers and local collegesto extend work and training placements. The consolidation of these initiatives is the subject ofa Children’s Services Fund application.The new directorate of education and children’s services is a potential platform for integratingchildren’s services. The development of area support and childcare teams, linked by Care andLearning Co-ordinators, with an integrated management structure provides opportunities forlinking education, care and health services around local communities.204