Growth and development.pdf

Rates of child protection referrals, numbers of children subject to a case conference andnumbers on the child protection register are all very low compared to other local authorities.Adoption rates are relatively high.Children and young people’s services have recently been reorganised. Teams specialising inworking with children according to age or disability have replaced generic teams. Childprotection procedures have been revised and training in risk assessment developed. FieldworkAssistants now support qualified staff and numbers of staff in residential units have increased.Improvements have been introduced in the education of looked after children, led by a task forceresponsible for implementing an action plan. Most of the Learning with Care recommendationshave been implemented: the learning environment in children’s and foster homes has beenimproved by links with library services; IT equipment is being purchased for children’s unitsand foster homes; and a bank of laptops is available for use by children and carers. Secondedstaff visit all residential schools to assist in formulating individual education plans. Training incare planning has been given to residential and fieldwork staff and to foster parents. Furtherprogress has to be achieved in delivering joint staff training and shared information systems.A dedicated throughcare team has been expanded to provide new services for care leavers.Further progress has to be achieved in developing inter–agency arrangements, for instancewith housing, and securing the active involvement of the voluntary sector (NCH). A register ofcare leavers has been established.A youth housing support initiative is being launched with NCH to provide temporaryaccommodation and support in a hostel and independent bedsits for eight vulnerable homelessyoung people. It will include provision for disabled people and young parents. The aim is todevelop independence and budgetary and tenancy skills, so that people can move on to lesssupported resources in shared and individual tenancies. The initiative is closely linked to thethroughcare team.74