This report outlines national regulations and expectations for children who are looked after by the Local Authority as they move into adult and independent life.  It sets out Shropshire’s developments in this regard.  The report also outlines the educational achievement, attendance and health outcomes of Looked After Children.

40.1 Members considered the report from the Head of Children’s Safeguarding outlining national regulations and expectations for children looked after by the Local Authority as they moved into adult and independent life, and provided details of Shropshire’s developments.

40.2  The 16 Plus Team Manager explained that the updated Regulations set out requirements for local authorities to introduce “staying put” policies to provide foster carers and young people with information and guidance on all aspects of extending placements beyond the young person’s 18^th birthday; there was an expectation that 25% of care leavers would “stay put”.  He added that local authorities had a duty to provide care and pathway planning for young people leaving care, and that the “My Independence Plan” booklet provided information on the need assessment and pathway plans for care leavers.

40.3  The 16 Plus Team Manager explained that an Officer Task & Finish Group had been established to develop options for young people moving out of LA residential and foster care into supported and independent living accommodation.  Members noted the progress made to date to develop accommodation for care leavers in order to provide a step down from residential care, increase the range of options and enable successful transition to independent housing.

40.4  A Care Leaver provided details of her experiences and explained that she had derived great benefit from being able to stay living long term with her foster carers.

40.5  A Member queried the cost of different types of accommodation.  The 16 Plus Team Manager stated that costs ranged from £45,624 per annum for externally commissioned provision which was the most expensive, down to £12,567 for the Supported Housing Independence Project which was the cheapest.

40.6 A Member queried the delay in producing the Independence Plan given that it was based on guidance provided in 2010.  The 16 Plus team Manager advised that the Plan replaced an earlier document which had been produced following receipt of the guidance, which was still current

40.7  The Head of the Education and Health Team for LAC introduced the Education Achievement, Attendance and Health Outcomes Annual Report and drew Members’ attention to notable highlights which included: -

·         21.4% of children achieving KS4 GCSE passes at A* - C including english and maths compared with the national average for LAC of 11%

·         16 out of 17 LAC at KS2 making expected or better than expected progress

·         Improved attendance figures with only 4.7% of the cohort missing more than 25 days education in the year

·         Improved 16 year destinations with only one young person from a cohort of 18 being classified as NEET at the time of the report and subsequent to the report that young person was now engaged with County Training.

40.8  Members congratulated Officers on the excellent results contained in the report and a Member noted her particular admiration for the team of Officers involved with adoption.

40.9RESOLVED

i)             That the progress being made to develop semi-independent and supported lodging care arrangements for 16/17 year olds, be noted;

ii)            That further updates on the impact of the new arrangements in meeting the Government’s vision, be received; and

iii)           That the Educational and Health achievements of Looked After Children, be noted.