Natalie Carter, Open Door, introduced the report and asked Joseph Kaley, Member of the Children in Care Council to update Members on the Chairperson’s statement and the Thurrock Pledge.

Joseph Kaley stated that the Pledge was a document created and audited by members of Thurrock’s Children in Care Council in consultation with all looked after children under Thurrock’s care that aimed to safeguard and promote a care system that catered for both the needs and wants of all young people.

The Pledge was a key facet of all work carried out by the Children in Care Council and was reviewed and updated on a three year basis. This included the consultation with young people and was undertaken in different ways:

•           A telephone survey had been carried out by members of the Children in Care Council overseen by staff at Open Door;

•           A paper survey had been handed out at key events that were either hosted or endorsed by the Children in Care Council;

•           Regular feedback received from young people over the Children in Care Council contact methods, such as mobile and email;

•           An on-line survey carried out by members of the Children in Care Council at key events via the use of a portable computer.

The Pledge was now due to be reviewed and amended in 2018. In preparation of this the members of the Children in Care Council would begin to make plans to consult with young people at events that will be happening during the half-term holidays such as the Celebration Event in March 2017 as well as the Summer Break in 2017.

Both during and after consultation, members of the Children in Care Council would begin to review the document for any required amendments in line with new challenges faced by either new policies, limitations or a change in demographic. The amendments that will be approved by members of the Children in Care Council would be available for the Corporate Parenting Committee to review in early to mid 2018.

All looked after children were issued with a copy of the Pledge and copies were handed out at Children in Care Council events. Feedback was received and concluded that the Pledge needed to be advertised as much as possible and to ensure that young people newly into care were made aware of the Pledge. The feedback also highlighted that social workers were not being challenged enough with regards to the Pledge and young people felt the Pledge was not being enforced as part of the local authorities plan.

The Children in Care Council will ensure that the Pledge was used in all aspects of social work and aimed to design and produce a business card that would highlight all the key facets of the Pledge.

The Chair thanked Joseph Kaley for the good job undertaken and the active role that he played within the Children in Care Council.

Councillor Redsell stated that all 49 Members should be invited to the Celebration Event held on the 31 March 2017. Natalie Carter agreed to send an all Member email out.

Councillor Kerin thanked Joseph Kaley for the report and that he looked forward to seeing the new Pledges. Councillor Kerin requested that Committee Members were regularly updated.

Councillor MacPherson stated that the Children in Care Council were aspirational and thanked Joseph Kaley for his report and that they had to continue to hold Members and Officers to account.

Councillor Redsell stated that copies of the Pledge could be tabled to all 49 Members at Full Council.

Councillor MacPherson stated that a Motion at Full Council could be submitted to ensure that all 49 Members gave their full support to the Children in Care Council Pledges.

Councillor Baker commented on the remarkable work being undertaken by the Children in Care Council.

Keeley Pullen suggested that the Pledge could be distributed alongside the Information Pack and Welcome Letter already being sent to schools.

Joseph Kaley thanked Keeley Pullen and agreed that the Pledge should be exposed as much as possible.

Joseph Kaley confirmed that no unaccompanied asylum seeker children were members on the Children in Care Council but extended invites had been sent.  The language barrier appeared to be main reason and would be looking at other ways to involve others which may result having interpreters present.

Andrew Carter stated that it was welcoming to have challenging new ideas but to ensure that duplicate effort was not being undertaken in instances such as the redesign of the Entry Care Package and the Contact Cards as these had recently been redesigned and revised by Officers.

Rory Patterson stated that some good points had been raised and that the Children in Care Council and Officers would continue to work together, have a shared work plan and to meet and monitor progress more regularly. Rory Patterson will be allocated some time on the Children in Care Council, Meet and Greet Agenda, in October 2017.

The Chair thanked all for their comments.

RESOLVED

1.         That the Corporate Parenting Committee supports the role of the Children in Care Council.

2.         That the Members and Officers attend the Children in Care Council meetings when invited.

3.         That the Corporate Parenting Committee support and endorse the role of the Young People’s Project.