Family Assessment (Parent & Child) Service Review Outcome

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(Cabinet Member Decision – 29 October 2012)Officer Report– 17 October 2012Family Assessment (Parent and Child) Service Review OutcomeCabinet Member: Mrs F Nicholson, Cabinet Member for Children & FamiliesDivision and Local Member: N/ALead Officer: Steve Tanner, Operations Director Children & FamiliesAuthor: Karen Kral, Group ManagerContact Details: 01823 357626Report Sign offForward PlanReference:Summary:Recommendations:Seen by: Name DateLegal Honor Clarke 17.10.12Corporate Finance Steve Alison 17.10.12Human Resources Ian Mosley 17.10.12Senior Manager Steve Tanner 17.10.12Cabinet Member Mrs F Nicholson 10.10.12FP/12/08/05This report sets out proposals for Family Assessments (Parent &Child), as ordered by the court in relation to care proceedingsunder section 38(6) of the 1989 Children Act. Therecommendations follow Cabinet’s endorsement to the approachset out in the Outline Business Case (see Appendix A) consideredat their meeting on 4 July 2012.That the Cabinet Member for Children and Families authorisesthe Operations Director for Children and Families, followingconsultation with the Chief Executive and Lead Commissionerfor Children and Families, to further develop and implementthe Somerset County Council specialist parent and childassessment fostering scheme and develop additionalcommunity based assessment resources.The Service Review was presented to Cabinet on 4 July 2012 andthe Cabinet resolved to:Reasons forRecommendations:• Endorse the recommendation in the Outline Business Case ofOption 5 - to further develop the Somerset County Councilspecialist parent and child assessment fostering scheme anddevelop additional community based assessment resources• Authorise the Chief Executive, Lead Commissioner Childrenand Families, and Operations Director Children and Familiesto take forward the full business case and necessary actionsarising from the recommendation.• Authorise the Chief Executive, Lead Commissioner Childrenand Families, and Operations Director Children and Familiesto recruit three additional full time equivalent posts to extendthe in-house parent and child assessment scheme asrecommended in Option 5.2 of 7
(Cabinet Member Decision – 29 October 2012)As a result of the above decision, the recruitment of additional staffto the team has already commenced.There was an expectation that this Service Review would require aFull Business Case, however the process of completing the OutlineBusiness Case has identified that the only viable way to containbudget pressures and maintain service delivery, was torecommend developing the existing in-house service deliveryincluding the recruitment of 3 additional staff with immediate effect.As this is a continuation of business as usual rather than a servicere-design, a Full Business Case is not required.This decision helps to deliver a range of local resources thatprovide good quality and the most cost effective, timely,assessment options to meet the needs of all children and parentswhose background, lifestyle or circumstances give rise to seriousconcerns about child safety, and also reduces budget pressuresand helps towards medium term financial plan savings throughreducing the number and costs of assessments.This service links to the Caring and Protecting – People and Placeelement of the County Plan.Links to Prioritiesand Impact onService Plans:• Work hard to safeguard vulnerable or disadvantaged childrenin Somerset and to ensure that we look after the children inour care’• Work to recruit and support more carers to adopt and fosterchildren• Improve the prospects for children and young people most atrisk of being disadvantaged.Significant savings are expected after initial development costs in2012/13 and 2013/14 through the wider strategy to:• Reduce the number of court ordered assessments by ensuringfull analysis of parenting ability and potential is presented atthe earliest opportunity.Financial, Legal andHR Implications:• Develop a range of options that are cost effective and meetneed including assessments where the parent and childremain at home.• Build capacity of the Somerset County Council parent andchild-fostering scheme in order to reduce the need to purchasemore expensive placements.• Reduce the number of assessments carried out by residentialcentres, which are the most expensive assessment option, toensure that they are only used for those families where thereis no other safe option.• The cost of the three additional posts for the in-house scheme,will be offset by a reduction in our external agencyplacements, (details of which are included in the Outline3 of 7
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Family Assessment (Parent & Child) Service Review Outcome

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