Public reports pack Wednesday 22-Jul-2015 19.00 Council

Page 872.123 There have been proposed changes to Lambeth’s Leaving Care Service. As oppose tohaving a service predominately with Social Workers Lambeth are planning to recruitPersonal Advisors. The changes are to bring Lambeth in line with the service which thegovernment expects us to provide. Also, as oppose to the Leaving Care service havingtwo separate teams (16+ and 18+) there will now be one team providing the leaving careservice. This will means fewer changes in the number of workers that young people workwith.Priorities for the year ahead2.124 The Corporate Parenting Board for 2015/16 will focus on examining the outcomes of theOfsted Inspection and how well services are responding to them as it is recognised thatchange is needed. A development day on 17 June will ensure members of the Boardunderstand the main tasks for the coming months and will also ensure appropriatemembership.Next Steps2.125 During the coming months of anticipated change, the Council as a whole must remaincommitted to its corporate parenting responsibility towards our vulnerable children andyoung people. The work of the Board must remain a priority for Elected Members and tonote their responsibility in promoting positive outcomes for children and young people incare.2.126 The gap between looked after children, care leavers and their peers is still too wide andthere is much to be done to improve educational outcomes for looked after children andyoung people in Lambeth.Conclusion2.127 A good corporate parent must offer everything that a good parent would, includingstability. It must address both the difficulties which children looked after experience andthe challenges of parenting within a complex system of different services. "Corporateparenting cannot replace or replicate the selfless character of parental love; but it doesimply a warmth and personal concern which goes beyond the traditional expectations ofinstitutions." (The Utting Report, 1991).3. Finance3.1 There are no direct resource implications arising from this report. However,the development and delivery of interventions to support the needs of childrenlooked after and care leavers will have resource implications which will needconsideration within the budget setting processes.4. Legal and Democracy4.1 All Members have individual and collective responsibility as the Corporate Parents forLambeth’s looked after children. The Corporate Parenting Board is required to submitan annual report to Full Council on its corporate parenting arrangements.21