Issue - meetings

Cabinet Member: Children & Family Services

Forward Plan Ref: 2017/012

Contact: Hannah Farncombe, Deputy Director - Corporate Parenting & Safeguarding Tel: (01865) 815273

Report by Director for Children’s Services (CA8).

The report seeks approval for plans for Oxfordshire County Council to join and host the Regional Adoption Agency (Adopt Thames Valley) as a shared service with the other partner authorities.

‘In principle’ approval was given by Cabinet in November 2016, but it was agreed that a final decision would come back to Cabinet once all partners had confirmed the detail of:

–     the budget and funding formula for Local Authority contributions;

–     scope of services (service specification); and

–     legal governance structure.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:

(a)      agree to join and host Adopt Thames Valley; and

(b)      If not concluded by 25 April Cabinet meeting, Cabinet are asked to give delegated approval for the transitional budget arrangements to the Director of Children’s Services in consultation with the Lead Member.

Recommendations agreed.

Cabinet considered a report that sought approval for plans for Oxfordshire County Council to join and host the Regional Adoption Agency (Adopt Thames Valley) as a shared service with the other partner authorities.

Councillor Fooks was unable to attend due to another commitment and Councillor Hudspeth read a statement from Councillor Fooks to say how much she has enjoyed her time on the Corporate Parenting panel and how very impressed she has been with the work of officers on the panel. In particular the Oxfordshire Adoption service had an excellent reputation and it was very good news that this expertise would be shared with the other partners in the new Thames Valley Adoption service.

Councillor Gill Sanders, Shadow Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, echoed Councillor Fooks comments about the excellent officers noting their excellent work with adopted and foster children. It was best that the County Council take a leading role and would be a good outcome for the children but also financially for the Council. However she noted that the funding details were not yet confirmed and she expressed concern that in subsequent years the County Council not incur unreasonable expenses. Councillor Sanders also She commended the work of Councillor Tilley as Cabinet Member for Children & Family Services in looking after the needs of children and hoped that her successor would do an equally good job.

Councillor Tilley, in introducing the report and moving the recommendations paid tribute to the work of Hannah Farncombe. She praised the low breakdown of placements rate and highlighted the importance of keeping the Adoption Support System.

Hannah Farncombe responded to the concerns raised over the financial costs noting that under the transition arrangements there was additional funding over the next couple of years and that the intention was that to ensure that the County Council funding remained no more than currently. However this had to be balanced against the desire to see an increase in adoption. Hannah Farncombe confirmed that there would be no reduction in adoption support. In response to a question from a Cabinet member Hannah Farncombe gave an assurance that the County Council could continue to monitor its own performance within the larger partnership.

During discussion Cabinet welcomed the recommendations but stressed the need for careful monitoring to ensure a strong performance. It was suggested that Oversight Board reports be shared with Cabinet members and Corporate Parenting Panel members.

RESOLVED:             to:

(a)       agree to join and host Adopt Thames Valley; and

(b)       If not concluded by 25 April Cabinet meeting, Cabinet are asked to give delegated approval for the transitional budget arrangements to the Director of Children’s Services in consultation with the Lead Member.