Meeting documents

The Executive
Tuesday, 19 April 2005

EX190405-08

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ITEM EX8

EXECUTIVE – 19 APRIL 2005

"PLACEMENT MATTERS" – A STRATEGY FOR THE PLACEMENT OF CHILDREN LOOKED AFTER

Report by Director for Social & Health Care

Introduction

  1. Until now, Oxfordshire County Council has not had a placement strategy for Children Looked After (CLA). The attached draft (Placement Matters - Annex 1) (download as .doc file) seeks to supply this. Its development has been prompted by a number of factors: the increased number of children in agency placements (in both independent foster care agencies and residential care settings); an overspend of the Agency Care Budget in 2004/05 and to a lesser extent in previous years; and the need to provide strategic direction for managers and staff.

  2. The purpose of this Strategy is to:

    1. set out a planning framework for the development of and changes to CLA services;

    2. set strategic direction around placements for CLA for the next 3 years;

    3. create clarity about outcomes for children; and

    4. set targets to improve practice, increase in-house provision, reduce reliance on agency placements and match priorities with resources.

    Proposals

  3. Placement Matters is a three-year strategy proposed to be concluded by March 2008. The strategy contains a number of proposals, under four main headings:
    1. Operational, Organisational and Practice Matters
    2. Developments and changes to service provision
    3. Placement and financial targets
    4. Management and financial information issues

These can be found in Section 8 of Placement Matters.

Financial Implications

  1. The strategy is designed to achieve the reduction of the current overspend of approximately £2m to £861k in 2005/06 and to £111k in 2006/07. In 2007/08 it aims to create positive investment potential for Family Support and other preventative services.

    2. Staff Implications

  2. The main changes for staff are in the reconfiguration of residential services. Although it is proposed that one residential home will close, there will be opportunities for existing staff to apply for the community based alternatives to residential care team and the support to foster carers team. These changes are proposed to take effect in 2006.

    3. Consultation

  3. Residential Staff Teams have been met by the Interim Head of Service, and Staff Care/HR representatives. Discussions have been held about the proposals in Placement Matters likely to affect them. HR representatives are in active dialogue with some staff teams and responding to questions posed.

  4. The Head of Service has met some of the children and young people in the Children’s Homes. Other young people have had discussions with staff with whom they meet on a more regular basis. None of the young people currently in residential care will be affected by the internal re-configuration of services as their care plans state that they are to move from residential services prior to the changes proposed.

  5. The draft Placement Matters strategy is first being presented to the Social & Health Care Scrutiny Committee for comment and advice to the Executive. The Committee’s comments will be reported at the meeting of the Executive.

    6. RECOMMENDATION

  6. The Executive is RECOMMENDED, subject to consideration of any comments from the Social & Health Care Scrutiny Committee, to:

          1. endorse the proposals set out in the draft Placement Matters Strategy for Children Looked After; and

          2. authorise the Director for Social & Health Care, in consultation with the Executive Member for Children & Young People, to finalise the strategy in the light of the outcome of any outstanding consultations with residential staff.

CHARLES WADDICOR
Director for Social & Health Care

Background Papers: Nil

Contact Officer: John Richards, Tel: (01865) 815833

March 2005

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