(a)

the children in care population and those under child protection plans totalled 1648. Of this figure 949 had a child in need plan which meant that they met a statutory threshold for involvement by the Council in supporting them under section 17 of the Children Act 1989 to offer support to the family. 266 children had child protection plans and 426 children were looked after by the Council;

(b)

the current figures fell in-line with statistical neighbours however child protection figures were slightly lower than England averages;

(c)

there were four core categories under which children could be made subject to a child protection plan: neglect, physical harm, sexual abuse and emotional abuse. The biggest group of children on a child protection plan was 150 children of the 266 children on a plan – they were on a plan as a consequence of neglect. 16 children were on a plan where physical harm was the primary concern and 14 children were subject to a plan as a result of sexual abuse and 86 under emotional abuse;

(d)

in terms of the length of time children had been on child protection plans – this information was required to be reported to Government at the end of year (where a child was subject to a plan for more than two years). The majority of children had been on plans for less than a year however 20 children had been on plans for more than two years – this represented less than 10% of children on a child protection plan;

(e)

in terms of the 426 children in care, several of those children were looked after under Section 20 of the Children Act – this was where the council had a voluntary agreement with their parents to look after their children however the parents retain parental responsibility and the Council work in partnership with them - this totalled 56 children all over the age of five;

(f)

children in care proceedings or who had a care order (where the Local Authority were seeking or had obtained parental responsibility to share decision making) consisted of a group of over 330 children. There were 83 children actively in care proceedings. 255 care orders had been obtained and officers were working in a permanence framework with those children;

(g)

there were 250 care leavers between the ages of 18-21 – the local authority was required to retain a statutory responsibility to provide a personal advisor service for these young people and were supported by the permanency service.

(h)

the figures provided may not have added up to the total figure of children in care as, when calculating, the child may not have had a children in need (CIN) code or they may have had dual roles (i.e. children in need and child protection status). Members were assured that future figures provided would correctly balance;

(i)

a breakdown of data specifying the number of children in care who were black or from an ethnic minority group would be provided to Members. It was highlighted that the expertise of the Council’s staff group was diverse with practitioners being from a range of backgrounds. Social work training required them to be thoughtful, culturally sensitive and have a consideration of diversity on ethnicity, gender, culture;

(j)

support for care leavers started early in a young person’s care journey; after the age of 16 young people were allocated a personal advisor who would work alongside a social worker to support the young person. At the age of 18 a young person in care would receive a six month review of care to check on progress; this was a statutory requirement. Barnardos were currently undertaking a project regarding the care journey;

(k)

there was a range of things the council could do to prevent the need for a child being looked after; family group conferences would be organised to establish what support from the child’s extended network could provide to support the child and the parent to negate the need for social care involvement. Every effort was made to keep the child at home if it was in the best needs of the child.

1.

the breakdown of data of children in care from black and ethnic minority backgrounds would be provided to Members;

2.

a summary report of the Care Leavers Peer Challenge (from Cornwall Council) is to be provided to all Councillors as they are all Corporate Parents;