Agenda item

That the Corporate Parenting Strategy 2016-18  be agreed as at Appendix A to the report, subject to the finalisation of the review of Member representation on the Corporate Parenting Panel.

The Interim Director of Children’s Services introduced a report which sought approval of the revised Corporate Parenting Strategy for 2016-18.  The priorities were based on the six themes of ‘Our Pledge: our promises to our looked after children’ that had been agreed by the Cabinet and full Council in April 2016.

The new strategy had been produced in close consultation with Slough Children’s Services Trust and it included new terms of reference for the Corporate Parenting Panel.  The Panel had met on 23^rd June and discussed the strategy and agreed that a joint action plan between the Council and Trust be developed as well as a scorecard to monitor performance.  Taken together, this suite of documents were key deliverables for the Council from the Delivery Plan submitted to Ofsted in response to the inspection report published in February 2016.

The Commissioner for Education & Children’s Services explained the rationale for the changes to the terms of reference to the Corporate Parenting Panel which would make it more inclusive and crucially more child centric to hear the voice of looked after children.  The membership of the Panel would be finalised following a further review to minimise the risks of any potential conflicts of interest between Members involved in the Panel, scrutiny or other roles with responsibilities for children’s services.  The Leader asked for assurance that the new strategy and supporting documents would deliver service improvements and it was responded that there was now a clear path flowing from the Pledge, strategy, action plan and scorecard, with a refreshed Corporate Parenting Panel to provide partnership oversight.  The Cabinet welcomed the work that had been done and approved the strategy.

A number of questions were raised by Members under Rule 30.  Councillor Brooker highlighted that there had been a significant change in Member representation on the Corporate Parenting Panel and suggested that non-Panel members be able to attend meetings.  He also raised the issue of Members attendance at the Panel and the Cabinet agreed that Panel Members should commit to playing a full and active role, noting that all Members had clear responsibilities as corporate parents.  Councillor Pantelic asked what different approach would be taken to deliver success.  The Commissioner for Education & Children’s Services highlighted that the aspirational promises made in the Pledge were clearly supported by the strategy, action plan and scorecard to measure progress.  A strong working relationship between the Council, Trust and other partners would also be a priority to improve services and outcomes for children.

Resolved –  That the Corporate Parenting Strategy 2016-18 be agreed as at Appendix A to the report, subject to the finalisation of the review of Member representation on the Corporate Parenting Panel.