Minutes for Every Child Matters Select Panel meeting, Jul 20 2009, 4.30PM

<div class="mgLinks"> <ul class="mgActionList"> <li><a href="http://cmttpublic.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/mgMeetingAttendance.aspx?ID=1978" class="external" title="Link to attendance details for the meeting of Every Child Matters Select PanelMonday, 20th July, 2009 4.30 pm">Attendance Details</a></li> <li><a href="http://cmttpublic.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/mgConvert2PDF.aspx?ID=1978&T=0" class="external" title="Link to agenda frontsheet pdf file">Agenda Frontsheet PDF 235 KB </a> </li> <li><a href="http://cmttpublic.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/mgChooseDocPack.aspx?ID=1978" class="external" title="Link to agenda reports document pack">Agenda reports pack PDF 336 KB </a></li> <li><a href="http://cmttpublic.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/mgConvert2Pdf.aspx?ID=1556&T=9" class="external">Additional Information relating to ECM 20.7.09 PDF 418 KB </a></li> <li><a href="http://cmttpublic.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/mgConvert2PDF.aspx?ID=1978&T=1" class="external" title="Link to printed minutes pdf file">Printed minutes PDF 64 KB </a> </li> </ul> </div><div class="mgContent"> Venue: Committee Room 1, Wyvern House, The Drumber, Winsford CW7 1AH. <a href="http://cmttpublic.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/mgLocationDetails.aspx?RID=22" class="external" title="Link to directions to Committee Room 1, Wyvern House, The Drumber, Winsford CW7 1AH"> View directions</a> Contact: Andrea Thwaite  email:  <a href="mailto:andrea.thwaite@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk" class="external">andrea.thwaite@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk</a> Items No. Item <a name="AI9035"></a>8. Apologies for Absence <a name="AI9036"></a>9. Declarations of Interest Minutes: <div class="mgWordPara"><div class="Section1"> No declarations of interest were made. </div> </div> <a name="AI9037"></a>10. Public Question Time/Open Session <div class="mgWordPara"><div class="Section1"> The Committee welcomes members of the public to participate in its meetings.  15 minutes is allocated for questions and comments during Public Question Time/Open Session.  Further participation during the meeting is subject to the Chairman’s discretion.   When raising your questions or comments please aim to do so in five minutes.   To enable Officers to undertake any background research it would be helpful if questions were submitted at least a day before the meeting.   Contact Andrea Thwaite:  on 01244 972283 or email <a href="mailto:andrea.thwaite@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk" class="external">andrea.thwaite@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk</a>.   </div> </div> Minutes: <div class="mgWordPara"><div class="Section1"> No questions had been submitted prior to the meeting and no questions were raised at the meeting. </div> </div> <a name="AI9043"></a>11. <a href="http://cmttpublic.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/mgConvert2PDF.aspx?ID=6796" title="Link to document 'Minutes' pdf file" class="external">Minutes PDF 57 KB </a> <div class="mgWordPara"><div class="Section1"> To approve the attached minutes of the Every Child Matters Select Committee held on 18th May 2009 as a correct record.  </div> </div> Minutes: <div class="mgWordPara"><div class="Section1"> AGREED: That   <a name="BM1">the minutes of the Every Child Matters Select Panel  meeting held on 18 May 2009 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.</a> </div> </div> <a name="AI9038"></a>12. <a href="http://cmttpublic.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/mgConvert2PDF.aspx?ID=6521" title="Link to document 'Welcome from Every Child Matters Select Panel Chairman' pdf file" class="external">Welcome from Every Child Matters Select Panel Chairman PDF 40 KB </a> <div class="mgWordPara"><div class="Section1"> Welcome by Councillor Eleanor Johnson – Chairman of Every Child Matters Select Committee.  Membership and Terms of Reference for the Panel are attached for information purposes. </div> </div> Minutes: <div class="mgWordPara"><div class="Section1"> Councillor Eleanor Johnson welcomed everyone to the meeting.  Members were introduced to Lesley Goode - Service Manager Looked After Children.  It was noted that John Stephens, Director of Children’s and Young People’s Services was unable to attend the meeting and had sent his apologies.   </div> </div> <a name="AI9039"></a>13. Update on the appointment of Statutory Co-opted Members to Every Child Matters Select Panel <div class="mgWordPara"><div class="Section1"> The Chairman to provide Members with a verbal update, on how the Statutory Co-option of Appointments are progressing. </div> </div> Minutes: <div class="mgWordPara"><div class="Section1"> Every Child Matters Select Panel had a statutory duty to appoint Elected Parent Governors to the Panel and at the meeting held on 18 May 2009, it had been agreed to appoint two Parent Governors for a two year term; one from a Junior School and one from a Secondary School.   Andrea Thwaite advised Members that she had contacted all of the several hundred Parent Governors from Cheshire West and Chester schools, regarding the two vacancies and had received 1 nomination for the secondary school vacancy and five for the junior school vacancy.   Members agreed that an election in respect of the junior school representative was now required.  It was decided that the election should be completed so that the formal induction could take place at the Every Child Matters Select Panel on 19 October 2009.  Guidance would be sourced to determine what format the election should take whilst ensuring that that costs were kept to a minimum.    AGREED:  That   (1)       any future contact with Parent Governors be by via email to keep costs down. (2)       the Scrutiny Team identify a suitable format the election and begin the process </div> </div> <a name="AI9040"></a>14. <a href="http://cmttpublic.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/mgConvert2PDF.aspx?ID=6613" title="Link to document 'Work Programme 2009/10' pdf file" class="external">Work Programme 2009/10 PDF 54 KB </a> <div class="mgWordPara"><div class="Section1"> To review the Panel’s Work Programme (see attached Schedule) and approve progress to date   <ol> <li class="MsoNormal">REVIEW OF QUALITY OF CARE</li> </ol>   An opportunity for Members of the Task and Finish Group  who attended site visits to Cheshire West and Chester’s Care Homes and top performing one “Good Foundations” in Birkenhead on 9th July 2009, to give feedback on their experiences.   <ol> <li class="MsoNormal">REVIEW OF SUPPORT TO LOOKED AFTER CHILDREN</li> </ol>   Members to approve the Review of Support to Looked after Children Scope and to receive an update from the Task and Finish Group on the pending events at Chester Zoo on 5th August 2009..   <ol> <li class="MsoNormal">REVIEW OF CONSULTATION</li> </ol>   Members of the Task and Finish Group to scrutinise documents for consultation. </div> </div> Additional documents: <ul class="mgBulletList"> <li> <a href="http://cmttpublic.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/mgConvert2PDF.aspx?ID=6925" class="external" title="Link to document 'Review of quality of Care Item7 (1)' pdf file">Review of quality of Care Item7 (1), item 14. PDF 51 KB </a> </li> <li> <a href="http://cmttpublic.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/mgConvert2PDF.aspx?ID=6930" class="external" title="Link to document 'Members notes from Visit 9709_v1' pdf file">Members notes from Visit 9709_v1, item 14. PDF 66 KB </a> </li> <li> <a href="http://cmttpublic.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/mgConvert2PDF.aspx?ID=6522" class="external" title="Link to document 'Looked After Children - Review Scope' pdf file">Looked After Children - Review Scope, item 14. PDF 34 KB </a> </li> </ul> Minutes: <div class="mgWordPara"><div class="Section1"> 1.         REVIEW OF QUALITY OF CARE   Lesley Goode – Service Manager Looked After Children, introduced herself to Members.  As part of the scrutiny review of Quality of Care, Mrs Goode had been involved with the recent Member fact finding visits to Cheshire West and Chester’s Care Homes.  As part of their investigation into different types of residential care services some Members had also visited a privately run Children’s Home in Birkenhead.  Members were generally impressed by their findings, but they recorded some concerns and issues which they felt required further investigation.  To help Members identify best practice it was agreed that a visit to Local Authority run Children’s Homes which had received “excellent” Ofsted awards should be arranged.   Members would continue to work closely with officers from the Children’s and Young People’s Services Directorate to achieve an agreed future vision for the type of children’s homes provided by Cheshire West and Chester Council.   Concern was expressed that the Executive Member for Children’s Services had attended the fact finding tour.  Select Panel Members felt that in order to effectively undertake their role the Executive Member should not be present when they carried out their investigations, other than when they were being questioned.  Once the review was completed the Panel would report their findings to the Executive.   AGREED:  That   (1)  the Scrutiny Team arrange further fact finding visits be organised to Local Authority run Children’s Homes (2)  the findings from the Support to Looked After Children scrutiny review be fed into this review. (3)  Councillor Eleanor Johnson request that Overview and Scrutiny Committee make representations to the Executive regarding Executive Members not accompanying Select Panels whilst they undertake their reviews.   2.         REVIEW OF SUPPORT TO LOOKED AFTER CHILDREN   As part of the Support to Looked After Children scrutiny review, an event had been organised for August 2009 at Chester Zoo to allow children in care to have an opportunity to highlight their issues and concerns and suggest areas of care provision they felt need improving. The event arrangements were in hand and it was hoped to have between 15 to 20 children at the event.    3.         REVIEW OF CONSULTATION   In view of resources from the Scrutiny Team being focused on organising the Support to Looked After Children Event and the Children’s Care Homes fact finding tours, no progress had been made with this review.    AGREED: That   resources be deployed to this review as soon as possible.   4.         WORK PROGRAMME 2009/10   Members were informed that some new reviews had been assigned to the panel from Overview and Scrutiny Committee which had been included on their Work Programme.   AGREED:  That   (1)  a Task Group consisting of Councillors Jill Houlbrook and Simon McDonald be established to commence a review of 'Academic and Social Performance of Looked After Children.'   (2)  the reviews on care of children with illness and use of mobile classrooms be postponed until May 2010   (3)  Councillor Eleanor Johnson to raise the issue of school awards hosted by Cheshire West and Chester Council  ...  <a href="http://cmttpublic.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/mgAi.aspx?ID=9040" class="external" title="Link to view the full item text for item 14., Work Programme 2009/10"> view the full minutes text for item 14.</a> </div> </div> <a name="AI9041"></a>15. <a href="http://cmttpublic.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/mgConvert2PDF.aspx?ID=6820" title="Link to document 'Update on Cheshire West and Chester's Corporate Parenting Role' pdf file" class="external">Update on Cheshire West and Chester's Corporate Parenting Role PDF 63 KB </a> <div class="mgWordPara"><div class="Section1"> A representative from Childrens Services Directorate to attend and provide Members with an update on how Cheshire West and Chester’s Corporate Parenting Role is progressing </div> </div> Minutes: <div class="mgWordPara"><div class="Section1"> Lesley Goode - Service Manager Looked After Children, updated Members on Cheshire West and Cheshire’s current position regarding the Corporate Parenting role.  319 children and young people were in the care of the Council, of which 87 were care leavers aged between16-21.  Members requested that they received this information by Wards and age groups of the children, though some were unsure as to the benefit that this would bring. It was suggested that it would be useful to show areas where the foster carers lived which could help identify where there were any potential shortfalls in carers.  Councillor Jill Houlbrook commented that Members as Corporate Parents had a responsibility to all children in care.    Lesley Goode advised that more Members were needed as volunteers to undertake the statutory Regulatory 33 Visits to the Council’s Childrens’ Homes.  She confirmed that Councillors Pat Merrick, Malcolm Gaskill and Arthur Harada had already volunteered to carry out the Regulatory visits.  It was also reported that Councillors Alex Tate and Marie Nelson had previously expressed an interest to undertake the visits and Lesley Goode should contact them directly.  During the discussion Councillors Linda Cooper, Kathy Lord and Charlie Parkinson volunteered undertake Regulatory 33 visits and attend any forthcoming training sessions.   Lesley Goode commented that there was a need to develop a West Cheshire Care Council that would look at issues such as what it was like to grow up in care, and then leave it.  An event had recently taken place to consider the disaggregation of the previously run county wide Care Council .  A new West Cheshire Care Council would be formed from young people aged 13 – 24 who had experienced the Care System and would work alongside Cheshire West and Chester Officers and Members.  It was suggested that Every Child Matters Select Panel should look at the work being carried out by the Care Council.   It was questioned whether it was appropriate for the Executive Member responsible to carry out Regulatory 33 visits, given their responsibility for decisions relating to the homes.    AGREED:  That   (1)       Lesley Goode to supply Members with information relating to numbers of children in Care by age and wards       (2)       Councillor Eleanor Johnson discuss the implications of an Executive Member undertaking a Regulatory 33 Visit with Councillor Arthur Harada, expressing the concerns of the Panel.   (3)       Councillors Linda Cooper, Kathy Lord and Charlie Parkinson undertake Regulatory 33 Visit Training.   (4)       Lesley Goode notify the Every Child Matters Select Panel of the date for the forthcoming Corporate Parenting Board due to be held in September 2009.   (5)       Young people from the Care Council to be invited to attend Every Child Matters Select Panel meetings.  Andrea Thwaite to contact Lesley Goode to identify representatives   (6)       Every Child Matters Select Panel receive the minutes from the Corporate Parenting Panel so that it can scrutinise its work.  Members of the Corporate Parenting Board be presented with the results of the Regulatory 33 Visits. </div> </div> <a name="AI9042"></a>16. Date of next meeting <div class="mgWordPara"><div class="Section1"> 19th October 2009 – 4.30pm Venue:  Tarporley High School, Tarporley. </div> </div> Minutes: <div class="mgWordPara"><div class="Section1"> It was noted that the next meeting of the Every Child Matters Select Panel would be held at 4.30pm on 19 October 2009 at Tarporley High School, Tarporley.   The need to give school children the opportunity to engage with the Panel and its work was discussed.  It was felt that meetings of the Panel should be held in schools and not in Council buildings.  It was also proposed that future meetings should start at 4.30pm or even 3.30pm to allow children and young people to attend the meetings.   AGREED: That   (1)  meetings of the Every Child Matters Select Panel be held in School Buildings   (2)  the Scrutiny Team identify a suitable start time for meetings which would be convenient for children and young people. </div> </div> <div class="mgHelpLine"> </div> </div> 2009-07-07T20:46:41+01:00

9148

Meeting

Minutes

6150 Attendance Details Agenda Frontsheet PDF 235 KB Agenda reports pack PDF 336 KB Additional Information relating to ECM 20.7.09 PDF 418 KB Printed minutes PDF 64 KB Venue: Committee Room 1, Wyvern House, The Drumber, Winsford CW7 1AH. View directions Contact: Andrea Thwaite  email:  andrea.thwaite@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk Items No. Item 8. Apologies for Absence 9. Declarations of Interest Minutes: No declarations of interest were made. 10. Public Question Time/Open Ses...

<div class="mgLinks"> <ul class="mgActionList"> <li><a href="mgMeetingAttendance.aspx?ID=1978" title="Link to attendance details for the meeting of Every Child Matters Select PanelMonday, 20th July, 2009 4.30 pm">Attendance Details</a></li> <li><a href="mgConvert2PDF.aspx?ID=1978&T=0" title="Link to agenda frontsheet pdf file">Agenda Frontsheet <img src="mgimages/logo-pdf-1.gif" alt="pdf icon" /> PDF 235 KB </a> </li> <li><a href="mgChooseDocPack.aspx?ID=1978" title="Link to agenda reports document pack">Agenda reports pack <img src="mgimages/logo-pdf-1.gif" alt="pdf icon" /> PDF 336 KB </a></li> <li><a href="mgConvert2Pdf.aspx?ID=1556&T=9">Additional Information relating to ECM 20.7.09 <img src="mgimages/logo-pdf-1.gif" alt="pdf icon" /> PDF 418 KB </a></li> <li><a href="mgConvert2PDF.aspx?ID=1978&T=1" title="Link to printed minutes pdf file">Printed minutes <img src="mgimages/logo-pdf-1.gif" alt="pdf icon" /> PDF 64 KB </a> </li> </ul> </div><div class="mgContent"> Venue: Committee Room 1, Wyvern House, The Drumber, Winsford CW7 1AH. <a href="mgLocationDetails.aspx?RID=22" title="Link to directions to Committee Room 1, Wyvern House, The Drumber, Winsford CW7 1AH"> View directions</a> Contact: Andrea Thwaite  email:  <a href="mailto:andrea.thwaite@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk">andrea.thwaite@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk</a> <table class="mgItemTable" id="mgItemTable" summary="Table of agenda items"> <caption class="mgSectionTitle">Items</caption> <tr> <th scope="col" abbr="No">No.</th> <th scope="col" abbr="Item">Item</th> </tr> <tr> <td class="mgItemNumberCell"><a name="AI9035"></a>8.</td> <td> Apologies for Absence </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mgItemNumberCell"><a name="AI9036"></a>9.</td> <td> Declarations of Interest Minutes: <div class="mgWordPara"><div class="Section1"> No declarations of interest were made. </div> </div> </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mgItemNumberCell"><a name="AI9037"></a>10.</td> <td> Public Question Time/Open Session <div class="mgWordPara"><div class="Section1"> The Committee welcomes members of the public to participate in its meetings.  15 minutes is allocated for questions and comments during Public Question Time/Open Session.  Further participation during the meeting is subject to the Chairman’s discretion.   When raising your questions or comments please aim to do so in five minutes.   To enable Officers to undertake any background research it would be helpful if questions were submitted at least a day before the meeting.   Contact Andrea Thwaite:  on 01244 972283 or email <a href="mailto:andrea.thwaite@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk">andrea.thwaite@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk</a>.   </div> </div> Minutes: <div class="mgWordPara"><div class="Section1"> No questions had been submitted prior to the meeting and no questions were raised at the meeting. </div> </div> </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mgItemNumberCell"><a name="AI9043"></a>11.</td> <td> <a href="mgConvert2PDF.aspx?ID=6796" title="Link to document 'Minutes' pdf file" class="mgAiTitleLnk">Minutes <img src="mgimages/logo-pdf-1.gif" height="10" alt="pdf icon" width="10" /> PDF 57 KB </a> <div class="mgWordPara"><div class="Section1"> To approve the attached minutes of the Every Child Matters Select Committee held on 18th May 2009 as a correct record.  </div> </div> Minutes: <div class="mgWordPara"><div class="Section1"> AGREED: That   <a name="BM1" id="BM1">the minutes of the Every Child Matters Select Panel  meeting held on 18 May 2009 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.</a> </div> </div> </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mgItemNumberCell"><a name="AI9038"></a>12.</td> <td> <a href="mgConvert2PDF.aspx?ID=6521" title="Link to document 'Welcome from Every Child Matters Select Panel Chairman' pdf file" class="mgAiTitleLnk">Welcome from Every Child Matters Select Panel Chairman <img src="mgimages/logo-pdf-1.gif" height="10" alt="pdf icon" width="10" /> PDF 40 KB </a> <div class="mgWordPara"><div class="Section1"> Welcome by Councillor Eleanor Johnson – Chairman of Every Child Matters Select Committee.  Membership and Terms of Reference for the Panel are attached for information purposes. </div> </div> Minutes: <div class="mgWordPara"><div class="Section1"> Councillor Eleanor Johnson welcomed everyone to the meeting.  Members were introduced to Lesley Goode - Service Manager Looked After Children.  It was noted that John Stephens, Director of Children’s and Young People’s Services was unable to attend the meeting and had sent his apologies.   </div> </div> </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mgItemNumberCell"><a name="AI9039"></a>13.</td> <td> Update on the appointment of Statutory Co-opted Members to Every Child Matters Select Panel <div class="mgWordPara"><div class="Section1"> The Chairman to provide Members with a verbal update, on how the Statutory Co-option of Appointments are progressing. </div> </div> Minutes: <div class="mgWordPara"><div class="Section1"> Every Child Matters Select Panel had a statutory duty to appoint Elected Parent Governors to the Panel and at the meeting held on 18 May 2009, it had been agreed to appoint two Parent Governors for a two year term; one from a Junior School and one from a Secondary School.   Andrea Thwaite advised Members that she had contacted all of the several hundred Parent Governors from Cheshire West and Chester schools, regarding the two vacancies and had received 1 nomination for the secondary school vacancy and five for the junior school vacancy.   Members agreed that an election in respect of the junior school representative was now required.  It was decided that the election should be completed so that the formal induction could take place at the Every Child Matters Select Panel on 19 October 2009.  Guidance would be sourced to determine what format the election should take whilst ensuring that that costs were kept to a minimum.    AGREED:  That   (1)       any future contact with Parent Governors be by via email to keep costs down. (2)       the Scrutiny Team identify a suitable format the election and begin the process </div> </div> </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mgItemNumberCell"><a name="AI9040"></a>14.</td> <td> <a href="mgConvert2PDF.aspx?ID=6613" title="Link to document 'Work Programme 2009/10' pdf file" class="mgAiTitleLnk">Work Programme 2009/10 <img src="mgimages/logo-pdf-1.gif" height="10" alt="pdf icon" width="10" /> PDF 54 KB </a> <div class="mgWordPara"><div class="Section1"> To review the Panel’s Work Programme (see attached Schedule) and approve progress to date   <ol start="1" style="margin-top:0cm"> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l3 level1 lfo3;tab-stops:list 36.0pt">REVIEW OF QUALITY OF CARE</li> </ol>   An opportunity for Members of the Task and Finish Group  who attended site visits to Cheshire West and Chester’s Care Homes and top performing one “Good Foundations” in Birkenhead on 9th July 2009, to give feedback on their experiences.   <ol start="2" style="margin-top:0cm"> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l3 level1 lfo3;tab-stops:list 36.0pt">REVIEW OF SUPPORT TO LOOKED AFTER CHILDREN</li> </ol>   Members to approve the Review of Support to Looked after Children Scope and to receive an update from the Task and Finish Group on the pending events at Chester Zoo on 5th August 2009..   <ol start="3" style="margin-top:0cm"> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l3 level1 lfo3;tab-stops:list 36.0pt">REVIEW OF CONSULTATION</li> </ol>   Members of the Task and Finish Group to scrutinise documents for consultation. </div> </div> Additional documents: <ul class="mgBulletList"> <li> <a href="mgConvert2PDF.aspx?ID=6925" title="Link to document 'Review of quality of Care Item7 (1)' pdf file">Review of quality of Care Item7 (1), item 14. <img src="mgimages/logo-pdf-1.gif" height="10" alt="pdf icon" width="10" /> PDF 51 KB </a> </li> <li> <a href="mgConvert2PDF.aspx?ID=6930" title="Link to document 'Members notes from Visit 9709_v1' pdf file">Members notes from Visit 9709_v1, item 14. <img src="mgimages/logo-pdf-1.gif" height="10" alt="pdf icon" width="10" /> PDF 66 KB </a> </li> <li> <a href="mgConvert2PDF.aspx?ID=6522" title="Link to document 'Looked After Children - Review Scope' pdf file">Looked After Children - Review Scope, item 14. <img src="mgimages/logo-pdf-1.gif" height="10" alt="pdf icon" width="10" /> PDF 34 KB </a> </li> </ul> Minutes: <div class="mgWordPara"><div class="Section1"> 1.         REVIEW OF QUALITY OF CARE   Lesley Goode – Service Manager Looked After Children, introduced herself to Members.  As part of the scrutiny review of Quality of Care, Mrs Goode had been involved with the recent Member fact finding visits to Cheshire West and Chester’s Care Homes.  As part of their investigation into different types of residential care services some Members had also visited a privately run Children’s Home in Birkenhead.  Members were generally impressed by their findings, but they recorded some concerns and issues which they felt required further investigation.  To help Members identify best practice it was agreed that a visit to Local Authority run Children’s Homes which had received “excellent” Ofsted awards should be arranged.   Members would continue to work closely with officers from the Children’s and Young People’s Services Directorate to achieve an agreed future vision for the type of children’s homes provided by Cheshire West and Chester Council.   Concern was expressed that the Executive Member for Children’s Services had attended the fact finding tour.  Select Panel Members felt that in order to effectively undertake their role the Executive Member should not be present when they carried out their investigations, other than when they were being questioned.  Once the review was completed the Panel would report their findings to the Executive.   AGREED:  That   (1)  the Scrutiny Team arrange further fact finding visits be organised to Local Authority run Children’s Homes (2)  the findings from the Support to Looked After Children scrutiny review be fed into this review. (3)  Councillor Eleanor Johnson request that Overview and Scrutiny Committee make representations to the Executive regarding Executive Members not accompanying Select Panels whilst they undertake their reviews.   2.         REVIEW OF SUPPORT TO LOOKED AFTER CHILDREN   As part of the Support to Looked After Children scrutiny review, an event had been organised for August 2009 at Chester Zoo to allow children in care to have an opportunity to highlight their issues and concerns and suggest areas of care provision they felt need improving. The event arrangements were in hand and it was hoped to have between 15 to 20 children at the event.    3.         REVIEW OF CONSULTATION   In view of resources from the Scrutiny Team being focused on organising the Support to Looked After Children Event and the Children’s Care Homes fact finding tours, no progress had been made with this review.    AGREED: That   resources be deployed to this review as soon as possible.   4.         WORK PROGRAMME 2009/10   Members were informed that some new reviews had been assigned to the panel from Overview and Scrutiny Committee which had been included on their Work Programme.   AGREED:  That   (1)  a Task Group consisting of Councillors Jill Houlbrook and Simon McDonald be established to commence a review of 'Academic and Social Performance of Looked After Children.'   (2)  the reviews on care of children with illness and use of mobile classrooms be postponed until May 2010   (3)  Councillor Eleanor Johnson to raise the issue of school awards hosted by Cheshire West and Chester Council  ...  <a href="mgAi.aspx?ID=9040" title="Link to view the full item text for item 14., Work Programme 2009/10"> view the full minutes text for item 14.</a> </div> </div> </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mgItemNumberCell"><a name="AI9041"></a>15.</td> <td> <a href="mgConvert2PDF.aspx?ID=6820" title="Link to document 'Update on Cheshire West and Chester's Corporate Parenting Role' pdf file" class="mgAiTitleLnk">Update on Cheshire West and Chester's Corporate Parenting Role <img src="mgimages/logo-pdf-1.gif" height="10" alt="pdf icon" width="10" /> PDF 63 KB </a> <div class="mgWordPara"><div class="Section1"> A representative from Childrens Services Directorate to attend and provide Members with an update on how Cheshire West and Chester’s Corporate Parenting Role is progressing </div> </div> Minutes: <div class="mgWordPara"><div class="Section1"> Lesley Goode - Service Manager Looked After Children, updated Members on Cheshire West and Cheshire’s current position regarding the Corporate Parenting role.  319 children and young people were in the care of the Council, of which 87 were care leavers aged between16-21.  Members requested that they received this information by Wards and age groups of the children, though some were unsure as to the benefit that this would bring. It was suggested that it would be useful to show areas where the foster carers lived which could help identify where there were any potential shortfalls in carers.  Councillor Jill Houlbrook commented that Members as Corporate Parents had a responsibility to all children in care.    Lesley Goode advised that more Members were needed as volunteers to undertake the statutory Regulatory 33 Visits to the Council’s Childrens’ Homes.  She confirmed that Councillors Pat Merrick, Malcolm Gaskill and Arthur Harada had already volunteered to carry out the Regulatory visits.  It was also reported that Councillors Alex Tate and Marie Nelson had previously expressed an interest to undertake the visits and Lesley Goode should contact them directly.  During the discussion Councillors Linda Cooper, Kathy Lord and Charlie Parkinson volunteered undertake Regulatory 33 visits and attend any forthcoming training sessions.   Lesley Goode commented that there was a need to develop a West Cheshire Care Council that would look at issues such as what it was like to grow up in care, and then leave it.  An event had recently taken place to consider the disaggregation of the previously run county wide Care Council .  A new West Cheshire Care Council would be formed from young people aged 13 – 24 who had experienced the Care System and would work alongside Cheshire West and Chester Officers and Members.  It was suggested that Every Child Matters Select Panel should look at the work being carried out by the Care Council.   It was questioned whether it was appropriate for the Executive Member responsible to carry out Regulatory 33 visits, given their responsibility for decisions relating to the homes.    AGREED:  That   (1)       Lesley Goode to supply Members with information relating to numbers of children in Care by age and wards       (2)       Councillor Eleanor Johnson discuss the implications of an Executive Member undertaking a Regulatory 33 Visit with Councillor Arthur Harada, expressing the concerns of the Panel.   (3)       Councillors Linda Cooper, Kathy Lord and Charlie Parkinson undertake Regulatory 33 Visit Training.   (4)       Lesley Goode notify the Every Child Matters Select Panel of the date for the forthcoming Corporate Parenting Board due to be held in September 2009.   (5)       Young people from the Care Council to be invited to attend Every Child Matters Select Panel meetings.  Andrea Thwaite to contact Lesley Goode to identify representatives   (6)       Every Child Matters Select Panel receive the minutes from the Corporate Parenting Panel so that it can scrutinise its work.  Members of the Corporate Parenting Board be presented with the results of the Regulatory 33 Visits. </div> </div> </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mgItemNumberCell"><a name="AI9042"></a>16.</td> <td> Date of next meeting <div class="mgWordPara"><div class="Section1"> 19th October 2009 – 4.30pm Venue:  Tarporley High School, Tarporley. </div> </div> Minutes: <div class="mgWordPara"><div class="Section1"> It was noted that the next meeting of the Every Child Matters Select Panel would be held at 4.30pm on 19 October 2009 at Tarporley High School, Tarporley.   The need to give school children the opportunity to engage with the Panel and its work was discussed.  It was felt that meetings of the Panel should be held in schools and not in Council buildings.  It was also proposed that future meetings should start at 4.30pm or even 3.30pm to allow children and young people to attend the meetings.   AGREED: That   (1)  meetings of the Every Child Matters Select Panel be held in School Buildings   (2)  the Scrutiny Team identify a suitable start time for meetings which would be convenient for children and young people. </div> </div> </td> </tr> </table> <div class="mgHelpLine"> </div> </div>

Minutes for Every Child Matters Select Panel meeting, Jul 20 2009, 4.30PM

2010-04-23T16:55:32+01:00

http://cmttpublic.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=522&MId=1978&Ver=4&J=1 Minutes for Every Child Matters Select Panel meeting, Jul 20 2009, 4.30PM

http://openlylocal.com/documents/6150-Minutes-for-Every-Child-Matters-Select-Panel-meeting-Jul-20-2009-4-30PM