Agenda item

To receive the Annual Report 2020-21

Members were advised that this agenda item provided them with the opportunity to review the Annual Report of the Regional Adoption Service for 2020/21.

The Chairperson welcomed Councillor Graham Hinchey, Cabinet Member for Families and Children; Angela Harris, Regional Adoption Manager; Sarah McGill, Corporate Director, People and Communities; and Deborah Driffield,  Director of Children’s Services.

The Chairperson invited the Cabinet Member and Regional Adoption Manager to make statements, after which he invited questions, comments, observations, and comments from Members.

With reference to harder to place children, Members asked whether there was a link between the Children Looked After and those placed on the Child Protection Register.  Officers explained that there was a link between the harder to place children including Children aged over 4 years, sibling groups, those with complex needs and from different ethnic backgrounds.  Officers assured Members that the issue was discussed regularly locally and at a National level.

Members noted the challenges faced by Valleys, Vale & Cardiff Adoption Service and asked what the main areas of concern were.  Members were advised that the main challenges were Post Adoption Support and placing children with increasingly complex needs meant the Service faced hidden and critical costs.

Members discussed funding and whether the Welsh Government grant was sustainable, Members noted that the issue of funding was on the National agenda.

Members referred to the information in the Annual report particularly the graphs and data and sought clarity around the term ‘other’ used in relation to Children and Young People on the register for over 6 months. Officers agreed to consider the use of this term.

Members asked if there had been any benchmarking or comparison undertaken with Core Cities.  Officers explained that this was something they could look into and bring back to a future Committee.  Officers also offered to bring anonymous case studies to a future Committee.

RESOLVED:

That the Chairperson writes to the Cabinet Member on behalf of the Committee expressing their comments and observations during the way forward.