Agenda item

(a)       Councillor Graham Hinchey (Cabinet Member for Children and Families) will be in attendance and may wish to make a statement.

(b)       Angela Harris, Regional Adoption Manager, Tony Young, Director of Social Services, Irfan Alam, Assistant Director Children’s Services and Rachel Evans, Head of Children’s Services, Vale of Glamorgan County Council, will present the report and be available answer any questions Members may have;

(c)       Questions from Committee members;

(d)       The way forward for this item will be considered at the end of the meeting

The Chairperson welcomed Councillor Graham Hinchey (Cabinet Member Children and Families), Rachel Evans (Head of Children’s Services, Vale of Glamorgan County Council), Angela Harris (Regional Adoption Manager), Tony Young (Director Social Services) and Irfan Alam (Assistant Director, Children’s Services) to the meeting to present the report, which the Committee indicated had been read and considered.

Members were invited to comment, seek clarification or raise questions on the information received.  Those discussions are summarised as follows:

• It is clear that collaboration in this instance is working well, however, it is clear that it is an area which is struggling particularly with staff shortages and funding.  It is not clear if the purpose of the review is to recommend extra resources or restructure to mitigate some of the problems.  Members were advised that it was a combination of both.  The Service is making the case for  increased staffing levels but have been told that a business case needs to be made evidencing the resources required and how the resources are to be deployed.

• Members noted that the review is still ongoing, but is likely to be concluded and a draft prepared by mid-November. 

• Members requested an update on the improvements and priorities for implementation referred to in the 2015-16 report and were advised that the aim for this report was to provide a shorter report and weave some of the findings into that report:

• Members expressed concern at the low update of counselling by Birth Parents and were advised that Cardiff is not unique, the figures show that update is low across Wales, and that often parents, at that early stage, do not want to engage.

• Members raised a query concerning the central list of Panel Members and the membership of the joint regional panel bearing in mind the difficulties with recruitment.  Members were advised that the independent chairs, of which there are 2 have to have some background in adoptions and that there are currently 4 vice chairs.

The independent members are made up of foster carers, adopter parents and people with a connection to adopters.  Social Workers also sit on the panel, they have to have a background in adoption, childcare or fostering.  Because it is such a huge time commitment recruiting social workers is difficult and more Social Workers are needed.  It is very rarely that meetings are cancelled; there are 4 panel meetings a month.

• Members requested information about the number of adoption breakdowns and were advised that a review has taken place internally over the last 4 years; it has provided some evidence and some anecdotal information surrounding adoption.  Whilst it revealed a low percentage of breakdowns, it was still too many and that it is vital that adoption support is effective and needs to be full resourced.

• Members sought clarification as to why there has been an increase in the number of children being placed for adoption.  Officers advised that there is a an increase in the number of children being referred and then placed nationally and there has also been a change in the Judicial approach; adoption has to be and is the last resort.  The Authority is now better equipped to recognise and assess the situation involving the child earlier.

• Members requested information about Activity Days and were advised that they are normally run by a private company, potential adopters can access a directory and look for prospective children.  It is an activity that has been around for some time. There has been some resistance to it, but the children have found it to be a fun day which they enjoy. Both children and adopters who attend activity days are prepared for the day fun is the main focus of the day.  Children are prepared on the basis that they are meeting potential Mummies and Daddies,  it is usually used for the harder to place children.

• Members sought clarification of the support received to ensure that the adoption does not breakdown and were advised that all children have to have a support plan which the adopters have in their possession.  There is support provided throughout the placement through to the Adoption Order, however, if further support is required post Adoption Order than can be provided.  The placing Authority is responsible for 3 years after the Order.

AGREED – That the Chairperson, on behalf of the Committee, writes to the Cabinet Member and the Head of Children’s Services in the Vale of Glamorgan, conveying the observations of the Committee when discussing the Way Forward.