Issue - meetings

Report of Strategic Director, Care Wellbeing and Learning

The Committee received the final report on the review into support to young people and families with complex needs on the edge of care. 

The review looked at the challenges facing young people on the edge of care, as well as the key ingredients to successful approaches to supporting young people. There was also a focus on the elements of service design that will support best practice and strengthening service delivery to safely reduce the numbers of children coming into care.

During the review partners have been involved, including; health partners, housing, education, commissioning and mental health services.  The outcome of the review demonstrated that all partner agencies play a key role, partnership working is a strong element to reducing the number of looked after children and preventing children coming into care.

It was noted that the Committee recognised the importance of a responsive model, in terms of stable housing, housing for care leavers and supporting financial management. The Committee felt that it was important to support families to manage financial issues and the service has incorporated this into the overall service design.

The draft recommendations were outlined as;

·         The service to implement the complex child in need team and the rapid response service development by January 2018

·         The delivery of the rapid response service to strengthen links with benefits support services

·         The service will train staff in systemic approaches as a strengths based model best practice model

·         The committee acknowledged the importance of developing the housing options offer for care leavers and agreed that strengthening this offer during the next commissioning process

·         The committee agreed that continuing to build joint service delivery with partners is important and needs to continue within the edge of care service development work

In terms of working with partners to provide financial advice it was queried what the response has been from DWP. It was confirmed that there is good access as there is a named person in DWP for care leavers. Housing support has recognised the importance and there are additional opportunities to develop. In terms of private landlords there are links through The Gateshead Housing Company and there is confidence that financial and benefit advice will not be affected by the type of landlord.

RESOLVED    -           That the Committee agreed to the draft recommendations and

referred it to Cabinet on 19 December 2017.