Agenda item

Report of the Strategic Director, Care Wellbeing and Learning

The Committee were presented with information from the Edge of Care Review report. The review was established to look at the challenges facing services for adolescents and to consider the key ingredients of successful approaches to effectively support young people and their families on the edge of care.

An overview of the term ‘edge of care’ was provided – this covers the following situations:

·         Before entering care the young person has been identified as being at risk of needing care

·         When a young person is leaving care by going home or to live with a relative or into a range of accommodation

·         Young people 16 and 17 years presenting as homeless

·         Care leavers are particularly vulnerable as are their future children

It was noted that every young person’s situation is different and that it is important not to generalise from specific situations as there are varying circumstances that can lead to a young person to be looked after.

Some of the multiple elements that cause a young person to become looked after were described from the report; these include violence from the young person, anti-social behaviour, mental illness and family dysfunction.

The Committee were advised that a Rapid Response Team (RRT) is being developed to increase the support capacity of the Looked After Children’s Service. It was noted that this team would be made up of multiple partners across varying departments able to provide knowledge and support in areas such as housing, mental health and referral & assessment. Staff members from these services were present at the meeting to screen questions from the Committee. The function of the RRT was outlined as follows:

·         The ethos is predicated on a belief that children should live within the family where safe to do so

·         The team will work intensively with families in order to bring about change to reduce the need for accommodation or rehabilitate the child quickly

·         They do not work with families beyond 12 weeks

·         The team’s terms and conditions include evening and weekend/bank holidays

·         There is a firm commitment to invest in the professional development of the team and equip them with the skills and tools to do the job

·         Staff are recruited with the pre-requisite skill mix

·         The rapid response service will work as part of the CCIN team

·         Clinical supervision is provided by the Manager/Systemic Practice lead

·         It is understood that the Social Worker from CCIN retains responsibility for the case

·         The team works collaboratively will partners

It was repeated that importance is being placed on supporting the young person through their issues whilst they remain at home whenever practical and safe to do so. It was also said that the prevention of homelessness in care leavers is a priority and that collaborative work with Housing Services has helped to develop a taster flat scheme. It was advised that the taster flat scheme has been developed to promote stability and integration for care leavers within the community.

A comment was made that the multi-service approach is welcomed – particularly in areas such as housing and mental health. It was said that families often reach the point of crisis as a result of financial problems which lead to subsequent issues. It was asked whether there was a support mechanism in place to provide benefits and financial advice; the committee were advised that individuals and families requiring this kind of support are currently identified via Housing Services.

It was noted that the Looked After Children’s Service are working closely with housing colleagues and that there are staff from within Housing Services qualified to provide benefit and financial advice.

A concern about Council services making referrals to the Citizen’s Advice Bureau (CAB) was raised. It was said that CAB are at breaking point and that residents need to be clear as to where they should go for advice and guidance on matters that could cause them to fall into crisis.

It was said that services within Gateshead are being proactive with these issues and that work is being done to identify families with issues before they become out of hand. It was noted that significant investment has been put in to Housing Services to support families/tenants and that links with DWP are also established.

A question was asked about how families at risk of crisis are identified. In answering, the Committee was advised that these are picked up via the Early Help team, Safeguarding as well as Referral and Assessment. More detail on this will be provided in the next report.

It was asked what was new about the information provided to Committee today and whether the Council were already providing the support outlined. It was noted that whilst these services have always existed they have been reconfigured with stronger collaboration to support young people and their families.

An update on the mental health service was requested. The Committee was advised that significant progress has been made and that a new model to reduce waiting times and improve pathways for Looked After Children would be implemented in April 2018. The Committee was also advised that there was potential for a web based/app system to be developed for young people to use to access mental health services. The Committee was further advised that the new process won’t happen overnight and that there is to be a systematic approach to implementation.

RESOLVED

(i)            That the Committee note the contents of the report.