Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for People.

The report provides for comment information relating to the Corporate Parenting Strategy 2015-2017.

The Scrutiny Committee are invited to consider and comment on the report.

Officer Contact: Kath Carey on Tel: 474 3932 or email: kath.carey@stockport.gov.uk

Representatives of the Corporate Director for People submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing for comment the Corporate Parenting Strategy for 2015-2017.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         Local Authority members and officers have a legal duty to act as good and effective Corporate Parents to children and young people within the care of the Local Authority. In addition, there was a clearly defined set of responsibilities for Councillor and Officers, developed by the National Children’s Bureau (NCB) supported by the Government.

·         Out of area placements remain low compared to statistical neighbours – achieved through good preventative strategies, robust decisions on entry into care and managing risk with the aim of keeping children safe within their families.

·         Councillors noted that it was anticipated that the Stockport Family approach, with a multi-disciplinary service and improved inter-agency working would enable a 20% reduction in the LAC population by 2017.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and officers be thanked for their excellent work.