Agenda item

Umar Teerab (Family Support Worker) informed the partnership that the council met with the Homeless Advice and Support Team from Ministry of the Housing on the 5th October 2021 so young people could highlight issues to them like higher rent for supported accommodation. This accommodation enables young people to move forward with their lives so the council suggested a rent reduction. The council noted the difference in policies between the district and boroughs which made the policy confusing for young people to understand. Other issues they highlighted were the lack of trained staff so young people were not getting the proper advice and loneliness in young people due to the restriction with visitors. This loneliness could lead to drug use which affects young people mentally and physically and this could make other young people feel unsafe in their supported accommodation. The council suggested a guarantor scheme to be implemented until the young person was 21.

Ian Donnachie (Children in Care 14-18 years Apprentice) informed the panel that on the 19th October the council had Mark Riddell from the National Implementation Adviser for Care Leavers (DfE) visit them to discuss things like more supported housing for care leavers. Mark Riddell suggested several things like a partnership be set up between the agencies and care leavers so the care leavers know what was on offer, and a multi-agency approach for care leavers so they had a ‘one stop approach’ when looking for support, and to review young people’s tax offers a in line with a letter sent from the MHCLG (Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government) that asks local authorities to consider a tax exemption offer for care leavers up to 25 years old. Umar Teerab added that Mark Riddell was a national advisor who travelled around other local authorities and he was really impressed with the work that Warwickshire had done for care leavers.

Shinderpaul Bhagal (C&F Social Work Operational Team Leader) stated that Ofsted inspected the county council’s children’s services and the inspectors met with young people on two separate occasions. They also met with the Children in Care Council Care Leavers Forum and care leaver apprentices. The feedback was very positive, and the inspectors identified several strengths. An additional corporate parenting panel meeting was held on the 18th October to enable districts and boroughs to understand how children and young people could influence council services; young people supported this presentation.

Alisha Howe (Fostering Team Apprentice) informed the panel that she and Ian Donnachie made videos as part of an entitlement booklet for care leavers. These videos were sent out between October 2021-January 2022 to personal advisors, care leavers and on social media so that everyone could see these videos. Future videos were planned around housing. The videos received very positive feedback from care leavers.

Shinderpaul Bhagal informed the panel that in October’s 2021 council meeting, there was a focus on young people accessing their files and the process that is involved in this. November’s meeting focused on a ‘dictionary of care’ i.e. using words that more suitable and acceptable to young people as opposed to using words from professionals. December’s meeting focused celebrating Christmas with activities and January’s meeting focused on looking at the priorities for the children in Care Council and Care Leavers Forum for 2022. This list of priorities will be shared at a future meeting. 

Ian Donnachie continued that the Myton allotment project was progressing with three beds being built over the summer of 2021 with young people coming down to plant their plants. Three beds still need to be built and a similar allotment project was planned for the new Children’s home in Stratford. The allotment project gave young people experience in building as well as teaching them to understanding about different vegetables and how they grow. This project was enjoyed by the young people taking part in it.

Umar Teerab stated that Asylum seeker children played football together every Sunday since 2018. They play across Warwickshire as well as Coventry and Birmingham. Attendance can be as high as 38-39 young people and on the 13^th February 2022, 20 young people played football in the rain.

Shinderpaul Bhagal concluded that over Halloween, escape rooms were run for young people and for the care leaver celebration week, there were several trips and activities for young people e.g. Alton Towers, Drayton Manor and Western Super Mare. There were 38 Christmas presents and meals sent out to young people on the 21^st December. These meals were provided by a local charity and the gifts were obtained by Liss Philipps. There was a Christmas meal prepared for young people at Myton Park offices on the 27th December. At the national Leaving Care Benchmarking Forum, Liss Philipps won two awards, one was for best public speaker 2021 and the other one was Champion of Champions 2021. These show the contributions made by young people towards the work of the National Leaving Care Benchmarking Forum and the Youth Benchmarking Forum. Umar Teerab won these awards for 2020 so this meant that Warwickshire won these two awards two years in a row, and he presented Liss Philipps awards to her.

The Chair praised all the work done in the report.

In response to the Chair, Ian Donnachie stated that his highlight was making connections with other young people doing projects and it was good that young people were relating with each other as they had been through similar situations. He added that it was good that these young people were experiencing new things together.

Umar Teerab stated that his highlight was the apprenticeship with the corporate parent as they engage with the lead officers who make decisions for care leavers. He praised these officers working with them to see what care leavers want/need.

Alisha Howe stated that her highlight was working with the SLT (senior leadership team) to improve things for care leavers as well as everything that she learnt from her apprenticeship.

Resolved

That the Panel note the work of the Children in Care Council (CiCC), Care Leavers Forum (CLF) and the Participation Team.

That the Panel acknowledge the work that continues to take place with young people during the public health crisis