Agenda item

The attached report provides an Executive Summary of Croydon Council’s review of children living in residential specialist schools registered as children’s homes, as part of the National Panel review into Safeguarding children with disabilities and complex needs in residential settings (see background reports).

The Corporate Parenting Panel considered the report of the Quality and Safety Review re Children in Care with Disabilities and Complex Needs. The Head of Safeguarding and Quality Assurance, Dawn West, provided and overview addressing Croydon Council’s review of children living in residential specialist schools registered as children’s homes, as part of the National Panel review into Safeguarding children with disabilities and complex needs in residential settings.

In summary, the Head of Safeguarding and Quality Assurance highlighted the following:

§  The data gathered showed that there was a very small number in the cohort relating to Croydon.

§  Key multi-agency partners reviewed placements, health, education, and care needs. This also included the voice of a child, which was heard in placements and with families sharing their view of childcare arrangements.

§  The findings of the audits highlighted that:

-        No child was found in an unsafe situation.

-        One placement needed reassurance on staffing levels.

-        Signing off medication changes and why it was in the child best interests needed some improvement.

-        Commissioning Service needs to have had increased oversight and monitoring including inspection protocols.

• The report identified:

-        Children had advocates (some parents were the children advocate and needed no addition person)

-        Practitioners were able to communicate appropriately with the child.

-        Strengths and difficult questionnaires needed to be adapted for this group of children.

-        All professionals involved were to think about more evidence-based questions to check medical records, behavioural plan and if it was managed and up to date, that there was regular communication with parents, child, and family.

• There was a small task and finish group to see through the actions.

-        No safeguarding issues were raised regarding where children were placed.

-        Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) was working with the Department of Education that there would be national guidance for LADO’s which would mirror the IRO handbook. The LADO role carried out was consistent with work approach. This was a result of the provider information.

The Chair welcomed the very important report that addressed what could be achieved to better support vulnerable children, in addition the aspects of contract within staffing, and how it could be commissioned going forward.

In response to queries raised by the Panel, the Head of Safeguarding and Quality Assurance, Dawn West, clarified the following:

In relation to whether the result of Doncaster would propose another report in the future and fall into the hands of the Independent Reviewing Officer, the Panel heard that should another report be conducted, this would fall within the task and finish group to ensure scrutiny and the confidence of social workers in asking questions. Though there was a lot of information provided, there were gaps highlighted for improvement going forward, which was also similar with other local authority findings.

In relation to advocacy for consideration to children with disabilities including autism, the Panel heard that a non-instructed advocacy and specifically recruited Independent Visitors as an approach would support to raise issues for children with disabilities and autism, which would be a trusted person to raise on their behalf.

In relation to the lack of professionals capturing the voice of a child, particularly of a child coerced in a particular way, the Panel heard that there were various ways to receive a child’s voice from a trusted adult, such as obtaining consent from parents to use audio-visual to capture a child’s voice or communicating with the parent who would know their child. Appropriate tools and training was also required to support communication with a child which specialist communication needs.

The Panel RESOLVED to:

1. To note the contents of the report
2. To endorse the recommendations of the report