St.Helens Council crest

Published Delegated Executive Decisions

Welcome. This system contains information about published delegated executive decisions, including exemptions.

Decision Number: 0179 2016/17

Executive Portfolio:
Children, Families and Young People and Education
Decision Number:
0179 2016/17
Exempt / Confidential Item:
No
Ward(s) Affected:
All Wards
Declarations of Interest Received:
None
Title:
To approve sufficiency strategy ‘securing sufficient accommodation for looked after children’ 1718
Summary of Decision:
To approve sufficiency strategy ‘securing sufficient accommodation for looked after children’ 1718
Proposed Decision:
The Local Authority is required to have in place arrangements to secure sufficient accommodation within its area to meet the needs of looked after children. The strategy provides data and analysis leading to a market position statement.
Summary of Reason for Decision:
The Local Authority is required to have in place arrangements to secure sufficient accommodation within its area to meet the needs of looked after children.
Reason for Decision:
Following the introduction of Statutory Guidance on Securing Sufficient Accommodation for Looked After Children (2010) in April 2011, each Local Authority providing children's services must take steps to ensure there is sufficient accommodation within its area to meet the needs of looked after children. This is referred to as the "sufficiency duty" and applies in respect of all children who are looked after. This duty requires local authorities to do more than simply ensure that accommodation is sufficient in terms of capacity - the accommodation and care must also meet the assessed needs of those children and young people who are accommodated. Local authorities must also have regard to the benefits of securing a number of providers and range of accommodation related services. The Sufficiency Strategy provides an overview of our current looked after children population, accommodation capacity, assesses current and projected demand and identifies areas for development. It is co-dependant and linked to a range of other strategies including the JSNA, Corporate Parenting and Looked After Children Strategy and Early Help Strategy. The strategy has been revised to take account of demographic changes in our population and in the provider market. A number of key challenges have continued around welfare secure capacity, placements for older children and those with complex needs. There is work being undertaken locally and regionally to address these issues with the creation of a Liverpool City Region Sufficiency Strategy. The Strategy and Market Position Statement set out the arrangements through which our local offer will continue to develop with input from providers, partners and accommodated young people. This will continue to include measures to meet the diverse needs of accommodated young people; including improvements to the accommodation offer for disabled children / young people. The Sufficiency Strategy will be subject to review on an annual basis and subject to ongoing monitoring through departmental performance management. The internal Action Plan is a working document designed to track and monitor work required to deliver sufficiency.
Risks Associated with this Decision:
Without an effective Sufficiency Strategy it will not be possible to identify and meet the needs and aspirations of our accommodated children and young people
Measures to Redress Risk:
Strategy in place and available for Provdiers to access
Anti Poverty / Human Rights / Agenda 21 Implications:
The Sufficiency Strategy should help to ensure that children can be accommodated within borough and are therefore able to maintain close links with their family whenever appropriate.
Attachments:
Please Contact Wendy Collins - Ext 1219 for more details.