Agenda and minutes

To note any changes in membership of the Panel made in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 4.3.

The Panel noted the apologies of Councillors Cunio and Parnell.

In accordance with the Localism Act 2011, and the Council’s Code of Conduct, Members to disclose any personal or pecuniary interests in any matter included on the agenda for this meeting.

NOTE:  Members are reminded that, where applicable, they must complete the appropriate form recording details of any such interests and hand it to the Democratic Support Officer.

Councillor Bogle declared an interest in that she was a Council appointed representative to Southampton University Hospital Trust and had held the position of Cabinet Member for Children’s Services in the last 6 months and remained in the meeting and took part in the consideration and determination of the item on the agenda.

In accordance with accepted practice a statement was made by the Chair in relation to :

• receipt of enforcement notice from Monitor on Southern Health and an additional meeting in this respect; 
• updated recommendations from the meeting on 22^nd April 2014 in relation to the LSCB;  and
• invitation to the Health and Wellbeing Board meeting on 14^th May 2014 when the NHS England consultation report on Specialist Services Specifications would be tabled for discussion.

Report of the Assistant Chief Executive, introducing the speakers that will address the inquiry in relation to tackling complex health and other needs associated with homelessness, attached.

The Panel considered the report of the Assistant Chief Executive, introducing the speakers that addressed the inquiry in relation to access to tackling complex health and other needs associated with homelessness.

The Panel received presentations from the Council’s Children Looked after Social Working Team and a representative of the Southampton Safeguarding Adults Board in relation to Children Looked After and Adult Safeguarding processes and procedures and noted:

  Children Looked After

• that the Council had a statutory responsibility to provide support to all care leavers until they reached the age of 21, or if they are assisted with education and training , to the end of the agreed programme which could take them beyond their 25^th birthday;
• the importance of staying in touch with care leavers with regards to accommodation, education and training issues.   There had been significant improvement in these figures and the local authority were in touch with 90% of young people.  The DfE required that the Council provided a report on the number of 19 year-old children they were in touch with and whether they were in suitable accommodation as well as the number of NEET children;
• that “staying put” arrangements were being prioritised to ensure that young people were being enabled to stay in foster care;
• Ofsted were now specifically monitoring how care leavers were looked after in terms of resources and how authorities, as Corporate Parents, were  continuing to fulfil their obligations and responsibilities towards children looked after and leaving care;
• Phase 2 of the Transformation Structure provided more of a multi- agency response to children in care and looked after children and care leavers were being split into 2 groups ie up to the age of 14 years and 14 plus;
• the number of care leavers had increased and to date numbered 333, with 211 children looked after and 122 care leavers;
• the Pathways Team’s focus was on providing suitable accommodation and increasing the number of children “staying put” with foster carers; and
• a strategic review of housing and care leavers was being undertaken with focus on increasing the number of supported lodgings in the city, dedicated support time from the 3^rd Sector and work in terms of preparing young people to live independently, working  with foster carers in this respect.  NEET young people remained a concern and work was being undertaken in terms of apprenticeships, work experience and working with 3^rd Sector providers;

Adult Safeguarding

• adults vulnerable to abuse is defined as “A person who is 18 years of age or over and who is or may be in need of community care services by reason of mental or other disability age or illness;  and who is or may be unable to take care of him or herself, or unable to protect him or herself against significant harm or exploitation”;
• with adult safeguarding there was a difference as vulnerable adults had the right to consent to abuse and people’s rights had to be respected;
• homeless people did not fall easily into  ...  view the full minutes text for item 58.