Decision details

New terms of reference for the Corporate Parenting Panel are proposed in order to deliver a more outward-focused Panel and to ensure that the voice of the child is central to all its work.  It is recommended that new terms of reference be agreed by the County Council as soon as possible, to ensure the best outcomes are being achieved for children looked after and care leavers in West Sussex at the earliest opportunity.  The key change is the proposal to widen the membership to become a multi-agency advisory panel, with members including a representative of Independent Reviewing Officers, a Foster Carer, Chairman or Vice Chairman of the West Sussex Foster Carer Association, a member of the Children in Care Council and a Care Leaver. These changes will be reviewed in six months and during this time it is proposed that there is consultation with the Children in Care Council to seek its views on how the Panel operates.

The Director of Law and Assurance has therefore used his powers under Standing Order 3.45(d), in consultation with the Chairman of the Governance Committee, to take the decision set out below.

13.1   The Council considered changes to the terms of reference of the Corporate Parenting Panel, in the light of a report from the Governance Committee (pages 47 to 52).

13.2   The Chairman explained that the anticipated Ofsted report into Children’s Services and the outcome of consultation with other partners might lead to a need to make some adjustments and she therefore sought Council’s agreement to allow the Director of Children and Family Services to make any necessary amendments to the Panel’s terms of reference in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Children and Young People.  Any changes would be reported in the Members’ Information Service newsletter.

13.3   Resolved –

(1)     That the new terms of reference and membership of the Corporate Parenting Panel, as set out at Appendix 1 to the report, be approved; and

(2)     That the Director of Children and Family Services be authorised to make any necessary amendments to the Panel’s terms of reference as a result of the recent Ofsted inspection, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, any such changes to be reported in the Members’ Information Service newsletter.