County success for children in care

Reporting to a meeting of ESCC Cabinet, Matt Dunkley '“ director of Children's Services - outlined the successes achieved by the authority in its role looking after children in care.

But despite the successes and improvements achieved during the year, he said that developing the county's fostering service and narrowing the gap in outcomes between looked after children and their peers would remain a top priority for the council as it continued its drive to improve outcomes for children in care.

In his report on 2007/08 Mr Dunkley said that the qualifications gained at 16 by young people leaving care were better than they had ever been and improvements had been achieved in providing stable placements for more children in care.

The fostering service had enjoyed another successful year, he added, having been judged as "outstanding" in all areas by Ofsted.

The adoption and permanence service had matched 20 children with adopters during 2007/08 and 14 children with permanent foster carers. A total of 17 new prospective adopters were approved during the year.

Independent inspections carried out on children's homes had judged them all to be "good" or "outstanding".

The year had also seen the appointment of a virtual head teacher for looked after children whose job it was to establish a virtual school, working closely with the schools attended by the looked after children to raise attainment and achievement.

But while welcoming the improvements Mr Dunkley added that much work still needed to be done, especially in expediting adoptive placements for those who need them, narrowing the gap in terms of educational achievement and attainment between looked after children and their peers, in reducing teenage parenthood, and in helping looked after children make the positive transition into parenthood.

He said: "Of course I am delighted with what has been achieved this year and that we continue to fulfil our role as a corporate parent to children in care so effectively. However, there remain some big challenges and improving outcomes for all our looked after children remains a top priority."

Cllr Meg Stroude, the County Council's Lead Member for Children and Families said: "More often than not children in care are vulnerable and have complex needs so it's vital that we provide a first class service to look after them and help them to fulfil their potential. For any parent a child is their top priority in life and I'm delighted to say that that applies to us as a corporate parent as well."