Appendix 2
Perth and Kinross Council · 15 March 2023
Back to Learning and Families Committee — 15 March 2023 and its agenda
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Our Action Plan 21-24 (Update as of 28 November 2022) Whilst we have completed all the above, we still have work to do to make sure that each and every child with care experience can thrive. Below is what we will do in the next 3 years in line with the Promise Plan 21-24. Actions will be overseen by the Promise Delivery Group and reported to the Corporate Parenting Board (Appendix 1). A Good Childhood Children who have been removed from their family of origin and live in and around the ‘care system’ will have a good, loving childhood. Progress to date 28/11/22 High Level Outcome No . Action Timescale Lead Service Children and young people with care experience have all they need to thrive at school. 1 Review and develop alternatives to exclusion. January 2022 Education The Exclusion Guidance: Fostering Inclusion, Reducing Exclusion has been refreshed and launched. Schools have a range of alternatives to exclusion in place. A multi- agency working group has been formed to support further development of approaches. 2 Ensure all children with care experience have been considered for a Co-ordinated Support Plan (CSP) which identifies their needs and actions taken to meet them by statutory partners. ongoing Education Training has been provided for Looked After Review Officers to support their understanding of the legal aspects of CSPs. All LAC reviews for children and young people will now routinely consider if there is sufficient criteria for a CSP based on the level and duration of support being provided by relevant agencies. Appendix 2
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A Good Childhood Children who have been removed from their family of origin and live in and around the ‘care system’ will have a good, loving childhood. Progress to date 28/11/22 High Level Outcome No . Action Timescale Lead Service 3 Ensure each and every child in our community has the same opportunities to thrive – continue to Reduce the attainment gap between those from the most and least disadvantaged backgrounds. ongoing Education Attainment of the relatively small cohort of 18 Looked After school leavers dipped slightly in Senior Phase, except for very highest performing young people. In S3 the achievement of Curriculum for Excellence level 3 increased by 3% to 58% for the 16 Looked After young people. For primary 1, 4 and 7, 49% of the 36 looked after children achieved expected levels, compared to 37% across the previous three reported years 4 Create a Connections Plan for every child who is currently cared for. This will detail arrangements for contacting and spending time with people most important to them. June 2024 SCYPF Work has begun in Perth and Kinross on the creation of a connections template with a national project also being considered by the Scottish Government. The template will then be used when a child and their family become involved with Social Work. 5 Foster and Kinship carers will receive training and support to encourage them to strengthen connections June 2024 SCYPF A national training programme which will focus on trauma is being rolled out and delivered to foster and kinship families. As
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A Good Childhood Children who have been removed from their family of origin and live in and around the ‘care system’ will have a good, loving childhood. Progress to date 28/11/22 High Level Outcome No . Action Timescale Lead Service between the child they care for and those most important to them. the restrictions, due to the pandemic, have eased training is now becoming more available and carers are being encouraged to participate. An annual information and training day is currently being developed for carers to take place in June 2023. 6 Extend the use of lifelong links so that all young people with care experience have the chance to build on the stable, support network around them. June 2024 SCYPF The lifelong links process has extended following the appointment of a 3rd co- ordinator. The funding is temporary and longer-term funding is to be identified. Currently there are a further 8 children and young people who are benefitting from the process. Brothers and sisters will live together. 7 Where living with their parents is not possible, children must live with their brothers and sisters where safe to do so. June 2023 SCYPF In the last quarter 48% of children currently accommodated were living with their brother and sister and 25% with at least one brother or sister, with a further 27% where a child is with no other brother or sister. Further work is being undertaken to understand their
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A Good Childhood Children who have been removed from their family of origin and live in and around the ‘care system’ will have a good, loving childhood. Progress to date 28/11/22 High Level Outcome No . Action Timescale Lead Service circumstances and develop the tool to recognise sibling like relationships. Young people are provided with community- based alternatives to custody. 8 Strengthen joint working between Children’s services and Criminal justice services to expand programmes in the community to prevent and divert young people away from offending behaviour. June 2023 SCYPF A further part-time worker has been employed to support this growing need. The programmes continue to look at the holistic needs of the young people. Currently there are 8 young people receiving the service. In partnership with YMCA offered the option of community- based activities such as Prince’s trust program Venture trust, outdoor education and connected with the drug and alcohol team. The team is currently developing a podcast based on personal experiences around homelessness, drug use, gambling addiction etc the young people will go to specific areas of expertise and ask questions around how to get
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A Good Childhood Children who have been removed from their family of origin and live in and around the ‘care system’ will have a good, loving childhood. Progress to date 28/11/22 High Level Outcome No . Action Timescale Lead Service support. This will be designed, run, and delivered by young people for young people. 9 Co-design flexible supports with young people currently in custody which can prevent other young people becoming in conflict with the law. January 2022 SCYPF There are few care experienced young people in custody and an interview of them to determine what would have helped them is to be progressed. This work is being undertaken by our young people’s review officer and the bail supervision worker. Children, Young People, and their families voice is heard and amplified. 10 Using an opt-in model, independent advocacy will be provided to all children aged 5+ alongside information of how to be supported by Child's Rights Lawyers. June 2024 SCYPF Independent Advocacy Perth and Kinross (IAPK) won the tender for advocacy and have now successfully recruited two advocates. As of the beginning of December 2022 they will take on all CP conferences. It has been agreed that we will move to an opt out model and the mechanics of this are being progressed. 11 Using an opt-in model, independent advocacy will be provided to families with children under the age of five June 2024 SCYPF The function of the Children’s Rights Officer is changing to support the youth forum. Work is ongoing to identify how best
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A Good Childhood Children who have been removed from their family of origin and live in and around the ‘care system’ will have a good, loving childhood. Progress to date 28/11/22 High Level Outcome No . Action Timescale Lead Service alongside information of how to engage with Child’s Rights Officer. to gain the views of children under 5 years old. 12 Expand the reach of our young people with care experience through the FYI group by developing further groups across localities. June 2024 SCYPF There are two groups operating in Perth Grammar and Crieff High with 9 and 14 young people currently attending. Groups in Blairgowrie and Kinross are underway. Services for young people have received additional funding through the Pupil Equity Funding for Care Experienced Children and Young People which will allow for additional youth workers and therefore additional supports in schools. Once in post priority will be given to developing supports in the other Secondary Schools. Young people who want to leave care have stable, flexible options to support them moving on. 13 Young people are encouraged to stay with their carers but if they chose not to are prioritised for housing and supported accommodation. June 2024 SCYPF /Communities Care Experienced young people continue to be given strategic points. 14 All young people with care experience are set up to thrive after leaving school and can go on to education, work or training. June 2024 Skills Development Scotland Through activity agreements from Jan 22 – Nov 22 12 CE Y/P moved onto positive destinations – 5 onto college, 5
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A Good Childhood Children who have been removed from their family of origin and live in and around the ‘care system’ will have a good, loving childhood. Progress to date 28/11/22 High Level Outcome No . Action Timescale Lead Service into employment, 1 into volunteering and 1 into further training. The team are continuing to engage with care experienced young people as early as possible to promote their life chances. 15 Develop initial tenancy package to include painting and decorating and DIY chores. January 2022 Communities In partnership with UHI and Services for Young people this programme is scheduled to begin weekly in January 2023 Whole Family Support All families need support at different times of their lives and family support is a crucial emphasis for 21-24. High Level Outcome No. Action Timescale Lead Service Progress to date Increased opportunities for families in rough waters to be supported in their own homes and communities. 16 Provide support to families with children and young people before they need to enter the care system. June 2024 SCYPF Perth and Kinross has now been allocated funding under the Whole Family Wellbeing Fund. 17 Co-design a range of safe harbours - early intervention and prevention supports - with families who have lived June 2024 SCYPF The Families Empowering Communities project is continuing and hoped to
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experience and through the families empowering community's project. expand through the above fund. 18 Increase capacity of Family Group Decision Making team. June 2024 SCYPF The team has increased by one member. 19 Monitor and map the supports from 3rd sector partners. June 2024 SCYPF As part of the WFWF this work will be undertaken.
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Supporting the Workforce Children experience the ‘care system’ through people. Over Plan 21-24, support for people who care and continue to care if times get tough, will improve. High Level Outcome No. Action Timescale Lead Service update A confident and competent workforce that provides the right support at the right time for children and families 20 Further develop our workforce from Trauma Informed to Trauma Enhanced. March 2023 SCYPF Funding has been given to Perth and Kinross to appoint a co-ordinator which is currently in process. Once appointed the model and roll out will be planned. Lifelong connections and relationships between SCYPF staff and children are supported and valued. 21 Promote the importance of maintaining stable, supportive relationships whilst ensuring safety of every person involved. Staff and people with lived experience to explore how this can be delivered in a way that is manageable and appropriate. June 2024 SCYPF Service Manager (Resources) for Children, Young People and Families and Human Resources to develop a policy A confident and competent workforce that are skilled in clearing the path to education for all children and young people. 22 Increase understanding of the additional support needs which children and young people with care experience may have in an educational context. June 2024 SCYPF and Education PRAISE teachers now embedded in new Primary sector Outreach Team, support learning of wider pupil support team about barrier to learning that can develop for care experienced children and young people Shifting attitudes around young people with care experience to improve their life chances. 23 In conjunction with FYI build on initial training materials to create a workshop influenced by the research undertaken by Each and Every Child. June 2024 SCYPF and FYI This is to be progressed.
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The other two priorities planning and building capacity have actions which will be directed by national policy and be implemented in due course.
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* Public Bodies who are Corporate Parents and links to their plans. Public Body Link to plan Children’s Hearings Scotland Children’s Hearings Scotland Business and Corporate Parenting Plan The Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration SCRA’s Corporate Parenting Plan 2020-2023 Perth College Corporate Parenting Plan 2017-2021 NHS Tayside No plan – Dr Simon Hilton, Public Health Medicine Consultant gave update to Care Governance Committee on 05/08/2021 item 7.9. Healthcare Improvement Scotland Corporate Parenting Action Plan 2020-2023 and progress report The Scottish Qualifications Authority Corporate Parenting Plan 2018-2021 Corporate Parenting Commitments Skills Development Scotland Co. Ltd (registered number SC 202659) Corporate Parenting Policies Care Inspectorate / Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland Corporate Parenting Plan 2021-23 The Scottish Social Services Council SSSC Realising Potential 2020-2023 Children’s Rights Report 2020-2023 The Scottish Sports Council Paused the development of our refreshed Corporate Parenting Plan 2020-23 due to the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic (COVID- 19). Police Scotland National Corporate Parenting Plan The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Corporate Parenting Plan The Scottish Legal Aid Board 2018-2021 Corporate Parenting Plan Corporate parenting literature review The Commissioner for Children and Young People in Scotland December 2016 The Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland Corporate Parenting Plan 2018-2021 The Scottish Housing Regulator Corporate Parenting Plan and Children’s Rights Report Bòrd na Gàidhlig Bòrd na Gàidhlig Corporate Parenting Strategy and Plan 2018-2021 Creative Scotland Creative Scotland's Corporate Parenting Plan Social Security Scotland Corporate Parenting Plan Corporate Parenting Impact Assessment Summary Action Plan
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