Agenda item

The Strategic Director of Social Care and Education presents a report, requested by the Overview Select Committee, providing an update regarding the local authority’s role in the approval and oversight of care homes for children and adults in the city.

The Strategic Director of Social Care and Education provided an overview of the report. Key points to note were as follows:

·       The report had been requested due to the number of planning applications received, particularly in relation to children’s residential homes.

·       The Department for Education (DfE) and Ofsted had declined invites to attend the Scrutiny meeting.

·       Of recent applications, the majority were submitted by companies or private individuals recently presenting as agents for children’s care homes.  Steps were in place to delve further to ensure risk assessment was in place and to manage any likely anti-social behaviour for prospective neighbourhoods.

·       There were some current planning submissions for extensions to existing homes for the elderly or those with disabilities.

·       Any questions that couldn’t be answered by the executive could be forwarded to the DfE and Ofsted on behalf of the scrutiny commission.

The Chair welcomed questions and comments from members. Key points were as follows:

• The report had come to OSC, rather than to the Children, Young People and Education (CYPE) Scrutiny Commission, due to the wider ramifications.
• Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) had declined to attend the meeting, citing the overwhelming number of requests received from Local Authorities. Concerns regarding the DfE could be forwarded to the Secretary of state and any complaints regarding the CQC could be submitted via their complaints process.
• Matters concerning area saturation were of consideration. Under safeguarding ruling, Ofsted did not release information on the location of children’s care homes. Details could be ascertained via the planning department to monitor saturation levels.
• The regulation and inspection of care homes came under the Ofsted remit. Work was underway to allow for further examination of practice within unregistered homes by the local authority.
• There was a combination of situations for children being placed within city carehomes. Those from Leicester would have a careplan delivered by a Leicester City Council Social Worker. Those placed within the city by another Local Authority (LA) were supported by the placing authority. Any concerns raised would be flagged to the LA or regulating bodies appropriately. Concerns often originated via community intelligence.
• Some LA planning committees granted permissions for limited time periods which meant there was an inbuilt opportunity to review performance.
• Further analysis could take place to map the location of all children homed within the authority. This could be achieved through collaboration with Planning Colleagues and via in-depth data analysis.
• Multi-agency working with, for example the CQC and NHS, could be explored further, where there were individual issues within care homes. 
• Strategies were in place to prevent profiteering, anticipated updates from central government were welcomed.
• Planning colleagues were looking into developing guidance on applications in line with commentary from Adult Social Care, and also around saturation levels.
• Upon reaching the age of 18, looked after children placed in Leicester by other LA’s, usually remained under the responsibility of the placing authority. However, they may develop housing rights within the placed area. Many of these young people would have been unaccompanied asylum seeking children.
• Planning colleagues were welcomed to come to scrutiny to clarify points raised.
• The most recent children’s scrutiny report on placement costs would be circulated.Councillor Batool proposed that the Planning Department findings could come back to OSC scrutiny in 3 month’s time, Councillor March Seconded this and members voted in favour of this proposition. 
• A time limit on the change would mean that the planning consent would need renewal and reconsideration after a period when issues such as parking and anti-social behaviour have been better assessed

Recommendations:

• Planning look at the pattern of applications for these smaller care homes to try get a fuller picture.
• Officers to ensure mapping is done to know where children outside the care of LCC are being placed.

AGREED:

• That the report be noted.
• Assurances to be given to OSC that analysis of data as to where children are placed is being compiled and captured
• That the Planning Department come back to OSC in 3 month’s time with details on the above points raised in the discussion.

Councillor Porter left during the consideration of this item.