The Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee of Manchester Council met on Wednesday 9 September 2026 to review annual reports on complex safeguarding, fostering, and the quality of practice within children's services. The committee also discussed an overview report, noting progress on previous recommendations and key decisions.

Complex Safeguarding Annual Report

The committee reviewed the Complex Safeguarding Annual Report 2025/26, which detailed the work of the Complex Safeguarding Hub (CSH) in protecting children from exploitation, violence, and extrafamilial harm. The report highlighted a 10% reduction in missing from home episodes and positive outcomes for children supported by the Hub, including improved educational engagement and stronger trusted relationships. Ofsted had previously recognised the CSH's work as exemplary.

Key discussion points included:

• Support for young people transitioning to adulthood: The committee noted the importance of continued support for young people aged 18 and over, particularly those with SEND or who had been in care. The Assistant Director (North Locality and Complex Safeguarding) confirmed that a Preparation for Adulthood Team was in place, working with young people from age 16.
• Support for children with SEND: The Strategic Lead (Complex Safeguarding) reported that approximately 70% of children supported by the CSH had additional needs, and the service worked closely with multi-agency colleagues, including SEND nurses and psychologists, to meet these needs. Detective Inspector Chris Chadderton of Greater Manchester Police (GMP) explained how investigations could utilise EHCP information and specialist skills.
• Outcome 22: DI Chris Chadderton explained that Outcome 22 allowed young people to receive educational support through Youth Justice without a criminal conviction.
• School Engagement: The committee heard about the work with schools through the Alternative Provision Specialist Taskforce (APST) to prevent exclusions and keep children engaged in education.
• Underrepresentation of girls in referrals: DI Chris Chadderton acknowledged this as a focus area, with training delivered to community and faith groups to improve identification of harm affecting girls.
• Operation Luka: DI Chris Chadderton detailed the multi-agency operation in Manchester city centre, which involved increased police and social worker deployments, leading to numerous engagements with children, safe returns home, intelligence submissions, and arrests. Future plans include embedding the Foreign National Offenders Team and adopting MATAC and CCHI principles.
• Missing from Home Figures: The committee discussed groups overrepresented in missing from home figures, with the Strategic Lead (Complex Safeguarding) explaining that training was provided to help identify vulnerabilities.
• Measuring Intervention Impact: The Assistant Director (North Locality and Complex Safeguarding) explained the use of an outcomes tool across Greater Manchester, focusing on children's wellbeing. The re-referral rate was noted as approximately 17%, indicating that most children did not require further intervention.
• Investment in Speech and Language Therapy: The committee supported investment in speech and language therapy, as it was identified as a common need among young people working with the CSH, with no current bespoke offer within the Hub.

Decision: The committee noted the significant safeguarding activity undertaken through Manchester's multi-agency Complex Safeguarding Hub during 2025/26 and supported investment in speech and language therapy and the transition to adulthood.

Annual Fostering Report 2025/26

The committee reviewed the Annual Fostering Report 2025/26, which highlighted the service's achievements, including an Outstanding Ofsted judgement, improved placement stability, growth in kinship care, and the launch of the carer-led Manchester Hives support model.

Key discussion points included:

• Ward Councillor involvement in fostering promotion: The committee recognised the potential role of Ward Councillors in promoting fostering, including links with faith and community groups, and requested officers to engage with Members on this.
• Diversity of the fostering workforce: The Service Lead (Fostering) confirmed efforts to recruit more carers from the global majority and to culturally match children with carers, acknowledging that this was not always possible and that support would be provided in such cases.
• Recruitment of Foster Carers: The service is working with local communities and faith-based organisations, and a regional recruitment model is being implemented. The criteria for fostering have become more flexible, with recruitment campaigns at a Greater Manchester level raising awareness.
• Separation of siblings: The service is working to reduce sibling separation, with recruitment of carers capable of looking after larger sibling groups being a priority. The Hives model facilitates sibling contact through activities and events.
• Preventing children entering care: The Strategic Director of Children and Education Services highlighted programmes and interventions to support families, including the potential commissioning of an intensive parenting support programme.
• Support for Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children (UASC) turning 18: The service has a staying put policy allowing young people to remain with foster carers after turning 18, and support for UASC was previously discussed.
• Housing allocation for foster carers: The Executive Member for Early Years, Children and Young People explained that housing allocation rules had been changed to prioritise foster carers needing larger homes.
• Allegations against foster carers: The Service Lead (Fostering) reported a significant reduction in allegations. Investigations are taken seriously, with safeguarding measures in place for children and support for carers. Investigations aim for a maximum of 12 weeks.
• Kinship Carer assessments: An additional member of staff has been recruited to the Kinship team to address the challenges and increase in Kinship Carers.
• Cost of living impact on foster carers: Foster carer allowances are reviewed annually, and additional funding is available for specific situations, such as the Room Makers Fund for home adaptations.

Decision: The committee recognised the role Ward Councillors can play in promoting fostering and asked officers to engage with Members on this.

The Quality and Impact of Practice in Children's Services 2025/6

The committee received an overview of the quality of practice within Children's Services, based on data, audits, observations, and feedback from children, families, and staff. The report highlighted improvements in practice quality and impact over time, with a particular focus on relationship-based working and management oversight.

Key discussion points included:

• Families returning to services: The Assistant Director (Safeguarding and Practice Development) stated that Manchester had a lower rate of families returning to services than the national average. While re-referrals were monitored to ensure interventions were effective, returning to Early Help was not necessarily negative.
• Annual Social Work Survey response rate: The 52% response rate was an improvement on the previous year. The service uses various methods to gather staff feedback, including staff groups like the Reach group for global majority staff.
• Staff satisfaction with the physical work environment: The Strategic Director of Children and Education Services acknowledged issues with a building in the north locality which had since been resolved, leading to improved satisfaction.
• Direct observations: The Strategic Director noted that much direct observation occurred but was not always recorded. Recorded direct observations are part of a three-month quality assurance cycle and were impacted by the Ofsted inspection during the period covered by the statistics. The Assistant Director agreed to include statistics for direct observations judged as less than good in future reports.
• Performance Scorecards: The Executive Member for Early Years, Children and Young People confirmed regular reviews of performance scorecards for Children's Services and Education to identify and address issues.

Decision: The committee noted the report.

Overview Report

The committee received the Overview Report, which included a recommendations monitor, key decisions, and the committee's work programme.

• Recommendations Monitor: The City Solicitor is investigating the request for mandatory Corporate Parenting training for all Councillors, with an update to follow. Data regarding the benefit of the doubt in age assessments for Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children (UASC) is being collated and will be provided.
• Key Decisions: Members were informed of key decisions relevant to the committee's remit, including those related to the Manchester PlayZones Programme, the Children and Young People Independent Advocacy and Independent Visitor Service, and the Best Start Family Hub Peer Support and Volunteering Service.
• Work Programme: The committee reviewed its work programme for upcoming meetings, noting the inclusion of reports on the UNICEF Child Friendly City initiative, the Youth Investment Fund and Manchester Youth Strategy, and the Sufficiency Strategy.

The Chair invited comments on the meeting format and the room used for meetings.

Decision: The committee noted the report and work programme.