The Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee is scheduled to meet on Wednesday 4 November 2026 to discuss a range of reports concerning the welfare and development of children and young people in Manchester. Key topics include updates on supported lodgings, adoption services, the Manchester Safeguarding Partnership, and the Independent Reviewing Officer service.

Supported Lodgings Report

A report is scheduled for discussion regarding Manchester Supported Lodgings, a service that provides accommodation and practical and emotional support for young people aged 16 and over. The report aims to offer a strategic update on the service's progress, impact, and future development. It is expected to cover improvements in the delivery model, including management oversight, matching processes, training, and performance reporting. Key priorities for the service include enhancing stability and outcomes for young people, increasing the number of hosts, and developing a sustainable pathway into adulthood through the proposed Manchester Supported Lodgings Outreach Scheme (MSLOS). The MSLOS would extend the principles of supported lodgings to young adults aged 18 and over, who would live in separate accommodation while continuing to receive support from an approved host. The report also details the current demographics of both hosts and young people, highlighting the diversity within the service. Projected growth for the Supported Lodgings service is outlined, with an ambition to increase bed spaces over the next three years, supported by additional staffing capacity. The report concludes by emphasising Supported Lodgings' role in Manchester's accommodation sufficiency strategy and its alignment with the city's vision for young people transitioning into adulthood.

Annual Adoption Report

The committee is scheduled to consider the Annual Adoption Report for 2025/26 from Adoption Counts. This report will provide an overview of the performance of Adoption Counts, focusing on the numbers and timescales for children with an adoption plan, adopter recruitment, adoption support, and Manchester's specific priorities relating to adoption. The report is expected to detail the challenges faced, including a national trend of reduced enquiries and approvals for adopters, which impacts adopter sufficiency and the matching of children, particularly sibling groups and those with specific needs. It will also highlight innovations and targeted campaigns to increase adopter sufficiency, such as an increase in attendance at online information events. The report will present data on the number of children with an agreed adoption plan, the granting of Placement Orders, and the timeliness of the adoption process, measured against national averages and targets. Challenges in adopter recruitment, particularly for sibling groups and children from minority ethnic backgrounds, will be discussed, alongside the quality of Child Permanence Reports. The report will also outline Manchester's priorities for 2025-26, including embedding quality standard timescales for adopter matching, reviewing Placement Orders older than six months, and strengthening adoption reporting within locality accountability frameworks. Finally, it will detail the adoption support offered to families, including therapeutic interventions and access to specialist services.

Manchester Safeguarding Partnership Annual Report 2025-2026

The committee is scheduled to review the Manchester Safeguarding Partnership Annual Report for 2025-2026. This report summarises the partnership's work in safeguarding children and adults, detailing how statutory partners and the wider partnership have collaborated. It will provide assurance on the effectiveness of local safeguarding arrangements, highlight key achievements, and identify areas requiring continued development. The report also sets out the Partnership's priorities for 2026-2027. Key themes expected to be covered include the overall effectiveness of safeguarding arrangements, the importance of the voice and lived experience of children and adults, learning from safeguarding reviews and audits, and specific work on neglect, exploitation, and child sexual abuse. The report will also address mental health, contextual suicide, and support after child removal, as well as workforce development and communication. Frontline visits and independent scrutiny findings will be presented, alongside details of service transformation initiatives like the Family First Partnership Programme. Financial contributions to the partnership will be outlined, and the report will conclude with an assessment of the overall effectiveness of Manchester's safeguarding arrangements and priorities for the coming year.

IRO Annual Report 2025-2026

The committee is scheduled to receive the 2025-2026 Annual Report of Manchester's Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO) Service for Cared for Children. The report is expected to demonstrate the service's maturity and consistent delivery, highlighting its positive impact on children and young people. It will detail how IROs work independently to oversee care planning, ensuring reviews are accountable, timely, and focused on improving outcomes. The report will cover the IRO service's core principles: improving outcomes for children, co-production with children and families, and partnership working. It will present data on the characteristics of cared-for children, including their demographics, placement stability, and reasons for leaving care. The report will also detail the service's child-led review model, the participation of children and parents in reviews, and the role of advocacy. Quality assurance activities, including audits and practice resolutions, will be discussed, along with the IRO service's focus on ensuring quality and outcomes. The report will conclude with reflections on achievements and key priorities for 2026-2027, including supporting Families First reforms, strengthening the involvement of family and social networks, increasing meaningful participation, and ensuring strong oversight, accountability, and evidence of impact. The report notes that Ofsted's 2025 inspection of Children's Services judged the oversight of IROs as highly effective.

Overview Report

An Overview Report from the Governance and Scrutiny Support Unit is scheduled for discussion. This report will provide the committee with an update on recommendations made in previous meetings, details of key decisions taken that are relevant to the committee's remit, and the committee's work programme. The report will include an extract from the Register of Key Decisions published on 26 October 2026, highlighting decisions relevant to the committee's area of responsibility. The committee's work programme for upcoming meetings, including items scheduled for November 2026, December 2026, January 2027, February 2027, and March 2027, will also be presented, along with a list of items to be scheduled.