The joint meeting of the Corporate Parenting Advisory Committee and the Children and Young People's Scrutiny Panel was scheduled to review performance data, discuss the meaning of care for children and young people, and examine care leaving initiatives in London. The meeting also included a progress report on children in care supported by the Haringey Youth Justice Service and a verbal update on an Ofsted focused visit.

Performance Report

The committee was scheduled to receive a performance report for Quarter 3 of 2024/25, with updates available up to February. This report aimed to provide an analysis of performance data and trends for looked-after children, allowing members to assess progress in key areas related to the Local Authority's role as Corporate Parent. The report covered the first three quarters of the year and included performance highlights and key messages, identifying areas for improvement and focus.

At the end of February 2025, there were 316 children in care, a decrease of 18 since September, though the rate remained higher than the London average. The number of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC) had also decreased. The report noted a fall in children becoming looked after due to family in acute stress, with abuse and neglect remaining the most common reason. Data on children ceasing to be looked after, the number of children aged 3 or under in care, and the timeliness of care plans and pathway plans were also presented. The report detailed placement types, with most children placed with foster carers. It also highlighted that 9% of children had experienced three or more placements in the last 12 months, a slight decrease from the previous period. The stability of long-term placements was also a focus, with 57% of children under 16 having been in the same placement for at least two years. Health assessments and dental visits for looked-after children were also reported on, with dental checks showing improvement. The report also provided figures for care leavers, detailing their eligibility for services, and outlined figures for those in education, employment, or training (EET), as well as those in suitable accommodation. Education Health Care Plans (EHCPs) and attainment data for looked-after children were also included.

What Does Care Mean?

This report was intended to provide members with an understanding of what being 'in care' signifies for children and young people. It was scheduled to examine the pathways into care, review progress on placement stability, and focus on the experiences of care leavers, independent living, and mental health. National research indicates that children entering care often experience significant harm, trauma, and neglect, leading to feelings of rejection and loss, which can be compounded by multiple placement moves. The report also highlighted that some children perceive being in care as stigmatising and may feel that professionals are not as ambitious for them, or that their voices are not heard in decision-making.

For Haringey Council, the report stated a commitment to being the best corporate parents and working with the Children in Care Council (ASPIRE) to support young people. The council aims to improve services by listening to care-experienced young people and has made progress in areas such as Health and Wellbeing, Housing, Independent Living skills, Transitional Safeguarding, and Education, Training, and Employment. The report detailed the reasons for children being accommodated, with abuse and neglect being the most common cause. It outlined the various legal pathways into care, including voluntary agreements (Section 20 of the Children Act 1989), Interim Care Orders (Section 38), and Care Orders (Section 31), as well as Police Protection and Emergency Protection Orders (EPOs). The demographic profile of children entering care was presented, showing a higher proportion of males and those of Black or Black British heritage. The report also discussed types of placements, placement stability indicators, and the support provided to care leavers, including education, employment, and training opportunities, independent living arrangements, and mental health support.

Care Leaving in London

This report was scheduled to provide an update on the care experience within the London region. It detailed the development of a Pan London Care Leavers Compact, funded by the DfE recovery funding in 2021, which aims to increase the consistency, breadth, and quality of support offered to care leavers across London. The work is being delivered by LIIA and Partnership for Young London, with governance provided by a Care Leavers Trust Board. The London Children in Care Council co-leads every aspect of this initiative.

The report outlined progress on the Pan London Compact, including agreements on free prescriptions, half-price travel on buses and trams for care leavers through Transport for London (TfL), and housing commitments from local authorities. It also highlighted momentum for wider ambition, with seven London Local Authorities adopting Protected Characteristic positions for care leavers and the Association of Directors of Children's Services (ADCS) adopting Care Leaving as its fifth strategic priority. A wider programme was being designed to cover four thematic areas: Health, Education, Training and Employment (ETE), Relationships, and Housing, with specific consideration for former UASC (Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children) needs. The report included results from the LIIA Care Leaver Survey 2024, detailing practice and views on housing, ETE, health, relationships, immigration, criminal justice, safeguarding, and miscellaneous issues. Key considerations and challenges were identified in each of these areas, such as the cost and barriers of private renting, the need for consistent ETE offers, the significant mental health needs of care leavers, and the importance of stable relationships and consistent support from Personal Advisors (PAs).

Progress Report on Outcomes for Children in Care Supported by Haringey Youth Justice Service

This report was intended to inform members about the progress made through targeted work to improve outcomes for children in care who are also supported by the Youth Justice Service (YJS). The report noted that as of March 2025, 25% of the youth justice cohort were children in care, equating to 17 children. The YJS has embedded a targeted approach for this cohort, offering them innovation projects and providing support from embedded agencies such as CAMHS, Speech and Language, Education, and Substance Misuse services. The report indicated that for most outcome areas, children in care open to the YJS continue to have poorer outcomes than those not in care and open to the YJS. Improvements were noted in four areas: more children in care being in education, training, and employment; improved health; a reduction in drug offences; and a reduction in offending by family members.

Challenges identified included the fluctuating legal status of children, their placement outside the borough limiting access to local support, and frequent changes in placement impacting continuity of support. The report detailed the work of a multi-agency task and finish group reviewing outcome measures and interventions. It also highlighted the positive outcome of a recent inspection of the Haringey Youth Justice Service, which received an overall grading of good with outstanding features. The report also outlined how the YJS's objectives align with Haringey's Corporate Delivery Plan, specifically under the themes of Children and young people and A Safer Borough.

Verbal Update - Ofsted Focused Visit

A verbal update was scheduled regarding a recent Ofsted focused visit. No further details were provided in the publicly available documents regarding the specific focus or outcomes of this visit.