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The Director for Children, Families and Education presented her report which noted that the Sufficiency Duty required Local Authorities and children’s safeguarding partners to ensure sufficient local accommodation and support to meet the needs of children and young people in care, or to ensure that there was a plan in place to move towards that position. It presented an overview of children in care, how long they had been in care and some of the reasons why children needed to become looked after. The report detailed the current level of provision for children who are looked after which included foster placements, residential homes and semi supported accommodation.

Members discussed the need for more foster carers, why the largest cohort of children taken into care was in the 10-15 year old range, the differences in those receiving help between the East and West of the borough, and the number of looked after children awaiting adoption.

Officers noted that the number of foster carers was falling nationally and that while Wirral is in a similar position it had been more successful than others. Officer reassured Members that work was ongoing to improve the support offered to foster carers and to encourage more people to become a foster carer. Officers noted that reasons for the 10-15 cohort being the largest were varied and abuse and neglect were the most common reasons. Children of that age are more likely to be out in the community than younger children and are more likely to fall foul of criminal exploitation. Officers suggested bringing a further report to committee on the impact that Early Years work might have in reducing the number of children in the 10-15 cohort becoming looked after. Officers noted that a common difference between the East and West of the borough was that while the issues and needs were similar across the borough, people were less likely to seek help in some areas and that work was being done to make help as accessible as possible to those that might not know how best to seek it. Officers confirmed that the 17 children awaiting adoption were in the process of receiving a placement order.

Resolved – That

1. The Childrens Looked After and Care Leavers Strategy 2023-2026 be noted; and

2. An update on the progress of the Strategy to be delivered within 12 months be agreed.