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The decisions as the council's minutes record them. A plain-language summary follows once it has been written.
RESOLVED to: • Acknowledge the publication of the report. • Receive further reports in due course in order to be updated on local/regional data and how progress and improvements made contributes to better outcomes for care experienced children.
RESOLVED to: • Note the content of the report.
RESOLVED to: 1. Acknowledge the content of the report. 2. Consider whether any further information is required on any aspect of the report.
RESOLVED to: • Note the contents of the report and the quality of care review report attached as Appendix 1.
Apologies for absence were received from County Borough Councillors Paula Evans and the Head of Access & Inclusion, Ceri Jones.
In accordance with the Council’s Code of Conduct, there were no declarations made pertaining to the agenda.
To approve as an accurate record, the minutes of the meeting of the Corporate Parenting Board held on the 27th January 2025.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED to: • Acknowledge the publication of the report. • Receive further reports in due course in order to be updated on local/regional data and how progress and improvements made contributes to better outcomes for care experienced children.
The Head of Cwm Taf Youth Justice Service explained that the purpose of this report was to update the Corporate Parenting Board regarding the ‘All Wales Protocol for Reducing the Criminalisation of Children and Young People 2022’ which was first presented to the Board in 2023 and provided updated local information regarding care experienced children in Rhondda Cynon Taf. The Head of Cwm Taf Youth Justice Service then took Corporate Parenting Board Members through the background at Section 3, provided details on HMIP Inspection of Youth Justice Services in Cwm Taf 2024, at Section 4, provided details on the Data for RCT Children Looked After, at Section 5, noting in particular at paragraph 5.8, this was a direct quote from the Inspectorate before providing some context, with regards to an improvement, before taking Corporate Parenting Board Members through the conclusion and next steps at Section 6. The Chair acknowledged this was a comprehensive report and it was great to see HMIP had given a good rating, acknowledging the comprehensive action plan and a change in the way the service is delivered. A Member asked if there was a breakdown of the children that are within the statistics in terms of the type of care they receive e.g., residential vs foster care and wondered if there was anything those service areas could learn from this. Additionally the Member asked how the Local Authority (LA) compared statistically with other LA’s in South Wales. The Head of Cwm Taf Youth Justice Service explained that he didn’t have the breakdown of locality of each of the children looked after (CLA), but he could provide a bit more detail to CPB Members. A Member, in relation to paragraph 4.3, sought clarification around what was meant by the wider cohort. The Head of Cwm Taf Youth Justice explained that this was children that maybe showing disproportionate numbers e.g. girls, black or ethnic minority and children with additional learning needs. The Director of Children’s Services provided CPB Members with further information and acknowledged she was keen to bring back the data, although she was not sure currently what comparative data there was, along with insights from South Wales Police. The Chair acknowledged that this was such an important service as part of the wider social care portfolio which links together to try and protect children, and young people, and CLA, and he hoped resources were there to redesign services as the action plan suggests, to a trauma based approach. Following consideration, Corporate Parenting Board RESOLVED to: • Acknowledge the publication of the report. • Receive further reports in due course in order to be updated on local/regional data and how progress and improvements made contributes to better outcomes for care experienced children.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED to: • Note the content of the report.
The Senior Employment Education & Training Advisor Co-ordinator explained that the purpose of the report was to provide the Corporate Parenting Board Members with an update in respect of the Council’s dedicated programmes Step in the Right Direction and Care2Work to support care experienced young people into employment, education and training which is a priority within the Corporate Parenting Pledge. Additionally, Corporate Parenting Board Members were informed of the reduction in budget and potential further reductions to the service beyond 31st March 2026. The Officer then took Corporate Parenting Board Members through the report at Section 4, Programmes, providing an update on the Step in The Right Direction Programme including a breakdown of outcomes April 2024 – March 2025 before providing un update on the Care2Work Programme including a breakdown of outcomes from April 2024 – March 2025 and an update on Care2Work courses delivered. Corporate Parenting Board Members were then taken through the conclusion at Section 10, with the Officer reiterating the funding issues and possible future funding opportunities. The Chair thanked the Officer, and acknowledged it was a very positive report but acknowledged the reduction in funding, which was regrettable, whilst recognising the benefits of such funding, being so important, and would look at the funding, outside of the meeting. A Member thanked the Officer for her report and the good work that was being done and, asked that he be included in the next work experience opportunity. Following consideration, Corporate Parenting Board RESOLVED to: • Note the content of the report.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED to: 1. Acknowledge the content of the report. 2. Consider whether any further information is required on any aspect of the report.
The Headteacher Virtual School for Children looked After explained that the purpose of the report was to provide an update to Corporate Parenting Board on the implications of the ALNET (Additional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal) Wales Act (2018) and Additional Learning Needs (ALN) Code 2021 for Children Looked After with an ALN and to update the Board on the implementation of the above in Year 4 of the National ALN Implementation timetable in Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council. The Headteacher then took Corporate Parenting Board Members through the report at Section 4 the background and wider context, Section 5, the local context and update on the implementation including at paragraph 5.5, the findings for in county and out of county PEPs (2024-2025), at paragraph 5.7, table 2, the SEN status of CLA Statutory Aged Pupils as at 11th March 2025 and a paragraph 5.8, table 2, the Local Performance Indicator for CLA IDPs Quarter 1 - 3 Financial Year 2024/25, before taking Corporate Parenting Board Members through Section 6, the next steps The Chair thanked the Officer for the report acknowledging it was a very comprehensive report. A Member sought clarification on the results, in respect of targeting of supported pupils with their interests. The Officer provided a comprehensive answer, confirming that they did have good results because it was validating a child’s interests and understanding of the World e.g. holding a child in mind when they are not in school. The Officer felt it was very much about achievement and not just attainment. Following consideration, Corporate Parenting Board RESOLVED to: 1. Acknowledge the content of the report. 2. Consider whether any further information is required on any aspect of the report.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED to: • Note the contents of the report and the quality of care review report attached as Appendix 1.
The Service Manager - Foster Wales RCT explained that the purpose of the report was to provide an update to Corporate Parenting Board on the monitoring carried out under the Regulation and Inspection of Social Care (Wales) Act 2016, the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014, and the Local Authority Fostering Services (Wales) Regulations 2018, for the period September 2024 to March 2025. The Officer then took Corporate Parenting Board Members through Appendix 1, the Quality of Care Review Report - Foster Wales RCT, providing some initial context before providing a comparison of the previous period in relation to Emergency Placement data. Corporate Parenting Board Members were then taken though the main body of the report, including information about the Service, the overall strategic and day to day management, the overview of the quality of service provided across the service and outlines areas for improvement and development during the forthcoming year and comments from a Responsible Individual. The Officer concluded by explaining that while further changes were necessary, and would take time, a reflective approach was being adopted, to ensure changes were fit for purpose, whilst prioritising efforts to ensure Foster Carers and children receive the support and care that they need. The Chair thanked the Officer, and acknowledged this was a very comprehensive report, recognising that Fostering was very important and that the campaign was proving fruitful, with the support given to carers and children, second to none. The Chair acknowledged the End of Approvals, on page 67 and 68, and how difficult this was to deal with. The Officer explained that this depended on the circumstances, as sometimes this was seen as a positive e.g. a child returning back to parents or special guardians but acknowledged in other cases it was extremely difficult. A Member, in respect of the need to improve consultation and feedback, acknowledged they looked forward to receiving an update on this, in terms of meeting the CIW requirements. The Member, also asked, in terms of the Welsh Early Permanence (WEP), how this was going and what impact this was having on resources. The Officer provided a comprehensive response, acknowledging that it took its toll, in terms of numbers, although recognising that the WEP numbers were low, so they were able to manage it incrementally as they came in. A Member sought clarification around what was meant by Special Guardians, and what this entailed. The Officer provided a comprehensive response, in respect of the legal status of Special Guardians. Following consideration, Corporate Parenting Board RESOLVED to: • Note the contents of the report and the quality of care review report attached as Appendix 1.
It was RESOLVEDthat the press and public be excluded from the meeting under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act (as amended) for the following items of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of the exempt information as defined in paragraph 14 of Part 4 of the Schedule 12A of the Act.
Councillors must say when they have a personal link to something being discussed, such as a job, a property or a family member. A prejudicial interest is one strong enough that the councillor usually leaves the room and takes no part.
Declarations are read from the minutes once they are published.
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