The Corporate Director – Social Services and Wellbeing submitted a report, the purpose of which, was to present to Members of the Committee the Independent Reviewing Service (IRO) Report, in line with The Independent Reviewing Officers Guidance (Wales) 2004, along with the IRO Service Action Plan.

She advised that the appointment of Independent Reviewing Officer’s (IRO’s) by Local Authorities was a legal requirement and their core functions are governed by legislation and guidance as follows:

•           The Adoption and Children Act 2002;

•           The Independent Reviewing Officers Guidance (Wales) 2004.

The Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO) service has an authoritative role, in assuring the quality of care planning is achieved, it was explained.

The Independent Reviewing Service report (attached at Appendix A to the report,) covered the work of the IRO service from April 2019 to March 2020.

The report contained performance information in respect of the statutory reviewing of Children who are Looked After, including children with plans for Adoption and Young People with Leaving Care LAC/Pathway Plans (under 18) by Bridgend County Borough Council. It also included information on children subject of a child protection plan and reviews of these plans at Child Protection Case Conferences.

The report further detailed information that related to regulatory requirements in respect of resolution case disputes, IRO caseloads, participation and consultation of young people in their Reviews, challenges and achievements in the reporting period and service priorities for 2019-20.  

As well as the guidance referred to in paragraph 3.1 of the report, additional IRO guidance and practice standards were introduced at the beginning of 2019. IRO’s had worked to improve tracking and monitoring as advised within the Practice Standards and Good Practice Guide, Officers confirmed.

The Corporate Director – Social Services and Wellbeing stated, that as described in the report, the IRO’s chaired/reviewed 2,022 meetings between April 2019 and March 2020.  1,506 quality assurance audits were completed relating to these meetings also.

In her conclusion of the report, she advised that the IRO service had continued to work with the safeguarding teams to improve practice around child protection conferences and this had been extended through to other agencies such as the Health Visiting services, School Nurses and Midwifery Services. The next stage of events, was to work at improving the quality of Looked After Children reviews on a multi-agency basis.

She stressed finally, that continuous service improvement is always sought after and as such the Independent Reviewing Service aimed to continue to have a greater impact in terms of improving the quality of the lives of care experienced children and young people.  The IRO Service Action Plan at Appendix A, reflected the areas of focus for improvement over the next 12 months for the service, which would be under constant review in order to ensure actions proposed were being met.

In support of the report, a power point presentation (together with a short video) was given by the Group manager IAA and Safeguarding/Independent Reviewing Manager, with the support of Social Services colleagues.

The presentation covered a number of themes and key areas of work, examples of which are given below:

• The roles and remit of the Independent Reviewing Officers (IRO’s)
• The child protection population the last 12 months, ie 185 average (current 189)
• Monthly average of Foster Care placements the last 12 months = 383, with those aged 10 to 15 being the largest percentage and 0 to 1, being the smallest
• Some service priorities outlined in the Action Plan:

1.    Increased contact between the IRO’s and children and young people (going forward);

2.    To achieve permanency and reduce numbers of Care Experienced Children;

3.    Improvement in child consultation/participation;

4.    Improve LAC reviews and care planning processes;

5.    Developing learning themes and improve practice through QA;

6.    Develop Advocacy services/active offer to children.

The Cabinet Member – Wellbeing and Future Generations asked Officers if they could give some further information on Re-Statementing, ie why children are de-registered from the Child Protection Register, only to be re-registered sometime after and on occasions, fairly quickly.

Officers advised that this was an area of Council that was regularly the subject of auditing. If sufficient evidence was available for a decision to be made for a child to be de-registered, the main reason behind them going back on the register was usually due to the fact that, his/her parents had originally separated but then subsequently got back together. During this time however, the relationship had again once more deteriorated, hence placing the child back into a potentially hostile setting. Arising from such a situation, the child is then once more placed on the Child Protection Register in order to ensure their continued safeguarding going forward.

In cases such as this, they are then the subject of further and ongoing review and scrutiny, which includes working with the parents as well as supporting the interests and health and wellbeing of the child.

As the work of IRO’s was a statutory function, the Leader asked how the service engaged with younger children in order to hear their voice and what impact had the Covid pandemic had on close engagement with young people of all age groups. He felt that with children of Infants/Primary school age, there was more opportunity, particularly at present, to hear their voice in a school based setting. During Covid, he felt that we had to continue delivering support and services particularly to the most vulnerable in society, in different ways than previous, whilst at the same time, balancing up issues such as risks and roles in terms of these individuals future welfare.

He acknowledged that Domestic Abuse was very much a problem and an issue that had become even worse during lockdown. Whilst he was aware of some of the mechanisms of support in place for victims of this, he asked if there was anything in place to help the perpetrators, as he was aware of the Perpetrator’s Programme.

In terms of keeping contact with older children and the continuation of their care and care planning, Officers confirmed that regular contact was very much continuing with this age group of young people, through virtual platforms, as well as through initiatives and support such as the 16 Plus Team. Therefore, the pandemic had not so much hindered this age group in terms of their continued monitoring and support. Though face to face contact other than that arranged remotely, was still an issue due to social distancing. There were Advocacy services in place that also supported the welfare of these young people, advised the Group Manager IAA and Safeguarding.

The Independent Reviewing Manager confirmed that there were Consultation documents that were used in order to provide continued support and engagement with young individuals and these were varied in that they were also ‘age appropriate’. With plans in place for the possible re-opening of schools at half term, in the first instance for younger pupils, interaction would take place with the schools, in order to ensure ongoing support is continued for the most vulnerable and foster care children. There was also a provision in their Personal Education Plans (PEP’s) that accounted for their continued support also, she added. This assisted and to an extent overcome any reduction in visits by IRO’s in a more one to one public setting.

Officers advised also, that there were a number of programmes in place that addressed domestic violence, through both working with the victim and the perpetrator, including the Inspiring Families Programme.

A Member noted from the report’s supporting information, that there was proposed as part of the future MTFS considerations, a reduction in office support staff for the Child Protection Team. She asked if this would detract from current support levels in place for foster children, etc.

The Corporate Director – Social Services and Wellbeing advised that this was something that was being considered, however, regular Management meetings were held within the Directorate on a continuous cycle, to meet all services as pressures arise in teams, with support always being put in place for any change in such pressures, moving forward. This included for the IRO’s, particularly in order to ensure that there is adequate support in place for their work including their number of caseloads at any given time.

The Chairperson noted that a common factor amongst LAC was neglect. She asked if there was any data available that would reflect the number of children who are the subject of neglect and how many of these qualify for free school meals.

Officers stated that they did not have this data to hand, however, the Head of Children’s Services confirmed that she would liaise with the Children’s Directorate and in turn provided some data on this to Members, outside of the meeting.     

RESOLVED:                          That the Committee noted the Independent Reviewing Service report, the contents of the power point Presentation and the IRO service action plan (attached at Appendix A to the report).