Signposts to very good practice

We monitor and evaluate strategies and services to ensure positive outcomes for looked after children. We plan, monitor and evaluate our performance against national and local objectives and individual service improvement plans or equivalent. We evaluate our performance for looked after children against the ambitions for all children, detailed in GIRFEC. We include such evidence in progress reports and public performance reports. We can demonstrate that outcomes are improving for all looked after children.

Example of working practices which led to improved outcomes:

Improved learning environments for children who are looked after away from home have been created by ensuring children in residential and foster placements have ready access to computers and a wide range of other learning materials. The attainment of looked after children has been raised and their educational experiences improved by providing dedicated support in school. Designated teachers get to know looked after children well and monitor their progress carefully, ensuring each child has appropriate guidance and support to meet their individual needs.

Signposts to very good practice

We have a sound knowledge of legislation relating to looked after children and young people. We know and understand the relevant legislation, guidance and codes of practice and we ensure all of our staff comply with these. We effectively fulfil our statutory duties in a way that ensures all looked after children and young people, whether they are living at home, away from home or in kinship care arrangements are well cared for and achieve positive outcomes.

Example of working practices which led to improved outcomes:

Effective progress has been made where work with looked after children and young people is underpinned by a corporate parenting policy developed in consultation with young people and implemented effectively by managers and staff across services. Elected members and chief officers understand what questions they need to ask about looked after children to ensure they are being effective corporate parents.

Signposts to very good practice

Our work has a very positive impact on the lives of looked after children, whether they are living at home, away from home or in kinship care arrangements. Looked after children achieve their full potential as successful learners, confident individuals, responsible citizens and effective contributors.

All of our looked after children and young people benefit from universal services such as education and health care services, including GP services, dentists and opticians. They can access these services without discrimination. When they need specialist services and therapies to meet their individual needs, these are provided promptly. They are, and feel they are, safe, healthy, nurtured, achieving, active, respected, responsible and included. All of our looked after children and young people benefit from regular contact with their social worker or other lead professional. They have the chance to build relationships with consistent adults who get to know them well.

Every looked after children or young person has a care plan, to which they have contributed, which clearly sets out desired outcomes and how these are to be achieved. All of our looked after children and young people are fully involved in decisions which affect them. They have opportunities to give their views and get the support and advocacy they need to do so. Their views are listened to and respected and children are confident they are taken seriously.

Example of working practices which led to positive action:

The Having Your Say Forum gives looked after young people a voice and a way of influencing policy and service developments. A number of groups operate within the Forum for different ages of looked after children and young people. Representatives from each age range meet to exchange ideas and consider the impact of services on children who are looked after in different settings. They are effectively supported to ensure their views are heard and understood by elected members and senior managers across services.

Signposts to very good practice

Parents, carers and families of looked after children are confident that they are respected, treated equally and fairly and encouraged to become involved in their children’s development.

Children benefit from support provided by well-integrated services. Parents, carers and families of looked after children are encouraged to contact services about relevant issues about their children and to become involved in appropriate activities with services and in the community. They support their children’s progress through participation at appropriate meetings and forums. They feel supported to take responsibility for key aspects of their children’s development, safety and health, where appropriate. Parents are confident that their views are taken seriously.

Parents, carers and families are confident that they are kept well informed on issues affecting their children’s development, health and safety. We encourage and support them to work in partnership with services to meet the needs of looked after children, whether they are living at home, away from home or in kinship care arrangements.

Example of working practices which led to improved outcomes:

Support to extended family members is underpinned by a coherent kinship care strategy, which a number of services worked together to implement. This increases the number of looked after children who are able to grow up within their own families and communities when their parents are no longer able to care for them. Support includes financial help and advice about benefits and entitlements; prompt access to nursery placements and after school care; transport to and from school; provision of leisure passes and ongoing emotional support from professional staff and other carers.

Signposts to very good practice

We are very successful at sustaining high quality services for looked after children, whether they are living at home, away from home or in kinship care arrangements. We have clear strategies based on GIRFEC, which take sufficient account of the need to be a good corporate parent. We have clear protocols and agreements across the community planning partners and within individual organisations on lines of responsibility and accountability for looked after children.

We take account of resource implications and regularly review and evaluate our work with looked after children. We implement our policies and plans with a clear focus on outcomes and impact on looked after children, their carers and families. All of our staff understand their responsibilities as corporate parents and are engaged in promoting services to looked after children, their carers and families.

We work in a child-centred way, promote school attendance and attainment, make additional arrangements to overcome disadvantage and encourage participation in the broadest sense. Each looked after child has a named person with lead responsibility for monitoring their progress. Our services ensure that the life outcomes of looked after children mirror those of their peers.

We have clear and effective links between all the partners acting as the corporate parent. Partnership and collaborative working is very effective and productive across all the services involved with looked after children. We are clearly guided by a shared commitment to meeting the needs of looked after children and sharing responsibility for them. Looked after children clearly benefit from better and more integrated service provision.

Example of working practices which led to improved outcomes:

The health of looked after children and young people has been prioritised and promoted through the provision of dedicated nurses or health teams. These ensure that all children and young people are offered a comprehensive health assessment within a short time of becoming looked after. Looked after children’s nurses promptly follow up any health issues identified, to ensure each child gets the services they need to meet their particular needs. This includes services to address any emotional or mental health difficulties and access to appropriate advice about sexual health and relationships.

Signposts to very good practice

Partner organisations have developed a collaborative strategic framework for corporate parenting, within which joint working can be established and flourish. We encourage staff, looked after children and other stakeholders to be involved in the strategic planning and commissioning of services for looked after children and young people receiving through care and aftercare services Our service level agreements are established at a strategic level and are monitored and evaluated across all partner organisations to ensure a positive impact for looked after children. Multi-disciplinary partnerships work very effectively and successfully promote corporate parenting. Shared protocols and clear remits, lines of communication and accountability characterise the approach to corporate parenting.

Example of working practices which led to improved outcomes:

Looked after young people receive carefully considered support to help them make the transition to adulthood. Outcomes for young care leavers have been improved by local authorities, voluntary organisations and Housing Associations working together to ensure sufficient accommodation options to meet each young person’s particular needs. Options range from accommodation only, suitable for young people with an established support network, to supported accommodation with a high level of help and supervision for more vulnerable young people. Joint allocation panels meet regularly to consider all accommodation requests and ensure the best resource for each young person is made available at the right time.

Signposts to very good practice

Our leaders work closely together to make transparent evidence-based decisions and ensure that the provision and allocation of resources to services for looked after children meets their needs.

Partners have a clear strategic planning framework which balances budgets, asset management, human and other resources with the needs of looked after children, whether they are living at home, away from home or in kinship care arrangements.

We regularly review the services within our area and ensure there are sufficient resources to meet the demands on services for looked after children Our financial regulations and procedures allow us to meet the immediate and long-term needs of looked after children.

Example of working practices which led to improved outcomes:

Managers agreed a ‘Talent Fund’ to support looked after children in particular areas of interest, such as music and sports activities. The fund can be accessed quickly, without cumbersome bureaucracy. This ensures that looked after children can have the same experiences as other children of similar age. Using the Fund reduces the stigma of being looked after and does much to build children’s confidence, self-esteem and resilience. It helps learning, improves social skills and encourages the development of healthy peer relationships.

Signposts to very good practice

As leaders in partner organisations we show strong commitment to corporate parenting of looked after children. We have a clear understanding of the national context and provide strong leadership in improving outcomes for looked after children, whether they are living at home, away from home or in kinship care arrangements. We know how many children are looked after and why they are looked after. We are confident that they are safe and we know how well they are doing. We share a determination to develop services of the highest quality for looked after children and we target resources appropriately to meet their needs. We promote a culture of robust self-evaluation, leading to agreed priorities and actions to secure further improvement to outcomes for looked after children.

We have a shared view of what we are trying to achieve for our looked after children. Together, we ensure services across community planning partnerships are scrutinised to ensure monitoring, integrated working and continuous improvement in services for looked after children. We ensure all services are able to protect, support and encourage looked after children to realise their individual potential.

We are committed to ensuring that the strategic planning of services empowers staff to realise our aspirations for services which meet the needs of looked after children. We individually champion the needs of our looked after children.

Example of working practices which led to improved outcomes:

Where Children’s Champion schemes or similar have been established, senior managers or elected members take an active role in overseeing care and planning arrangements for specific looked after children. Children’s Champions ensure that each looked after child receives the support they need when they need it. They are highly effective at overcoming barriers to decision-making and the provision of services. By directly involving managers from across Council services, commitment towards corporate responsibility for looked after children is embedded and shared. This leadership and direction by senior managers sends a clear message to staff and children about the high priority for looked after children and young people and the drive to improve their outcomes.