Contact: Sue Kocaman. 01962 847263 [email protected]

1 Summary

1.1 The following decisions are sought:

That the Executive Lead Member for Children's Services notes the recommendations of the Commission for Social Care Inspection, and the resulting action plan in respect of the County fostering service, and invites a further report in July 2006 confirming that appropriate action has been taken to improve services.

2 Reason(s)

The purpose of the inspection is to ensure that the fostering service meets the needs of our most vulnerable children. The service supports aims one, four and five of the Corporate Strategy by:

2.1 Maximising life opportunities for children who are looked after by ensuring that good quality family based care placements are provided for Hampshire's children resulting in good outcomes for children who are looked after.

2.2 Building strong and safe communities by enabling children who are looked after to remain in their local communities and to fully participate in and contribute to the life of those communities.

2.3 Improving services by providing a benchmark against which Hampshire can improve its performance and continually develop the service.

2.4 The inspection process and resulting recommendations support all five outcomes required in `Every Child Matters' and the Children Act 2004, by ensuring that services are managed safely and provide safe care for children; that children's health needs are met and promoted, and that they are encouraged and enabled to achieve their educational potential, at all stages of their lives and into adulthood. The service should promote the development of leisure and social activities which enable all children to participate fully in the life of the community, and should enable children who have special needs, physical or emotional. to be able to access services which will enable them to become as independent as possible and to move into careers and employment which will be rewarding and fulfilling.

3 Other options considered and rejected

3.1 That no further report is requested to ensure that appropriate improvements have been made - this would be unacceptable and may leave vulnerable children at risk.

4 Conflicts of Interest declared by the decision-maker or a member for officer consulted

4.1 Not applicable.


5 Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee

5.1 Not applicable.


6 Reason(s) for the matter being dealt with if urgent

6.1 Not applicable.

Approved by: Date:

Councillor Felicity Hindson

Executive Member for Children's Services