Agenda item

Councillor Jeff Brooks introduced the item, Children’s Services External Placements which he and Councillors David Allen, Tony Vickers, Roger Hunneman, Alan Macro had called in. The report had been agreed at the 08 May 2014 Executive meeting.

Councillor Brooks stated that whilst he supported the ‘invest to save’ concept in relation to the proposals, he asked that the decision to employ a Social Media Administrator and an increased advertising budget, together totalling £200,000 over 4 years, be scrutinised.

Mark Evans explained that the proposal was part of a larger project which aimed to increase the number of local foster carers thereby enabling children to remain local. The current arrangements relied upon the service of independent foster carers, which was expensive and involved the child being located far from their school.

The Commission heard that currently 99 children were placed with local foster carers at a cost of £1.5 million and 27 children were placed with independent foster carers at a cost of £1.2 million. Mark Evans highlighted the vast difference between placement costs and stated that the project also aimed to provide better quality care.

Mark Evans stressed that the foster care market was extremely competitive. The Fostering Network, a charity representing foster carers’ and children in foster care’s interests, issued a press release on the 25 May 2014 reemphasising the need to recruit younger foster carers as many existing foster carers were reaching the end of their foster care career. The marketing campaign aimed to encourage a wider demographic of local foster carers with a specific set of skills in order to support more challenging foster care cases. Mark Evans stated that the most effective way to reach potential new foster careers was via social media. Advertising via social media was proven to be successful as demonstrated within Hampshire County Council and other local authorities.

Mark Evans explained that the cost of £200,000 over the course of 4 years should be considered in the wider context of the £4 million budget to deliver care.

Councillor Irene Neill explained that the paper detailed the launch of the project and that currently it was not possible to provide the job description for the Social Media Administrator. The process for developing the specific job description would take place in due course.

Councillor Jeff Brook felt that the proposal over looked the current skills available within the Council‘s Communications Team and encouraged isolated working between the two. He felt that the item could be considered in more detail if the job descriptions were available.

Councillor Emma Webster advised that she researched the item in advance of the meeting. In her opinion the placement of a Social Media Administrator within the service enabled detailed and informative responses to enquiries, as it was often the case that the Officer had a greater understanding of the team and service.

Councillor Webster proposed that the details of the call-in did not require further scrutiny. Councillor Quentin Webb concurred with Councillor Webster, the intention of the role was clear and required the support from the Commission in order to deliver a function which would enhance the service.

Steve Duffin explained that local foster carers cost roughly £20,000 per placement per year; independent fostering agencies cost the Council approximately £37,000 per year. The reason 27 children had been placed with independent foster carers was due to the shortage of local foster carers. By recruiting two additional foster carers the savings would cover the costs of the Social Media Administrator role. The Commission heard that it was beneficial if children were placed with local foster carers for reasons aside from the financial impact.

Councillor Hunneman asked whether the proposal considered uniting the campaign with other Local Authorities. Mark Evans advised that the option was considered but the nature of the recruitment was competitive and required concentrated, local advertisements.

Councillor Hunneman asked whether the role would be reviewed for its effectiveness. Mark Evans stated that the service constantly reviewed the effectiveness of recruitment and the proposed role would form part of the reviews.

Councillor Webster proposed that the role was reviewed in 12 months time to gauge effectiveness and ascertain the savings delivered. The Commission was encouraged to look at page 35 of the agenda which stated that the service would not expect to see savings from a reduction in the use of independent foster carers for 2 years post implementation. If the Commission was minded to scrutinise the savings delivered by the role then it was suggested that the activity had a regard to the savings forecasted longer term.

Councillor Paul Bryant felt that the details of the job description were required in order to fully consider the proposal. Rachael Wardell explained that the job description would be in place before the role was advertised and that an operational process existed to ensure the service recruited appropriately.

The Commission voted on the matter, there were four abstentions received and seven votes in favour of the proposal.

Resolved that

·         The item would return to the Commission in 12 months post implementation to review the effectiveness and savings delivered by the Social Media Administrator.