Decision type: Key

Reason Key: Partnership involving transfer of Council services or element of risk transfer;

Decision status: For Determination

Wards affected: (All Wards);

Notice of proposed decision first published: 06/10/2017

Decision due: 22 Feb 2018 by Council

Lead member: Executive Lead for Adults

Lead director: Director of Children's Services

Contact: Amy Lawrence Email: amy.lawrence@torbay.gov.uk, Anne Osborne, Assistant Director - Children's Safeguarding Email: anne.osborne@torbay.gov.uk.

Consultation process

Consultees

Reason for inclusion in Forward Plan: The RAA will improve Improve the number of placements available for harder to place/ priority children through the cumulative impact of 5 strategies; Improve timescales for second time adopter assessments with access to the original assessment and update the changes since the last approval. The target is to complete this in 3 months. See a higher conversion rate from enquiry to approval of prospective adopters through a Marketing and recruitment contract focussed on quality of adopters and the quality of early assessment to create a larger pool of quality adopters. The target is a 10% improvement in the conversion rate. Early identification of children with potential adoption plans through improvement and consistency in joint working, attending permanence planning meetings / gateway meetings / tracking meetings and regular consultation with Team Managers / Social Workers in the authorities to identify children at the earliest opportunity. The target is for Children to be li

Key Risks: Staffing costs, 1% pay award and pension contribution increases from 1/4/18 Addressing current and consistent pressures in forecasting the RAA base budget, primarily the Inter agency fees Contract tenders and the price they may come back at can only be estimated Performance improvements leading to increased activity without growing staffing

If you want to make representations contact:: Anne Osborne, Assistant Director, Children's Services, Tor Hill House, Torquay, telephone 01803 208949, email anne.osborne@torbay.gov.uk