Agenda

Purpose

This report will provide information about the development of the Regional Care Co-operative (RCC) Pathfinder.  This is a Department for Education (DfE) funded project to encourage local authorities (LAs) to work together more closely on the commissioning and procurement of placements for children we care for.

Purpose

a)    This report will provide information on our work to support children who are in our care to return home to a parent in a planned way where safe to do so. The Going Home approach is an extension of our Family Safeguarding model of practice and has developed and evolved in response to the learning and outcomes for the children and families and involved in reunification.

b)    Portsmouth City Council's Going Home work is based on the knowledge that many children and young people in care have a wish to return to their birth families. Often they will gravitate towards families after leaving care or make contact while in care themselves, including using social media. But this is typically unplanned and takes place without resolving the issues that led to the child being taken into care in the first place.

c)    This report will update on children and families who have been supported with a Going Home plan during the period of January 2023 to May 2024.