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THROUGHCARE AND AFTERCARE OF LOOKED AFTER CHILDREN IN SCOTLAND
ANNEX G Lead Implementation Officer: Roles and Responsibilities
Background
Since 1996 with the implementation of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995, local authorities have had clear duties under Section 29 to advise guide and assist any young person in their area under 19 who was in care when he or she left school or at any subsequent time, unless they are convinced that his/her welfare does not require it.
In addition new powers to strengthen throughcare and aftercare, introduced under the Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001, reinforce local authority obligations in respect of young people leaving care. Local authorities will be required to carry out individual needs assessments. In doing so and maintaining a record of this, local authorities will incur an obligation to meet those needs. In addition, certain Department of Work and benefits will be withdrawn from some of those young people.
The Throughcare and Aftercare Working Group (the Working Group) has considered the implications for ensuring parity in terms of quality, service standards and outcomes for young people leaving care.
There is a need to ensure that sufficient measures are in place across local authorities in Scotland to provide equal access/consistency of service provision to young people leaving care. In order to meet this target it will be necessary to ensure that local infrastructures are consistent across the country and are "fit for the purpose". Adequate support systems must be put in place/improved, as required. Core responsibilities and minimum standards will be issued in accompanying guidance.
The Working Group will report their findings and recommendations to the Minister for Education and Young People in July 2002. Consultation will follow. An Implementation Plan has been produced which requires local authorities to confirm arrangements are in place across a range of identified functions, prior to full implementation of the new financial regulations in April 2004.
Lead Implementation Officer
Each local authority has identified a lead officer who will be responsible for ensuring the successful implementation of these new responsibilities. The Lead Implementation Officer will liaise with the Scottish Executive and the Working Group on a regular basis. Joint meetings will be held at key stages of implementation with opportunities to discuss progress or any difficulties encountered. A number of core themes have emerged that will require to be considered at a local level by the Lead Implementation Officer and jointly at a national level by the Lead Implementation Officer's Group and the Working Group. The following questions are those we would expect Lead Implementation Officers to address and take forward.
Infrastructure
Are current arrangements sufficient to ensure quality services are provided to young people leaving care in his/her area?
What systems are in place to ensure young people have a choice as to whom within the local authority is their contact for accessing support? (i.e. ensuring there is a safety net for those young people estranged from the looked after system)
Where appropriate, does the local authority have a discrete leaving care service/team in place?
Are current arrangements sufficient to absorb new responsibilities in relation to assessments, ongoing contact and support arrangements for young people?
What, if any, service and/or resource changes will need to be made?
Are adequate Inter-agency planning structures in place, including Social Work, Education, Housing Providers, Careers, Health the Voluntary Sector, etc.?
Systems
Are current information systems/databases up to date and capable of identifying the young people who meet the criteria for support?
Are current payment systems robust enough to deal with BACS bank payment systems and/or cash payments where required?
Will systems enable "tracking" of young people and identifying outcomes?
Will systems "flag" when young people are no longer eligible for financial support (get jobs, resettle at home, etc.)?
Are current systems sufficient to identify whether Performance indicators have been achieved? (core Performance indicators to be included in guidance)
Assessment
Are current assessment frameworks appropriate to assess the needs of young people leaving care?
(a) to return home?
(b) to live independently?
Is there a need to update/revise materials?
Are materials/processes multi-disciplinary in approach?
Is there a need to develop a financial assessment tool?
Are young people views/preference central to current assessment processes?
Have the views/preferences of young people been taken into account in developing assessment frameworks?
Is there a need to develop a joint protocol/reciprocal arrangements with other local authorities?
Complaints
Are complaints procedures responsive, easily understood by young people and do they promote speedy resolutions?
Will current procedures suffice or will new ones need to be created?
Young people should not be penalised in their support whilst awaiting resolution of complaints processes. The authority will be required to make emergency payments available as an interim arrangement. Are current systems adequate to cope with such circumstances?
Do young people who wish to make complaints have access to Children's Rights/Advocacy workers?
Disputes
Inter-authority/inter-agency disputes will be dealt with within current National procedures in those few cases where local resolution is not possible.
Have protocols for resolving such disputes been developed locally?
Young People
Are all young people leaving care are aware of the implications for them of the proposed developments, including where appropriate benefit withdrawal?
Does your local authority have sufficient mechanisms in place to ensure that all young people have genuine opportunity to contribute to consultation on proposed developments?
Have young people been helped to express their views about the proposed changes and if they wish, to become involved in the proposed consultation exercises?
Are young people aware of their rights?
Have the views of young people been sought in relation to e.g. the nature of their involvement in consultation exercises/publicity materials, etc.?
Training
TAWG will provide guidance on National training tools relating to assessing aftercare needs, resolution procedures and finance.
Have all appropriate local authority staff received training on all of the above plus any information systems put in place locally?
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