ON Tuesday (19 July) the Corporate Parenting Committee at Thurrock Council met and discussed the Council’s improving record on children’s social care. The total number of Looked After Children in Thurrock has fallen to 288 (May 2022), a level which is 20% lower than the expected average for a local authority like Thurrock.
The Children’s Social Care Performance Report laid out a successful record of supporting Thurrock’s most-vulnerable children. Conservative councillors know that the best way of helping children in care is to provide security both financially and emotionally so that these children can grow-up into local success stories and overcome their unfortunate backgrounds. A total of 122 children left the Council’s care between April 2021 and March 2022. Whilst the Conservative Group are happy to see these children move on from the Council’s care our councillors are pushing hard both in Cabinet and in Committees to make sure that this transition is not being denied to others through unfair court delays.
Cllr Adam Carter (Chadwell St Mary’s), said: “This is a particularly personal topic for me as somebody who grew up as a looked after child in Thurrock, which is why I can see the clear improvements in the service. There have been a number of really positive changes in the way the Council helps Looked After Children and I am glad to see the number of children being brought into care this year dropped as part of a sustained fall. Clearly the Council’s approach to creating more jobs and enriching our community is working out. Now we need to find solutions to NHS delays on Initial Health Assessments and court date backlogs.”
Cllr Barry Johnson (Cabinet Member for Children’s Social Care & Education) said: “I am exceptionally proud of the improvements this Conservative Administration has made to children’s social care, a vital public service. At the end of the day we have to make sure that these safety nets exist to protect vulnerable children in our communities and that all children’s services work together to identity and protect these children and young people. Thankfully, we have Cllr Adam Carter leading the charge on this Committee and making sure that the Council is setting realistic goals for improving outcomes.”
