Agenda item - Working Together to Support Parents with a Learning Disability, Learning Difficulty and Autism

Report of the Executive Director for Families, Children & Learning (copy attached).

16.1      RESOLVED:

(1)       That the report be noted and it be agreed that the content fulfils the response to the Fairness Commission;

(2)       That it be noted that the joint protocol (appendix 1 to the report), had been established between Children and Adult’s Services with regards to services to parents with learning disabilities. It was also noted that the Protocol was awaiting feedback from a key stakeholder and it was planned to go live as of the week ending 14^th July;

(3)       That the services and support provided to parents who have learning disabilities to enable their parenting be noted; and

(4)       That a further report be brought to the Board in 2018/19 following a review by the Children and Adult Safeguarding Boards.

16.1      The Service Manager for the Community Learning Disability team for Adults, Families, Children and Learning introduced the report, which provided an update on the development of joint work between Children and Adult Services to support parents in Brighton and Hove who have a learning disability.  He noted that the report also addressed the points raised by the Fairness Commission in relation to the ability of Adults and Children Services to work together to provide a needs led service to families to help support them.

16.2      The Head of Service, Children’s Safeguarding & Care stated that a joint protocol had been established and work was underway to develop practice guidance that would sit beneath the protocol and to have shared resources to meet the needs of those with learning disabilities.  She also noted that a multi-agency audit was due in 2018/19 and a further report would then be brought to the Board.

16.3      Members of the Board welcomed the report and the actions that had been put in place and noted that options to work with the University of Sussex and the Norah Fry Centre in Bristol.   They also noted the support from Impetus and that the concerns of the Chief Executive of Impetus regarding how commitments would be put in place to meet the needs of parents with learning difficulties had been addressed.  The Members of the Board also welcomed the intention to bring a further report back in due course as it provided the opportunity to monitor the impact of the changes that had been and were being made to the service.

16.4      The Chair noted the comments and put the recommendations to the vote with an additional recommendation that a further report be brought to the Board after the Adult and Children’s Safeguarding Review Boards review.

16.5      Councillor Barford formally seconded the additional recommendation moved by the Chair.

16.6      RESOLVED:

(1)       That the report be noted and it be agreed that the content fulfils the response to the Fairness Commission;

(2)       That it be noted that the joint protocol (appendix 1 to the report), had been established between Children and Adult’s Services with regards to services to parents with learning disabilities. It was also noted that the Protocol was awaiting feedback from a key stakeholder and it was planned to go live as of the week ending 14^th July;

(3)       That the services and support provided to parents who have learning disabilities to enable their parenting be noted; and

(4)       That a further report be brought to the Board in 2018/19 following a review by the Children and Adult Safeguarding Boards.