There was submitted a report by the Director of Children’s Services relative to the formation and development of a Youth Commission.  

The report intimated that the Council’s Youth Services had supported the formation and development of a Youth Commission focussing on young people and mental health.  The report provided a summary of the work and achievements of the Youth Commission since its establishment and identified the next stage of its work, on mental health issues for young people, before it submitted its findings and recommendations to the Council and key partners in May/June 2018.
 
DECIDED:

(a)  That the progress made by the Renfrewshire Youth Commission be noted; and

(b)  That it be noted that a report would be provided to a future meeting of the Board containing draft recommendations from the Youth Commissioners on how young people’s mental health could be safeguarded and improved in Renfrewshire.

There was submitted a report by the Director of Children’s Services relative to the Scottish Government’s designation of 2018 as the Year of Young People.

The report intimated that throughout 2018 the Scottish Government, local authorities and other partners were planning to deliver a range of activities and events which would address the six themes identified by young people as most important to them: participation; education; health and wellbeing; equality and discrimination; enterprise and regeneration; and culture.  

DECIDED:

(a)  That it be noted that 2018 had been designated by the Scottish Government as the Year of Young People; 

(b)  That it be noted that Renfrewshire Youth Services would be leading and facilitating a year of celebrating young people across the authority in partnership with young people and local youth work agencies and services across a range of sectors and locations; and 

(c)  That a Renfrewshire Year of Young People 2018 activity calendar be created on the Young Scot Young Renfrewshire portal and council social media, showcasing local talent and contributions made by young people, emphasising their role as creators and curators of their stories and achievements and not just passive consumers of services.

There was submitted a report by the Director of Children’s Services relative to the inspection of St Fillan’s Primary School, Houston by Education Scotland.     

The report intimated that the purpose of the inspection was to evaluate the quality of education, with the assessment focussing on four quality indicators: leadership of change; learning, teaching and assessment; raising attainment and achievement; and ensuring wellbeing, equality and inclusion.

The letter to parents, appended to the report, identified four key strengths and three areas for further improvement.  Children’s Services would continue to monitor improvement in the school and the inspection report would be used by the school and service to support and develop the quality of educational provision.  

DECIDED:    That the key strengths and the areas for improvement in the Education Scotland report on St Fillan’s Primary School, Houston be noted.

There was submitted a report by the Director of Children's Services relative to the annual report of Renfrewshire Council’s Adoption and Fostering Panels 2016/17. 
  
The annual report, attached as an appendix to the report, set out the work that had been dealt with by the Adoption and Fostering Panels between 1 October 2016 to 31 September 2017 and set it in the context of the broader issues pertaining to looked after and accommodated children. The report made reference to the progress being made regarding Renfrewshire’s own foster carers with two new carer households being approved in 2016/17.     
    
The report also detailed the future work of the panels, the continued work on improving timescales for adoptive placements, the outcome of the inspection of the Fostering and Adoption Service by the Care Inspectorate and provided details of the ongoing project being undertaken in partnership with Who Cares? Scotland relative to building relationships with looked after young people before starting to engage in awareness-raising work with the wider school community, pupils, teachers and parents.   

The Children's Services Manager gave a presentation on the work of the Panels in ensuring that the work undertaken to assess children's long term care needs and the assessment of potential carers was carried out to the highest standard.

DECIDED:

(a)  That the contents of the Fostering and Adoption Annual Report 2016/17 be noted; and

(b)  That the continuing partnership with Who Cares? Scotland on issues relating to care-experienced young people be noted.