Islington's Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee has agreed to focus its upcoming scrutiny review on looked-after children, with a particular emphasis on fostering. The decision was made during a meeting on Monday, June 29, 2026.
Following extensive discussion, the committee agreed that looked-after children and fostering presented a topic with sufficient scope for a meaningful review. This was partly informed by discussions around the Paradise Park Children's Centre closure and a broader performance report, which highlighted the importance of services for children and young people. Potential areas of focus include the recruitment and retention of foster carers, the stability of placements, costs, transitions to adulthood, and support for young people in residential care.
Current Challenges and Capacity
The scrutiny review will delve into current challenges within Islington's fostering system. These include concerns about the recruitment and retention of foster carers, the stability of placements, and the associated costs. Support for young people transitioning to adulthood and those in residential care will also be examined.
Councillor Oliur Rahman noted that Islington currently has 295 looked-after children, with 121 directly council-supported foster carers. However, over 100 children are fostered through private agencies, suggesting a potential reliance on external providers. The closure of Paradise Park Children's Centre also raised concerns about finding suitable alternatives for children, particularly those with additional needs, which indirectly impacts the broader care system.
Demographics and Timeline
While the meeting information does not explicitly detail specific demographics or age groups of greater concern within the looked-after children population for the fostering review, broader concerns were raised in other discussions. In the context of the Youth Safety Strategy, attention was drawn to Black young men and White young men from deprived backgrounds,
as well as young women and girls regarding sexual exploitation and violence.
Discussions on Child Protection Plans also highlighted our older cohort and particularly girls
and the nought to five where we've seen, where we've seen some rise there
as areas requiring attention.
The committee's work programme for 2026-27 includes a Scrutiny Review Final Report
scheduled for March 2027. However, specific timelines for the commencement and completion of the review's findings are not yet detailed.
The committee's agenda and public reports pack for the meeting can be found at Agenda frontsheet 29th Jun 2026 and Public reports pack 29th Jun 2026.
