Yvette Stanley, Director of Children, Schools and Families (CSF) noted that most items had been picked-up elsewhere on the agenda.  However, she noted:

·         Merton’s improvement in care proceedings having moved from being one of the worst performing in London, to best performing over the last 5 years with an average duration of 25 weeks;

·         Merton’s adoption score card remains better than the threshold using the provisional figures currently available;

·         The Family Drug and Alcohol Court is just launching to provide intensive support in parallel with the care proceeding process; and

·         A Social Impact Bond aims to provide systematic therapeutic treatment to keep families together and prevent children from being taken into care.