Children & Young People's Strategic Partnership Minutes

Agenda Items covered in this meeting include:
1. Background regarding progress, update from the Chair of the Partnership
2. Feedback from the Writing Group
3. Links to Young People
4. Terms of Reference
5. Mapping Exercise

Present: Debbie Jones, Head of Service, Durham SSD Children Families, David Shipman, Operations Manager, Durham SSD, Lucy Wheatley, Strategic Health Authority, Susan Forster, Easington Primary Care Trust, Brian Brown, Sure Start, Peterlee, Mark Gurney, Operations Manager, Durham SSD, David Landes, Durham Dales Primary Care Trust, Sue Everton, Teenage Pregnancy Coordinator, Tony Taylor, Connexions, Malcolm Pitt, Sure Start, Stanley, Mary Evans, NCH, Brian Key, Durham & Chester-le-Street PCT, Nick Tzamarias, Derwentside District Council, Tony Guest, Sedgefield Borough Council, Paul Salter, Children North East, Frank Firth, Education Department, Peter Burns, Cultural Services, Maggie Bosanquet, Sustainability DCC, Avril Tully, DISC, Mark Cain, Priority Services Trust, CAMHS.

Apologies: David Miller, Sustainability DCC, B. Bangol, Sedgefield Borough Council, Mark Weeding, DISC/One Voice, J. Ewen, Barnardos/NCVCCO, N. Malkin, Police, K. Vasey, Sedgefield PCT, Clare Tucker,IIC, Ewen Weir, Darlington, Colin McBride, Derwentside District Council, Judith Latheron, Barnardos, Liam Cairns,IIC, Janice Bray, Connexions, Isobel Porter, NSPCC, Helen Tucker, Derwentside PCT, Harry Cronin, Co.Durham & Darlington Priority Services Trust, Moira Luccok,NCH.

1. Background re: Progress from Debbie Jones (Chair of meeting)
Background papers circulated, context described.

• Green Paper re: future of Children’s Services in New Year 03, indicated in Alan Milburn’s speech in October.
• Proposals approved by Co Durham Strategic Partnership and Cabinet - CYPSP has mandate and formal framework.
• Meeting discussed links with LSP’s and overlap with PCT’s - main LSP steering group, subgroups, link officers.
• 'Serving Children Well' can be accessed on www.lga.gov.uk or Tel 0207 6643131.
• Meeting discussed the fact that, at this stage it was clarified that a position has not been taken by the LA in relation to Children’s Trusts. Implications of Children National Service Framework acknowledged, along with imminent findings of the Laming Report re: Victoria Climbie/child protection and 'Safeguarding Children' report.

2. Feedback from the Writing Group

• Lucy Wheatley described the membership and action taken at the first meeting.
• Meeting discussed importance of inclusion of locally determined activity as well as national / county-level determined agenda.
• Need to identify the range of ‘givens / must do requirements’ and shared targets / outcomes, with all partners.
• Next step will be to develop the outline for the Children’s Services Plan. (LW/DS to update).

3. Links to Young People
David Shipman outlined the work being carried out with Investing in Children and the forthcoming session with an IIC group in December. He reiterated that the intention is to link with and build on local activity. IIC have offered support / advice to agencies and localities as requested.

The young people in the IIC group will explore options re: links with the Writing Group and with the Children & Young Peoples Partnership. A larger county-wide event will be planned in relation to the Children’s Services Plan (DS/LW to update).

4. Terms of Reference
A draft document was circulated and extensive discussion ensued around the following issues:

• Should be about all children.
• Should include parents / carers as explicit stakeholders.
• Emphasis should be on preventative services, to achieve specific outcomes.
• The ‘Aim’ should be simplified.
• Wider membership to be considered re: universal services.
• Must incorporate fact that its responsive to local needs.
• Terms of Reference underpinned by Vision / intended outcomes work.

(LW/DS to do further work with Writing Group to re-draft Terms of Reference, and re circulate to next Partnership meeting).

5. Mapping Exercise
Lucy Wheatley circulated a mapping grid for Partnership members to complete and return to her at Appleton House.

6. Date of Next Meeting
21 January 2003, 4.30pm, County Hall.

7. Dates for Future Meetings
25th February 2003
25th March 2003
20th May 2003
15th July 2003
16th September 2003
18th November 2003