Children & Young People's Strategic Partnership

Agenda Items covered in this meeting include:
1. Minutes of Last Meeting
2. Matters Arising
3. CYPSP: The Way Forward
4. Mapping Exercise, initial high level scoping
5. Update & Issues raised/discussion points regarding: Children’s Fund, IRT, Local Preventative Strategy, Sure Start Children’s Centres, Youth Engagement Serivice
6. Any Other Business
7. Date of Next Meeting

Present: Judith Tuck, Operations Director – DISC, Lynne Gregory, LSS/Education, Janice Bray, Connexions County Durham, Gail Hopper, Head of Children’s Services, Social Care & Health, Paul Hebron, DCC – Education, Gail Thompson, Tackling Teenage Pregnancy Co-ordinator,, County Durham, Sharon Bartram, Community Development Team Leader,, District of Easington, Ann Armstrong, Durham County Council – Corporate Policy, Steve Clark, Youth Strategy Co-ordinator, District of Easington, Tricia Cresswell, Durham & Chester le Street, PCT, Mary Hall, Wear Valley LSP, Fiona Callaghan, Sure Start Wear Valley East, Gill Eshelby, Deputy Head, County Durham Youth Engagement Service, Christina Blythe, CDYES, Amanda Johnson, Head of Education Services, Education, Martin Armitage, Head of Children’s Services Easington PCT, Brian Brown, Sure Start, Peterlee, Carole Payne, Social Care and Health, Eva Alexandratou, CYPSP, Louise Charlton, Priory Services NHS Trust, Mark Gurney, Social Care and Health, Liam Cairns, Investing in Children, Ann Beeton, Children’s Fund, Philippa Scott, Centrepoint, David Landes, Durham Dales PCT, Patsy Fullen, Durham Children’s Fund, Kath Vasey, Sedgefield PCT, David Miller, Environment Service DCC, Judy Lomas, Corporate Services.

Apologies: Isobel Porter, Children’s Society, Marion Dilley, County Durham & Darlington Health Authority, Family Services Directorate Manager (nb: is leaving post Catherine Hodgkiss will be replacement), George Osborne, Police, Lesley Crawford, County Durham & Darlington Health Authority, MHSOP & CAMHS, Judith Latherton, Barnardos, Denis Robinson, NCH, Austin McNamara, Learning Skills Council, Harry Cronin, Director of Mental Health Nursing, County, Durham & Darlington Priority Services NHS Trust, Debbie Edwards, Co Durham & Tees Valley Health Authority, David Cliffe, Durham Drugs Action Team , Mark Weeding, DISC.

1. Minutes of Last Meeting Minutes

• Correction page 3 – Christina Blythe’s comment on the LGA response to Youth Justice was more comprehensive and less negative than represented.
• Correction page 5 – The review of County Durham & Tees Valley Mental Health Services should read Mental Health and Learning Disabilities Specialist Review.

2. Matters Arising

• NSF – no further information available yet.
• ‘Choosing Health’ – Tricia Cresswell reported that work is taking place in patches through PCTs and that all involved have agreed to share the work done around.

3. CYPSP: The Way Forward

• The draft document ‘Every Child Matters in County Durham - The Way Forward’ was circulated.
• DJ introduced the presentation ‘Every Child Matters in County Durham’ the aim of which was to remind everyone of the Every Child Matters conference of 22 April 04 and inform regarding progress and developments in some areas. The presentation was given jointly by: Amanda Johnson, Carole Payne, Tricia Creswell, Lynne Gregory and Janice Bray (see attached copy), it included: the launch of the vision for children, young people and their families and the aims of:
  i) Involving, engaging and inspiring all towards an integrated vision of children’s services following the Green Paper and Children Bill.
  ii) To agree future CYPSP structure.
• Amanda Johnson presented the Vision section of the presentation, including responses to consultation, feedback and ‘what we do know already’.
• Carole Payne circulated a paper ‘Towards a Vision for Service’ which broadly summarised the feedback from group work carried out on the conference day. The questions asked were:
  i) What will the service required to deliver the Vision for Children, Young People and their Families look like? – To children, young people and their families? - To staff working in it?
  ii) How will you engage your staff in these developments?
  Carole clarified that the paper included the key issues needed for a one-service mentality and aimed to set the partnership off towards this vision. Carole commented that she hoped the paper was an accurate summary of the feedback on the day and could also be used as the kernel of a new service. In relation to the second consultation question Carole reported that some of the main issues were the need for clear messages & leadership, the need for clear communication, the need for honesty about the uncertainty, the importance of human resource management processes, and the need for synchronised planning. Carole also reported that the messages from feedback had been consistent and that there had been a great deal of enthusiasm.
• Tricia Creswell presented the next part of the presentation which included clarification of the CYPSP Action Learning Set and information regarding the ongoing work on Every Child Matters outcomes mapped against outcomes/priorities established by young people from Investing In Children, also the need to get to a point of collective ownership of targets.
• Debbie Jones asked if those present had any issues to raise and commented that staff on the ground are anxious to see proposals for the future.
• Amanda Johnson presented the ‘Towards a Commissioning Framework’ section of the presentation, which included defining commissioning, the development of a commissioning framework and proposed timescales. Amanda commented that the 2 words ‘quantity’ & ‘quality’ were missing from the ‘cloud’ slide and clarified that unless and until we get the commissioning framework right we will continue in silos. She talked about the importance of a shared definition, that ‘having to’ is a powerful incentive, that a powerful driver is the preventative strategy, the need to be future proof and the need for the people holding the purse strings to be brought together. It is expected that the Children Bill will be an Act in the autumn.

4. Mapping Exercise, Initial High Level Scoping

• Lynne Gregory’s papers ‘Children and Family Services Coordination / Integration Project / Local Preventative Strategy – Specification for Service Mapping’ & ‘Children and Young People’s Strategic Partnership – Mapping (Key Task iv)’ were circulated. Lynne referred to the mapping exercise mentioned at the last CYPSP meeting and emphasised that the mapping exercise is jointly owned. She reported that ultimately there will be costs and that the ECM project will probably ask for contributions in the future. Lynne’s section of the presentation included clarification of: mapping specification, the potential benefits, the role of the young people’s audit, boundaries, scope, the key tasks involved, the project management of the mapping exercise, and how people can be involved.
• Lynne informed the partnership that Eva Alexandratou, the newly appointed Partnership Development Officer, will collect the mapping information requested in key task iv to form the register of initiatives developments / partnerships and that all completed forms should be returned to Eva by 30 June 04.
• Key tasks 2, 3, 5, and 6 are much longer-term developments and the person leading this will be the IRT Project Development Officer linking in with the ECM Implementation team.
• Mapping discussion points – Regarding the scope of the mapping exercise outlined on page 3 of the Lynne’s report, Mark Gurney suggested further health organisations (University Hospital Sunderland, North Tees, Hartlepool) to be included, Lynne to meet with Mark and collect more information. David Miller asked if environment was going to be taken into account given County Council current investment and how this could be included in the mapping process. Lynne suggested this would be achieved through the demographic element but will check with Environment when the data is identified. She will also check on a similar basis with the Cultural Services Department. Debbie Jones emphasised that there is no desire to duplicate already existing information.
• Janice Bray presented the ‘Accountability’ section of the presentation including the current role of the partnership, where it fits currently, what needs to change, the proposed executive group, membership of that group (nb: it was suggested at the conference on 22 Apr that a representative from the voluntary sector should be included on the executive group), the probable increase in size of the partnership in general, and the role of the wider partnership, and the new identity for the partnership. Janice reported on the need to recognise the partnership and drew attention to the new Every Child Matters logo. She also welcomed the intelligence and knowledge partners bring to this group.
• Debbie Jones asked if anyone had anything to raise regarding ‘The Way Forward’, she raised 2 issues i) the chair of this Partnership and ii) the chair of the ACPC. Debbie informed the meeting that the link between the CYPSP and local Safeguarding Children Boards needed a more holistic approach and required those 2 bodies to work more closely together. Regarding the ACPC, project work has been set up to look at models as it is the expectation that we will be in the position to set up a Safeguarding Children Board by April next year. We need to make local links between the CYPSP and the local partnerships and to fit all initiatives and partnerships together. To this end we now have a Partnership Development Officer – Eva Alexandratou. Carole Payne formally introduced Eva, and informed the meeting that Eva is currently trying to meet with all partnership members. Eva has a timescale of 1½ months to meet and get feedback from all members. Carole also informed the meeting that Eva is in a unique position in that she has no particular allegiance therefore she needs support from everyone. Eva is also a critical link between this partnership and local partnerships.
• Correction to the ‘The Way Forward’ document, Appendix A, page 1, ‘County Durham Priorities for Children’ – ‘Downs screening’ should read ‘Downs Syndrome screening’.

5. Updates & issues raised and discussion points re: Children’s Fund, IRT, Local Preventative Strategy, Sure Start Children’s Centres, Youth Engagement Service

• Children’s Fund - Patsy Fullen reported that the Children’s Fund is currently in a strong position due to an under spend. Ann Beeton reported that plans are underway to talk to the LSPs regarding devolvement of funds. Devolvement is going to be calculated looking at age. A top slice amount will be made available to each LSP for development, and extra funding will be topped off based on numbers of children. This is waiting to be signed off by Government North East. Comments were made regarding the arrangements encouraging facilitating the development of LSPs, and the excellent job being done by local MPs and DCC Chief Executive Kingsley Smith. Tricia Cresswell also informed that in relation to devolvement of funds there will be very clear and explicit criteria. Debbie Jones requested a written report form the Children’s Fund for the CYPSP.
• IRT - Mark Gurney reported that meaningful planning arrangements are off the ground although there is still no project worker in post but the job will be advertised soon. Mark will be asking representatives from this partnership to meet sometime in June for a scoping half day to see what the job would require, he is looking for volunteers from PCTs etc and investment of resources. There will be a closure of the pilot IRT meeting tomorrow. In relation to consent and confidentiality Laura Dent is undertaking an audit. There will be a draft IRT strategy available shortly.
• Local Preventative Strategy - Not discussed.
• Sure Start Children’s Centres - Frank Firth reported that planning groups are coming into being and that memoranda of understanding are coming in but in different speeds from different areas. Implementation plans for the first centres were submitted yesterday for discussion with the regional team, policy development continues. 3 or 4 plans are to be sent to the Sure Start fund in London. Despite there being no hint when the strategic proposal was put in there is now a new emphasis around value for money instead of emphasis on 85 wards. There are concerns regarding West Cornforth, Burnhope, Thornley and South Hetton etc. Another discussion will take place on 8 June 04. It is possible that some of the first phase of Children’s Centres could serve a wider area and be termed rural e.g. Edmondsley and Sacriston. The demographic and geographical context of County Durham needs to be made better known and understood by Sure Start in London. Funding will be released after reports go to the Minister, Patricia Hodge, the date of 31 March 2006 is non negotiable.
• Issues raised/discussion points: - The question was asked whether we can use lobbying techniques. This must be done carefully within the regional team; Jean Robinson is the regional representative. Tricia Cresswell expressed the sympathy of the partnership with Sure Start in that if central government changes the agenda again the risk is not just to Children’s Centres but permeates through the entire work of local partnerships. Frank Firth commented that he felt we have a moral duty to fulfil the original agenda and he is prepared to present a strong argument. Liam Cairns also commented on the repetitive nature of central government issuing policy then changing it damaging both central and local government credibility, and asked if there was scope to look outside Durham. Debbie Jones commented on the mismatch of government policy in relation to working at a neighbourhood level within the different contexts of urban and shire and suggested that both they and we must give. Amanda Johnson commented that on the positive side it looks like 4 of the plans are going ahead.
• Youth Engagement Service - Christina Blythe reported that yesterdays launch of the Youth Engagement Service was the first in the country. It was attended by 230 and chaired by Ken Manton and had been excellent. She also informed that she has a 20-minute video on the Youth Engagement Service, which may be useful for the partnership to see in the future. Christina spoke of the tension between government departments and the philosophy and how the YES struggles with this.
• In summing up Debbie Jones said that the Action Learning Set had driven today’s agenda and asked if anyone had issues to raise for future agendas.
• It was suggested that the issue of involvement of voluntary agencies should be tackled by the action learning set, the partnership and the voluntary sector itself, as it is a challenge for all. Also that more work could be done regarding getting mechanisms for the involvement of the voluntary sector. The following questions were raised: How do we want to involve the voluntary sector? How are we going to engage the voluntary sector? How are we going to get comments from service users? The involvement of the voluntary sector has always been a challenge, but especially due to the diversity of this sector in County Durham, it is recognised that One Voice does not speak for all. A representative from the voluntary sector was included in the Action Learning Set but unfortunately could not take part.

6. Any Other Business

• It was reported that the draft report on multi agency inspections is under wraps until 19 July 04, and that the process has been very interesting.
• It was reported for information that a national conference is being planned in relation to COSIP (Co-ordination of Social Inclusion Programmes) and where it sits within the children’s arena and the criminal justice arena. It was suggested that a representative from YES might like to be part of the planning group. Debbie Jones commented that it is crucial that COSIP is placed within the work we are trying to do as a partnership.
• A Durham Drugs Action Team meeting took place this morning, it was suggested that an update of DAAT be placed on this agenda as a standing item as substance misuse is a huge issue.
• Parental involvement in the Every Child Matters project– It was suggested that parents basic skills needs to be an indicator and that we need to think more around how to formalise the involvement of both parents and younger children. Comments are to be fed back to Lynne Gregory.
• Second generation local public service agreement – Debbie Jones spoke about freedoms and flexibilities, and reported that if targets are exceeded another 10% is available. The expectation is to put together multi agency themes; one theme is children and young people. It was suggested that between now and September we use the ‘my target is your target’ theme to work on developments. Debbie reported that she may be able to provide more information at the next meeting.
• The DfES are taking forward the issue of a skills council for children’s services very speedily; they are supposed to have done the scoping. It is proposed to form a Children’s Network regarding all skills; currently this includes only Connexions and Early Years. Nothing has been heard so far from the DfES on the development of a prospectus. Universal providers e.g. teachers, health visitors etc are currently disengaged and it is recognised that workforce development is a big issue.
• Partnership Contact details - Carole Payne requested all partnership members to provide full contact details and information regarding the best representative/place to send information.

7. Date of the Next Meeting
Tuesday 20 July 2004.