Children & Young People's Strategic Partnership Minutes

Agenda items covered in this meeting include:

1. Minutes of meeting held on 15 March 2005

Accepted with a correction on page 3 under the LPG update for Easington area: 3 PCTs should read 3 Provider Trusts.

2. Matters Arising

i) The Youth Green Paper is not expected before 24th March 05.

ii) Multi-Agency Looked After Partnership (M.A.L.A.P.) – Meg Boustead informed that a report will be circulated to the chairs of the Local Planning Groups before next week regarding how MALAP will be moving forward.

3. Local Planning Groups Update

Handouts of the Local Planning Groups Update presentation were circulated (copy attached):

Durham & Chester Le Street included:

• Local Priorities grouped under 5 themes planned with the engagement of all partners. Sub Groups include: (i) Young Peoples Task Groups – these are multi-agency partnership groups, (ii) Parenting – the appointment of a Parenting Co-ordinator is under development, (iii) Children’s Centres Development, (iv) Tackling Obesity, (v) CAMHS.
• Pathfinders – all the sub groups will be identifying projects for pathfinders, there is a lot of enthusiasm & a number of projects have expressed a wish to become a pathfinder.
• Updates on Key Developments – these are seen as very useful & important, and have included NSF, Young Offenders Strategy, Community Learning.

Derwentside included:

• Developed through consultation process completed Jan 04.
• CYPPG adopted by Derwentside partnership in winter of 04 - protocols for working with the partnership need to be developed.
• A full range of partners attend, the Group has formed appropriate networks with other groups & agencies.
• CYPPG has assumed responsibility for allocation of Children’s Fund- much reduced from last year – the Young People's Task Group gets reports, they are looking at commissioning rather than biding.
• The local management group from Children’s Centre are also a sub group A further sub group is
• The group is due to approve local ECM & Durham 5 outcomes in Apr 05.
• Appropriate links formed with ECM County Durham and CYPSP.
• Presentations have been given on Communities of Learning (the need to have representation in local communities has been agreed) & Audit of Needs & Services.
• Currently considering potential projects for Pathfinders.
• It has been agreed to provide representation to the management group.
• Implementation plan for a Children’s Centre at Burnhope is being taken forward.

(An update report was also circulated, copy attached).

Easington included:

• The Group has a slightly different name to others and a slightly different structure, the Chair is Robin Todd, and membership is large, 55 – 60. Due to obvious difficulty in facilitating meetings for all members different members attend different sub groups. All wards fit into the 20% disadvantage bracket.
• Executive Group is established, forum is established & 6 work streams have been created: (i) Substance Misuse, (ii) CAMHS, (iii) Children’s Centres, (iv) Involving Children & Young People, (v) LPS, (vi) Children with a Disability/ Special Needs. Group (iii) is most active with more than 30 members meeting regularly. Group (iv) includes a brief regarding how can we involve Young People, advice would be appreciated regarding ways to work with Children & Young People.
• In relation to work streams people are being asked to do this work on top of day jobs without any admin support. Time & capacity are also issues for the Leads.
• Easington is getting a cash injection over the next 3 years, the following Development Plans show what the area wants to do with these funds: (i) Project to support parents with drug/alcohol problems (nominated as a Pathfinder), (ii) Enhancement of School Nursing, (iii) Services for Children with a Disability/Special Need, (iv) Equity in West Easington, (v) Counselling Services for young People, (vi) Enhancement of Speech & Language Therapy, ((vii) Health Schools Project, (viii) Community Safety, (ix) Proposed Investment of circa £2m over the next 3 years – subject to board signing off. As there are 3 providers within Easington where a child lives can dictate the service they receive, the aim in this case is to create one service.

Sedgefield included:

• Local Group established, partnership work developing, local joint performance indicators work progressing.
• Sub Groups establishing outcomes work from Stakeholder event which included input from Children & Young People via a presentation by young people from IIC and a video from primary age children regarding the need to listen to young people.
• Completion of the NHS mapping exercise.
• Pathfinder progress, Children’s Centre Sub Group progress and the valuable contribution of the Children’s Centre Field Officer.
• Extended Schools Group developments including the development of a ‘Trade Fair’ event to enable other agencies as well as secondary schools to showcase their contribution to extended schools, and a programme of visits to all schools by PCT Children’s Leads to explore gaps in relation to working together regarding the extended schools agenda.
• The issue regarding listening & engaging Children & Young People needs to be looked at further; work is currently going on with a school regarding this issue.

The Dales included:

• Pathfinders have been submitted.
• The need to involve young people at every level is clear and is being addressed through Children’s Fund and development of 2 different roots for each valley: Youth Forum in Wear Valley and a Communications Group in Teesdale.
• Prioritisation is developing, needs work linked to the Audit of Needs & Services.
• Progress regarding work on Children’s Centre – an integration group has been set up to address the challenge of a rural Children’s Centre, contribution of Children’s Centre Field Officer in moving forward was appreciated.
• Steve Wiper will act as the focus within the District Council regarding ECM.
• Developments regarding links to theme groups within the LSP, the LPG is now seen as part of the main LSP agenda, regular reports will go to the LSP e.g. transport (a co-ordinator is now working across both Dales and linking to both LSPs).

Issues raised & discussion points:

i). The crucial importance of the Involvement of Children and Young People: dialogue with them / listening to them / engaging with them and the level of knowledge that needs to be communicated. It was agreed that the whole issue needs further debate, comments included: it is a key challenge that needs significant consideration within both the CYPSP and LPGs; agreement needs to be reached regarding how to drive this forward; children will not trust us unless we take on the challenge. It was also agreed that this should be debated when the 2 young people from IIC give their presentation on the development of an audit tool for the Audit of Needs & Services possibly at the next CYPSP meeting.

ii). Involvement of the Private Sector –The question was raised regarding are we undermining them regarding sustainability of Children’s Centres? It was reported that attempts are being made to get meetings with government office about this issue. It was also reported that this issue is being taken into account regarding Children’s Centres and that the private sector are invited to tender. It was suggested that quality is the point where it is essential to link the private sector with the LSP agenda; we need to balance quality and creating a level playing field for all service providers.

Chairs Summary

There are a considerable amount of common issues.

• All are on target regarding priorities for the end of April.
• There will be a number of interesting Pathfinders.
• There is significant room for local problems.

There is a good balance regarding common themes and response to local need.

4. ECM Implementation Team Update

A report was circulated dated 12 March 05 (copy attached) it covered:

The Audit of Needs & Services, Outcomes, Commissioning Strategy, Project Processes, Pathfinders, Workforce Reform, Functional Models for the Future, Communications. It was reported that considerable energy and commitment will be needed from the CYPSP members in relation to Project Processes. In relation to Pathfinders Gail Hopper is to speak with Martin Armitage at the end of today’s meeting regarding making links and supporting local developments through the countywide network.

5. Children’s Fund Update

A report was circulated (copy attached):

Ann Beeton highlighted the first section which will have implications to function of the executive group which will involve looking at the workforce involved in the Children’s Fund. A more extensive annual report covering this year & where the children’s fund is going next year will be brought to the next CYPSP meeting.

6. Local Preventative Strategy

A report was circulated; Mark Gurney informed that the report has now entered the political process within the County Council. He wished to emphasise that it is about local priority setting and working together in an integrated way. The next step is to work with the Local Planning Groups on setting local priorities. MG thanked the partnership for all consultation contributions/comments.

7. Any Other Business

i). Centrepoint ‘Youth homelessness & Local Partnerships’, information was circulated – Philippa Scott requested that LPGs consider a new member to represent homelessness where gaps exist, also that the help of the partnership is needed in relation to where homelessness fits within work streams.

ii). Learning Skills Council – update on government White Paper on 14 – 19 Education & Training. Deferred until the next meeting.

iii). Carole Payne informed that consultation on the developing role of the Partnership Development Officer will be invited shortly.

Papers circulated prior to meeting:

• Progress Report from the ECM Implementation Team – CYPSP meeting, 15 March 2005
• The Children’s Fund Update for the Children & Young People’s strategic Partnership – 15th March 2005
• Every Child Matters in County Durham – Local Preventative Strategy
• Local Planning Groups - update presentation

Papers circulated at meeting:

• Derwentside Children & Young People’s Planning Group – update report
• Every Chid Matters in County Durham Newsletter Edition 5
• Centrepoint – Youth Homelessness & The Change for Children Agenda

Contact Anita Spence for further information.