Children &Young People Strategic Partnership Minutes

Present

Gail Thompson - Co Durham Teen Pregnancy Coordinator, Philippa Scott - Centrepoint, Chris Corneill - Centrepoint, Mary Hall - Dales CYPG Chair (LSP’s), Stephen Wiper - Wear Valley District Council, Gill Eshelby - Co Durham Youth Engagement Service, Lynne Gregory - Learning Support Service, Patsy Fullen - Durham Children Fund, Eva Alexandratou - CYPSP, Michelle Kane - Co Durham DAAT, Nick Tzamorias - Derwentside District Council, Carole Dixon - CDDAH, Mandy Malone - Derwentside PCT, Malcolm K Pitt - Sure Start Stanley/Derwentside CYPPG, Amanda Johnson - Education, Tony Clamp - Project Manager (Integrated Assistant) Social Care & Health, Meg Boustead - Social Care & Health, Debbie Jones - Acting Head of Social Care & Health, Ijjou Derrache-Thompson - Darlington & Durham Co Racial Equality Council, Paul Hebron - Education Youth Service, Carole Payne - Social Care & Health, Ian Williams - Easington PCT, Mark Cain - CAMHS Strategy & Commissioning Sedgefield PCT, Liam Cairns - Investing in Children, Kathy Vasesy - Sedgefield PCT, Frank Firth - SSCD, Chris Tenmick - Connexions County Durham, Rod Lugg - Environment, Nigel Dodds - City of Durham, David Allen -Durham Dales PCT, Mandy Taylor - Children North East, Tricia Cresswell - D&CLS PCT, Mark Gurney - Strategic Manager Children in Need Social Care & Health, Gail Hopper - Social Care & Health, Carole Thompson - Durham Constabulary, David Williams - Corporate Director for Children & Young Peoples Services

Apologies

Catherine Hodgkiss - CDDAH, Mary Evans - NCH Acting Director of Children’s Services, Alanna Smith - One Voice, Elaine Chandler - Parenting Partnership, Judith Latheron - Barnardos, Suzanne Hood - CDDAH, Martin Armitage - Easington PCT, Val Goodrum - Learning Skill Council, Phil Ball - Sedgefield District Council, Lesley Crawford - Co Durham & Darlington Priority Service NHS Trust, Wendy Baker - Easington PCT

1. Minutes of Meeting held on 17 January 2006

Additions to attendance at 17.1.06 meeting: Mary Hall, Gail Hopper, Debbie Jones.

2. Matters Arising

None.

3. Chairs Update - Standing Items

i. Update from meeting with local Children & Young People’s Planning Group Chairs
ii. Children’s Fund Update
iii. Sure Start / Children’s Centres Update
iv. Children & Young People’s Plan Update
v. Sure Start / children’s Centres – Frank Firth

Debbie Jones welcomed David Williams, Corporate Director for Children & young People’s Services.

DW expressed his pleasure at being appointed to the post in Durham and stated that the purpose of his attendance at today’s CYPSP was to sit and listen. DW also stated that in terms of looking forward two very important things are: i) to involve and engage actively with children & young people and ii) that the County Council cannot deliver on the agenda alone, this can only be done collaboratively and in partnership with a wide range of others.

DJ updated the meeting regarding the progress of the work of young people & Investors In Children on the audit tool, which will be a key component of the management framework currently being considered by the ECM Implementation team. The young people should be ready to give a full presentation to the CYPSP at the next meeting.

i. Update from meeting with CYPPG Chairs – DJ reported that the significant & massive change all organisations are going through was discussed in particular in relation to Health and the latest Draft of the Design Document. Tricia Cresswell informed that consultation responses on PCT changes are back and that staff are waiting to see how quick changes will be implemented.

ii. Children’s Fund Update – a report by Patsey Fullen was circulated (included in information pack) outlining the new arrangements for the delivery of the Durham Children’s Fund. These are now at the final stages of transferring management to Durham County Council. PF expressed thanks to this partnership & the Executive Group for the work & support over the last four years.

iii. Sure Start / Children’s Centres Update – Frank Firth reported that despite slippage in building programmes phase 1 of Sure Start Children’s Centres will be in place by the end of September 2006. Consultation with CYPPGs regarding phase 2 looking at the provision of another 12 centres is on going and the process is currently engaged in looking at filing down where the developments will be in terms of post code. A list of strategic appointments to Sure Start County Durham was circulated, people will be progressively coming into post by 1st June 2006, one in County Hall and 5 in the localities. FF also circulated a report regarding Durham’s selection as one of 16 local authorities to pilot ‘Free Pre-school Provision for disadvantaged Two Year Olds. The pilot will be based in Easington and will offer places in many different settings to 1300 children; it will also focus on looked after children.

iv. CYPP Update – Amanda Johnson, Head of Education Services informed that the current draft of the plan is available on the ECM website, the closing date for responses is 24th March 06. A significant number of responses have been received all have been supportive and positive so far there have been no challenges to priorities. Any further responses would be welcome even after the closing date.

v. ISA Update – Tony Clamp gave am Integrated Children’s System presentation entitled: ‘ECM in County Durham: Supporting Processes Briefing’ (copies in information pack) covering: Outcomes; Structure of Supporting Processes Projects (1) developments; Structure of Supporting Processes Projects (2) next steps; Information Sharing Index; Common Assessment Framework developments & next steps; Children’s Services Directory developments & next steps; Lead Professionals developments & next steps; Integrated children’s System developments & next steps, and concluding with A Summary of Developments in Supporting Processes and outlining next steps.

DJ invited questions.

Discussion Comments: Mark Gurney informed that a quick piece of work looking at ways other authorities used models of CAF is ongoing, a meeting with South Tyneside takes place on 27 March 2006, it is hoped information will be circulated around mid April.

Directories – the question was raised whether any extra funding is out there regarding the directory. It was acknowledged that there are concurrent requirements regarding lots of directories currently.

Lead Professionals Role – the question was raised whether there will be a budget for this role. TC reported that requests have gone out regarding who would want to pilot the roles, in terms of the time it will take to do CAF there will be great pressure, the message is it will be the day job objective. MG informed that we will be asking professionals who don’t do assessments to do assessments and we must understand there will be the need for huge cultural shift. The budget regarding the Lead Professional Role has not been considered yet as training seems to be the first port of call and people need to know what their responsibilities are. Comment was also made that assessment will be equally challenging for the Voluntary and Statutory sector in terms of for example Housing. DJ summarised that while assumptions cannot be made those involved in the Pilot will be in a position to shape the outcome and it is important to take the stance that no organisation / agency is excluded.

vi. Family Support Strategy Update – Carole Payne, reported that an Event was held at the end of February to pull together all strands of working. The aim now is to pull together all the outcomes from that day, get a strategy out and develop an action plan.

4. Children & Young People’s Planning Groups Updates

i. Derwentside
ii. Durham &Chester Le Street
iii. Easington
iv. Sedgefield
v. Durham Dales

i. Derwentside – Malcolm Pitt gave a presentation covering: Background, Achievements and Challenges (copies in information pack).

ii. Durham & Chester Le Street – Tricia Cresswell gave a presentation covering: Background, Achievements and Challenges (copies in information pack).

iii. Easington – Ian Williams gave a presentation covering: Background, Achievements and Challenges (copies in information pack).

iv. Sedgefield - Kath Vasey gave a presentation covering: Background; Achievements; Challenges; the development of a Work Programme of Future Activity; and next steps (copies in information pack).

v. Durham Dales – Mary Hall gave a presentation covering: success of participation work generally; pathfinder work in Tow Law; further work requirements including linking ECM priorities to Teesdale & Wear Valley LSP agendas; and the need for clear governance relating to joint working taking place with both LSPs.

The Chair commented the challenge also to sustain work in the voluntary and community sector and keep that work as an integral part of our work. Also that it felt very important today to demonstrate all the progress we have made so far as we move towards the Children’s Executive.

5. Youth Matters Next Steps

• A briefing paper, Youth Mattes: Next Steps by Janice Bray was circulated (copies in information pack) covering: Background; the Main Proposals – 1) supporting choices of young people overall strategy, 2) things to do places to go, 3) making a contribution, 4) supporting choices – information & advice & guidance, 5) reforming targeted support; Implementation; and Contribution of Connexions. It was reported that this has been the largest response ever to a young people’s consultation exercise and thanks were expressed to all those who had facilitated responses.
• Youth Opportunities Card – Carole Payne reported that Durham’s offer to pilot the YOC has been accepted by the DfES. There is a pot of £30 million between 10 authorities over 2 years. Durham’s offer was based on a scheme to be run by young people for young people. The proposed implementation date is September 2006. The idea of the scheme is that disadvantaged young people would receive a subsidy of £12 per month; it is not a vast sum but would give young people the opportunity to do stuff. It will also be an opportunity to work with District Councils, other providers who can take part will need to be considered and we must make sure there is an opportunity for young people to influence this. Te scheme also supports our local targets especially regarding the issue of transport and there is a huge IT element, which CP sees as an investment in Durham’s e-government strategy. The scheme has many challenges, the position on sanctions needs clarification but CP feels confident regarding the scheme as a whole.

6. Local Area agreements – Stretch Targets regarding Young People

• Gill Eshelby, Deputy Head of County Durham Youth Engagement Service informed that County Durham’s LAA is currently with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and circulated handouts of a presentation on County Durham Local Area Agreement (2006 – 2009) – Stretch Targets Regarding Young People covering: Key Aspirations for the LAA; LAA Structure; The Respect Agenda; How CDYES works across the LAA Blocks to support the targets; Prevention of Offending (Stretch Targets). GE further informed that Yes will be in apposition to give the CYPSP a further report by September 2006. The Chair suggested that once the ODPM has agreed Durham’s LAA, LAA Project Heads should get together and have a discussion at the next CYPSP.

7. County Durham Tackling Teenage Pregnancy Partnership Board Update

• Gail Thompson, Teenage Pregnancy coordinator circulated an update report for March 2006 (copies in information pack) highlighting that Durham has achieved an 11.6% reduction in teenage pregnancy across the county which meets our interim target set by the government in 2004. GH stated that there is a lot of work going on with vulnerable young people, and that the government piece of work ‘Deep Dive’ done last summer is the example we should all be working to now. She also thanked the CYPSP for their continued support, which is vital.

Discussion/Comments:

• GH clarified that data is unfortunately always late, local data is not considered robust enough by the National Bureau of Statistics as they only look at live births
• Tricia Cresswell commented that after initial work regarding contraceptive services the work will get harder in future.

8. LEAP Project

• David Allen, Durham Dales PCT gave an Overview presentation on LEAP – local Exercise Action Plan (copies of handouts in information pack) covering: The National Perspective; Active Choice (the local perspective); Objectives; Partnership; Project Interventions; School/Community based Activity Programmes; Residential Camps; Young People’s Forum; Active Choice (to date); and The Future. DA commented that there is so much variation in the support of parents that he feels the way forward is to send the message via young people into the family not the other way round, and that the legacy of LEAP is having fun. Chris Tennick commented that the Behaviour Improvement Programme in Bishop Auckland also had evidence that having fun does work.

9. Any Other Business

• Nick Tzamarias, Derwentside District Council announced that Beacon Status Award for engaging children & young people in Derwentside had been awarded to the SPICE project.
• Date of next meeting 16th May 2006.

Papers circulated in Information Pack:

• ‘Durham Children’s Fund Report for Durham Children and Young People Strategic Partnership March 2006’.
• Copy of Integrated Children’s System presentation: ‘Every Child Matters in County Durham: Supporting Processes Briefing’.
• Copy of presentation: ‘Derwentside CYPPG’ update.
• Copy of presentation: ‘Durham & Chester Le Street CYPPG’ update.
• Copy of presentation: ‘Easington CYPPG’ update.
• Copy of presentation: ‘Sedgefield CYPPG’ update.
• Copy of presentation: ‘Durham Dales CYPPG’ update.
• Briefing on Youth Matters: Next Steps.
• Report to Children & Young People Strategic Partnership from the County Durham Tackling Teenage Pregnancy Partnership Board, March 2006.
• Copy of Durham Dales PCT presentation: ‘LEAP – Local Exercise Action Plan’.

Papers circulated at the meeting:

• ‘Appointments to Sure Start County Durham’.
• ‘Piloting Free Pre-school Provision for Disadvantaged Two Year Olds’.
• Copy of County Durham Youth Engagement Service presentation: ‘County Durham Local Area Agreement (2006 – 2009) – Stretch Targets Regarding Young People.