Children & Young People Strategic Partnership Minutes

Present

Paul Hebron - Children & Young People's Service, Ian Williams - Easington PCT, Chris Cornell - Centrepoint, Colin Smith - Matron Peadiatrics UHND (on behalf of C. Hodgkis), Rod Lugg - Environment DCC, Mark Weeding - Director DISC, Peter Burns - Culture & Leisure DCC, Gail Hopper - Children & Young People's Services, Sue Hood - Durham & Chester Le Street PCT, Mark Cain - Sedgefield Borough Council, Lynne Gregory - Children & Young People's Services, Amanda Johnson - Children & Young People's Services, Mary Hall - Wear Valley District Council, Kath Tansey - Children & Young People's Services, Mary Evans - NCH, Stephen Clark - District of Easington, Sue Schofield - Barnardos, Gail Thompson - County Durham Tackling Teenage Pregnancy Co-ordinator, Eva Alexandratou - CYPSP Partnership Development Officer, Ann Armstrong - County Durham Strategic Partnership DCC, David Landers - Durham Dales PCT, Tricia Cresswell - Durham & Chester Le Street PCT, Frank Firth - Children & Young People's Services, Jeff Watson - Community Safety Durham Constabulary, Kate Martin - Parent Partnership Services DCC, Colin Reed - CDYES, Carole Payne - Children & Young People's Services, Tony Clamp - Children & Young People's Services.

Apologies

Nick Tzamarias - Derwentside District Council, Lesley Crawford - County Durham & Darlington Priority, Val Goodrum - Learning Skills Council, Mandy Taylor - Children North East, Stephen Wiper - Cultural Services Wear Valley District Council, Kath Vasey - Sedgefield PCT, Judith Latheron - Barnardos (Sue Schofield representing), Janice Bray - Connexions, Meg Boustead - Children & Young People's Services

1. Minutes of Meeting held on 21 March 2006

Accepted nib: Stephen Clark was present at the last meeting.

2. Matters Arising

i. It was confirmed that the LAA has been signed off since the last meeting and will be a substantive item on future agendas.

ii. Family Support Strategy – The partnership were informed that a small group met recently to produce a Framework Strategy, it is hoped to bring this to the next meeting.

iii. It was announced that the five Durham PCTs are coming together but no other part of the North East is changing. This will be a difficult thing to manage but it is the best outcome for the County Council.

Chairs Update

Standing Items:
i. Update from meeting with CYPPG Chairs
ii. Children’s Fund
iii. Sure Start / Children’s Centres – Frank Firth
iv. Children & Young People’s Plan (CYPP) Update

i. Items discussed by / reported to the LPG Chairs meeting included: NHS Child Services Mapping Pilot; draft Commissioning Framework available on the ECM website another community based desk top exercise is underway; Governance arrangements work will be reported to the Children’s Shadow Executive; establishment of Shadow Executive Board and arrangements of Trust will be in place by April 07; David Williams is trying to meet as many people as possible; business plans are being prepared for the LAA Stretch Targets and governance arrangements are still underway.

ii. Children’s Fund – a report to the partnership, ‘Addendum to Durham Children’s Fund Strategic Plan 2005-08’ by Eva Alexadratou was circulated covering: Durham children’s fund governance & management arrangements, monitoring children’s fund projects and reviewing children’s fund activity, children’s fund budget/finances, developing and integrating with the Every Child Matters agenda, children’s fund exit strategy/mainstreaming, children’s fund partnership arrangements – it was noted that reporting arrangements to this partnership will continue until accountabilities are resolved and that the diagram on CF partnership arrangements will need to be re-drawn as we progress. EA also reported that there has been a £50,000 under spend and therefore and application has been submitted to Government Office to get it back.

iii. Frank Firth updated as follows: 14 Children’s Centres are designated, 16 are due in June and all 30 will be in place by September 06. In relation to phase 2 consultation is underway, task groups have been worked through, one formal meeting has taken place currently comments and responses are being double checked. It is hoped to move through to feasibility and commissioning quickly. There will be a seminar on 13th June 06 at Hallgarth Manor to look at local governance management mode, invitations have gone out today. The ring fence has been lifted around Sure start allocation of funds with the condition that funding is used in the broader context. Consultation took place through local task groups; concerns were noted that the Voluntary and Community sector were not aware of any consultation documents.

CYPP – Carole Payne thanked the partnership for consultation responses on the CYPP. She reported that the document had to be submitted to Ofsted yesterday and therefore a pdf of the CYPP will be posted on the ECM website. Hard copies of the full plan and le and Executive Summary will be available next month. The plan sets out the agenda for 2006-09 therefore it will be against our priorities that we will be judged now. The CYPP went to DCC Corporate Management Team today the first stage in the DCC Cabinet process, it was suggested that meetings are arranged to get the CYPP onto other appropriate agendas as soon as possible.

4. Local Planning Groups Update:

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

i. Derwentside – a presentation was given on: developing a Participation Strategy Group, developing an Information Sharing Group, approval of Children’s Centres phase 2 and strategic management proposals, Beacon status awarded to Derwentside District Council for positive youth inclusion and engagement in democracy and community issues.

ii. Durham & Chester Le Street - A presentation was given informing that a presentation has been given on the Common Assessment Framework and on consideration of the draft C&YPP and local priorities (copy in information pack).

iii. Easington – a presentation was given covering: substance misuse group, EDPIP information day for parents are carers, refocus Emotional Wellbeing Group, first meeting of NSF group, attempting to link Children’s Centres and Extended Schools agenda, strategy document to be presented to Executive Group (copy in information pack)

iv. Sedgefield – it was reported that the group are currently looking at putting action together to meet priorities and are looking at models to reflect LSP changes and others.

The Dales – it was reported that the two Dales feel working together is now easier, however two strategies need to be joining, the participation worker has been appointed for Wear Valley, recruitment is underway for Teesdale, work is ongoing regarding District engagements.

5. Youth Opportunities Fund & Youth Capital Fund

A presentation was given by Paul Hebron covering: the announcement of the Youth Opportunities Fund on 8 March 06, guidance becoming available in April reducing the year to 9 – 10 months, Durham receiving only a little more funding than other authorities yet being five times the size of some, allocations to age groups, principles, purpose, management and administration, timetable. (copy of presentation in information pack) PH clarified questions as follows: the proportion of disadvantaged young people will be across the age range, government will provide guidance on measurement, youth service structures will be used, groups of young people will be able to bid into this, government advice will be taken regarding building the factor of isolation of rural young people into measurement, after discussion it was agreed that account will be taken of existing frameworks in order not to reinvent the wheel. In terms of the size of grants the idea is to reach as many young people as possible therefore a lot of smaller bids rather than one or two large ones.

6. Family Support Strategy - Integrated Working in Tow Law

A presentation was given by Dave Watson on the integrated Health & Social Care pathfinder CAP (Choice, Access & Participation) Projects taking place in Tow Law & Teesdale (copy of presentation in information pack).

7. Information Sharing & Assessment Update

An update briefing by Tony Clamp was circulated covering the developments in the ISA Sub-Programme on: documentation, future developments and developments in County Durham (copy in information pack). It was noted that there are no immediate plans in Durham to dispense with the Child Protection Register. TC also informed that this is only the starting point in terms of working with diverse groups and sharing information with the Voluntary sector through communities of Interest.

Annual Performance Assessment

A draft of the ‘Annual Performance Assessment and joint Area reviews’ was circulated (copy in information pack). Amanda Johnson clarified that this is the judgement of Children’s services by inspectors and self assessment. Information has been requested from the Local Planning Groups and AJ asked partners to bear in mind that space is limited and information has to be outcome focused. The cut off point for receipt of information is the end of this week, partners were requested to forward their information to project leaders or Suzanne Carty 0191 3833880.

Any Other Business

None

Paper Circulated at Meeting

• Children’s Fund Report to County Durham Children & Young People’s Strategic Partnership, May 16 2006, Addendum to Durham Children’s Fund Strategic Plan 2005-08
• Copies of presentations