Agenda and minutes

Venue: Professional Excellence Centre, Acre Lane, Bromborough

Contact: Nancy Clarkson  Children and Young People's Department

Items
No. Item

13.

09:00 Introductions and apologies

14.

09:00 Declaration of interest

Minutes:

None.

15.

09:05 Minutes of last meeting pdf icon PDF 101 KB

Minutes:

Amended that B Morgan is the lead for the Emotional and Social Development strand of the Liverpool City Region and Life Chances Commission.

 

Resolved: That the minutes of the meeting held on 22nd November 2010 be confirmed as a correct record.

 

16.

09:15 Housing Options for Young People

Minutes:

Catherine Green and Gary Chwalko gave a presentation on the housing options for young people.  Catherine outlined that young people accepted as homeless are often from an extremely vulnerable group.  Often they are NEET, have experienced or witnessed domestic abuse and may have existing mental health issues.  They have much poorer health than other young people.  An increasing number have multiple complex needs.

 

Catherine outlined the Homelessness Act 2002 and the structure of the rehousing service.  Since the act in 2002 the number of people classed as homeless has reduced.

 

Prevention measures include:

·  School workshops

·  Mediation service

·  Negotiation with parents and landlords

·  Welfare advice

·  FIP’s

 

Issues for ongoing attention

 

·  Effect of economic climate on family breakdown

·  Change to benefit reform

·  Cuts in Housing Benefit for families in 5 bed houses  (a reduction of £50 weekly)

·  Supported accommodation

·  Access to services/social rented accommodation for younger people

 

Gary Chwalko - Forum Housing Options for Young People

 

Gary gave an overview of Forum Housing, which has been established for 42 years.  Services are delivered across the North West. For 2010 Forum Housing accommodated and supported 749 young people.

 

Forum have a free phone number to a central referral team that offers a 15 minute risk assessment call to assess young people’s housing needs.

 

Outcomes are measured for young people by conducting a before and after assessments with an ‘outcome star’ measuring system to assess attitudes and behaviour.

 

The ethos of Forum Housing is that it helps progress young people to resettlement back into the community.

 

In 2010, 16/17 year olds account for 32% of those accommodated within Forum.  Young women are now equally likely to use these services; the gender split up until recently has been 70% male to 30% female.

 

Councillor Sheila Clarke thanked Catherine and Gary for their presentation.

 

Richard Longster commented it was a surprising high percentage of 16-17 and asked how they were tracked.  Gary replied these young people are transient and may be involved with Forum many times before resettlement.

 

Councillor Clarke asked if we had any idea how many “sofa surfers” we may not know about. Gary noted that multi agency working means that a lot of these young people are captured.  Gary noted that the informal arrangements will be very useful to young people, such as sleeping on a friends sofa.

 

Peter Wong asked if the needs of young people are captured within the JSNA.  Gary noted that more data is available and could be shared with partners.

 

David Armstrong asked if there is anything the LA can do when schools/buildings are neighbours to Forum buildings.  Some young people do preventative work within schools.  David asked what happens if young people are not accommodated after the initial telephone assessment.  Gary responded that the assessment is comprehensive and ‘risk led’. If it was assessed that a young person was low risk then options may be offered to support young people from other providers.

 

Resolved: The Board note the Report.

 

17.

09:30 The Announced Inspection of Safeguarding and Looked After Children

Minutes:

David Armstrong informed the Board that Wirral have been awarded a ‘Good’ with outstanding areas in the latest OFSTED inspection. 

 

Safeguarding services

Overall effectiveness - Good

Capacity for improvement - Good

 

Safeguarding outcomes for children and young people

Children and young people are safe and feel safe - Good

Quality of provision - Good

The contribution of health agencies to keeping children and young people safe - Outstanding

Ambition and prioritisation - Outstanding

Leadership and management - Outstanding

Performance management and quality assurance - Good

Partnership working - Outstanding

Equality and diversity – Adequate

 

Services for looked after children

Overall effectiveness - Good

Capacity for improvement  - Good

 

How good are outcomes for looked after children and care leavers?

Being healthy- Good

Staying safe -Good

Enjoying and achieving -Good

Making a positive contribution, including user Engagement- Good

Economic well-being -Adequate

Quality of provision-Good

Ambition and prioritisation -Outstanding

Leadership and management- Outstanding

Performance management and quality assurance- Good

Equality and diversity -Adequate

 

 

David Armstrong noted that the whole workforce should be very proud of the hard work and excellent partnership working that takes place for Children and Young People across Wirral.

 

Adequate grades have been given for Equality and Diversity and Economic Well Being.  David noted that policy was in place and race monitoring was well.  However, at local level improvements could be made.

 

The report noted that Education, Employment and Training for Looked After Children were low.  The children in care council was praised and should be widely publicised and involve more LAC’s.

 

The LA has been given six months to make improvements to their Social Care Information Management System.

 

Councillor Clarke echoed David’s thanks and congratulations to the Board.

 

Resolved: The Board note the Report.

 

18.

09:45 The Children and Young People's Plan. Review of 2010/11 and new plan for 2011/12 pdf icon PDF 41 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

David Armstrong updated that the final version has been pulled together for 2011-12.  The report has been circulated to the Board and any comments are welcome.

 

Richard Longster asked if the plan reflects the outcome of the Ofsted report and that a summary sheet would be useful.

 

The Children and Young People’s Plan will be an electronic document only.

 

Resolved: The Board note the Report.

 

19.

10:00 Local Safeguarding Children Board Annual Report pdf icon PDF 34 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Clarke introduced Dennis Charton and Elizabeth Hartley.  Dennis noted that the LSCB Annual Report is a statutory requirement.

 

Recent changes to the LSCB include the appointment of an independent chair, Dennis has been in post approximately 12 months.

 

Dennis noted that budgeting demands have been met and that services have been maintained.

 

Dennis noted that new ‘Working Together’ guidance is due in April 2011.  It is unknown whether the requirement for an Annual Plan and the workings of the CDOP will remain the same.

 

David informed the Board that three serious case reviews (SCR’s) had taken place over the last 12 months. The action plans from case reviews are monitored by the executive group.  Elizabeth added that two more case reviews are due to be published at the end of March, beginning of April.

 

Bev Morgan commented that she has never experienced another LSCB offering so much variety at training of such good quality.  This was also noted within the latest Ofsted inspection.

 

Dennis outlined the role of the LADO in investigating allegations against professionals.  As people become more confident with safeguarding issues these increase.

 

Dennis commented on the performance data with the report.

 

With regard to the financial report, as the LSCB has an independent budget. It is expected that for 2011/12 the budget will balance.

 

LSCB Priorites for 2011/12

 

·  Ensuring that membership adheres to Learn Together guidance.

·  Induction process has been developed and rolled out

·  Improve and evaluate learning from SCR’s

·  Monitor thresholds of safeguarding

·  Monitor budgetary pressures

·  Improve communication processes between the LSCB, workforce and general public.

·  Strengthen joint working with Safeguarding Adults Board

·  Maintain representation and contribution to Multi Agency Public Protection Panels.

 

 

R Longster asked how is the learning from SCRs shared across LA’s.

 

D Charlton noted that annually nationally analysis is provided; identifying common factors that have contributed to child deaths over the previous year.  This is available online and annual training is attended by LSCB.

 

Councillor Clarke thanked Dennis and Elizabeth.

 

Resolved: The Board note the Report.

 

 

20.

10:45 Commissioning and Early Intervention Grant

Minutes:

Peter Wong outlined the planned expenditure for the £17.9m Early Intervention Grant for 2011/12.

 

Open procurement at £4.25m is split into three priority areas.

 

·  Parenting and compromised parenting (£2.3m)

·  Children and Young People with disabilities (£1.0m)

·  Behaviour in Children and Young People and their families £0.95m)

 

B Morgan asked if costs will be negotiated.  Peter Wong replied that this would not be doable at the tendering stage.  However, information of the number of family services that will need to be supported will be supplied, to enable more accurate costings for the outset.

 

B Morgan noted it would be a good step if all organisations submit their Section 11 audit to ensure they have appropriate safeguarding arrangements in place.

 

R Longster commented it should be recognised that money has been allocated here, the Early Intervention Grant; as a priority at the expense of others.

 

D Armstrong noted this is a big piece of work and thanked to Peter and Lynn for their work.  David added that all procurement will come through this process.

 

B Morgan noted that commissioning will start for next year after 6 months of the 2011/12 contracts in place.  Peter added that contracts could be discretionally extended by 12 months.

 

 

Resolved: The Board note the Report.

 

21.

11:00 Being Healthy Annual Report pdf icon PDF 142 KB

Minutes:

Anne Tattersall outlined that the aim of the ‘Being Healthy’ outcome group is to improve the health of all children and to narrow the gap in health outcomes experienced by children living in our most disadvantaged neighbourhoods. The ‘Being Healthy’ plan contains four key elements:

 

·  Inequalities in the health of children and young people are reduced

·  Reduction in the harmful consequences of risk taking behaviour

·  Encourage and support all children and families to achieve and maintain a healthy weight and lifestyle

·  Implement the Child Health Strategy

 

Key Achievements

 

The Safe-sleeping guidance was ratified and shared with relevant practitioners.

 

A Referral pathway has been developed between Wirral Children’s Centres and Family Support Worker staff who will facilitate access to oral health service.

 

A Dentist is in regular attendance at Seacombe Children’s Centre to identify problems and refer for treatment.

 

Health visitors have been trained as immunisers to provide immunisations for hard to reach families through drop in sessions at Children’s centres.

 

The Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) immunisation catch up programmes for 14-18 year old young women has been successfully implemented in schools and GP practices.

 

The project to place Youth Alcohol Workers within the Accident and Emergency ‘out of hours’ Department has performed beyond expectations in reducing the number of under 18’s alcohol related hospital admissions.

 

An Alcohol Guidance document for schools was produced and circulated to every Wirral school.

 

Health Services in Schools is now hosted in 28 Secondary Schools including a bespoke service in the special schools and Youth Offending Service.

 

Above target numbers of the children and young people workforce are accessing sexual health training, including foster and residential carers

 

The intended target for the number of young people engaging with the Brook Outreach Programme has been exceeded.

 

A 73% increase in number of young people registered with Kooth.com between 2009 – 2010 and the Kooth.com contract has been renewed for further two years

 

The Homestart breastfeeding peer support programme was launched in April 2010.

 

The ‘Breast milk… It’s Amazing’ campaign was launched and promoted across all relevant settings.

 

Accreditation for Stage 1 of the UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative has been achieved for all community settings.

 

 

The National Child Measurement Programme 2010/11 has been enhanced.

 

The Family Nurse Partnership Programme has recruited 103 first time mothers under the age of 19 years into the service.

 

The Healthy Child Programme 0 – 5 years has been implemented.

 

Baby Life Check was promoted across children’s centres and health visiting teams and Teen life check was promoted across young people services.

 

A total of 60 settings have committed to the Health Promoting Early Years

Programme.

 

Aiming High programme has been rolled out in Children’s Centres and short breaks made available to all children with complex/continuing healthcare needs.

 

 

 

 

Key Issues

 

The vaccination and immunisation rates across Wirral are improving but still fall below the target rate for 2010/11.

 

A review of children’s health services is to be conducted during 2011 using the framework of the Healthy Child Programme (HCP) 0-19 years.

 

Conception  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21.

22.

11:00 A new school survey "HELP" pdf icon PDF 48 KB

Minutes:

As part of the reduction of data burdens in schools and Local Authorities, the government has discontinued the TELLUS survey.

It was agreed at the Children’s Trust Executive in September 2010 that that the Local Authority should investigate developing its own survey to fill these gaps in available data.

The Health, Education and Lifestyle Profile (HELP) survey was approved for delivery in schools by the Star Chamber. The survey is designed for children in years 6, 8 and 10 in all primary, secondary and special schools. The survey will be available from an Internet based survey tool and the Secondary school version will be promoted through the TeenWirral website.

 

The survey will take place between February 2011 half term and the Easter 2011 break. The responses will be analysed during the Easter break and a report for each participating school and a Wirral report will be provided during the summer term.

 

Resolved: The Board note the Report.

 

23.

11:40 Performance Management 2010/11 Quarter 3 pdf icon PDF 127 KB

Minutes:

David Armstrong noted the performance highlights for quarter 3, these include:

 

·  The percentage of referrals to children's social care going on to initial assessment continues to perform well indicating appropriate referrals into social care and effective use of thresholds being applied.

 

·  The percentage of children with Child Protection Plans lasting 2 years or more continues to be very low highlighting sustained good practice and exit strategies.

 

·  Final Key Stage 2 data confirms good performance in children achieving L4+ in English and Maths as well as making good progress from Key Stage 1 to 2.

 

 

·  Reports of antisocial behaviour and levels of vehicle nuisance continue to perform well against targets and are reducing year on year.

 

·  Prevalence of Chlamydia in under 25 year olds has achieved the quarter three targets and improved on the previous year quarter three result.

 

The implementation of Council budget savings, management of the early voluntary retirement and severance schemes and changes in human resources procedures will have the potential to impact on the levels of service delivery across the Departments’ responsibilities. This will require careful management to minimise volatile service delivery, reduced Service Level Agreement take up and income from schools, reputational issues and to ensure continued focus on critical issues.

 

Current projection for budget is an over spend of £1.2M, largely due to Social Care costs.

 

Resolved: The Board note the Report.

 

24.

11:50 Local Area Agreement 2010/11 Quarter 3 pdf icon PDF 79 KB

Minutes:

The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government wrote to Councils on 13 October 2010 to inform them that under section 109 of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health act 2007, all designations of local improvement targets in the Local Area Agreement have been revoked with immediate effect. In addition, as part of the budget deficit reduction there will be no payments made for Performance Reward Grants against the 2008-11 LAA targets. As a result of these national changes the Council is now reviewing the indicators in the LAA and the targets set.

 

·  NI 68 significant improved performance in 2009/10 has been maintained in quarter 3.

 

·   For NI 117 although there has been sustained improvement the current economic climate impacts heavily on this indicator. Continuing intervention work is underway and the direction of travel is improving however economic uncertainty makes achieving the 2010/11 target unlikely. A revised forecast of 8% has been set.

 

·  NI 55 is determined by an annual measurement programme. Wirral did achieve the 2010/11 target in 2009/10 however the expectation is for obesity to increase and the target set is to reduce this increase.

 

·  For NI 112 although significant improvement was achieved in 2009/10 and intervention programmes are in place the 2010/11 yearend target remains extremely challenging.

 

 

Resolved: The Board note the Report.