Agenda and minutes

The minutes of the meeting held on 7th January, having been printed and circulated, were signed as a correct record.

It was confirmed that no public questions had been received.

The minutes of the Executive Board and the Executive Board Sub-Committee relating to the Children and Young People Policy and Performance Board were submitted for information.

RESOLVED: That the Minutes be noted.

The Board considered a report presenting an update on the data and service developments regarding the health of Children in Care (CIC).

It was noted that, in March 2006, the Health Policy and Performance Board had been presented with the findings of the Health of Children in Care (CIC) Scrutiny Group. An in-depth audit of ninety CIC case files had been carried out resulting in an Action Plan.

All actions had been completed and information was provided in respect of future developments in the service since that time. This included:

§ Data regarding health of CIC; and

§   Service Developments in terms of

-   the Health Development Group;

-   assessments of children's emotional and mental wellbeing;

-   training for foster carers; and

-   fast track dental service.

The Board noted that:

·                    names had now been received for the Topic Groups and meetings were to be convened;

·                    a meeting had been held with the consultant for dental health the previous week and this information would be submitted to the appropriate Topic Group;

·                    there had been 155 people in care as at the previous month, based on children that had been in care for at least 12 months;

·                    work was ongoing to ensure that young people could make informed choices, for example around immunisations, to ensure the best possible health outcomes;

·                    young people could not be forced to have immunisations; however, the Council/Primary Care Trust (PCT) continued to work with those that had refused in order to try and influence them to take actions that were considered to be in their best interests;

·                    the Children and Young People Directorate and health services were involved in the Health Development Group; and

·                    performance indicators were reported annually; however, these could be provided to the Board on a quarterly basis.

RESOLVED: That

(1)       the report be noted; and

(2)            performance indicators in this respect be reported to the Board on a quarterly basis.

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director – Children and Young People providing information on national 14 – 19 education reforms and outlining progress towards the local implementation of the reforms.

It was noted that, in 2006, a transformational set of education reforms had been legislated through the Education and Inspections Act, the features of which were outlined for the Board’s consideration. It was advised that there was a strong emphasis on functional English, Maths, and Personal Learning and Thinking Skills (PLTs) throughout the phase. 17 new diplomas would be introduced at 3 levels with the level 2 diploma being equivalent to 7 GCSEs at A* to C and the level 3 diploma equivalent to 3.5 A levels at A* to C. For 14 – 16 year old under achievers, a new Entry to Employment (E2E) route and foundation tier would be available.

The new curriculum was designed to offer learners a broader range of options from age 14 with a pathway through to age 19. The Board was advised that there was a strong 14-19 partnership in Halton with wide representation and a 14 – 19 vision, strategy and action plan was in place. Progress on the action plan was outlined for information.

In addition, the Board received a presentation from Mr. Simon Clough, 14-19 Strategy Manager, providing further information on 14 – 19 options, the pathway to 2013, progress that had been made, and Summer 2007 announcements and their implications. Information was also provided on the next steps.

The Board noted the following:

·                    it was expected that the Council and 14-19 Partnership would have a responsibility to keep young people Not in Employment, Education or Training (NEET) engaged, although this had yet to be confirmed;

·                    curriculum demand had to be identified along with the capability to deliver these subjects and the possible need to source providers; and

·                    the ICT infrastructure was to be improved so that work could be carried out by officers away from the base.

RESOLVED: That the national reforms, and progress to date in implementing 14 – 19 reforms locally, be noted.

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director – Children and Young People providing an update on the arrangements for Children’s Trust Arrangements in Halton.

It was advised that the establishment of Children’s Trust Arrangements in each local authority area was a requirement of the Children Act 2004 and the accompanying Statutory Guidance on Inter-Agency Co-operation to Improve the Wellbeing of Children: Children’s Trusts. Each local authority was required to have Children’s Trust Arrangements in place by April 2008, led by the Local Authority, but acting as an inclusive partnership, in order to secure the success of meeting outcomes for children, young people and families.

The Children and Young People’s Alliance Board had been established in September 2005 as part of a new strategic planning structure, which aimed to progress the Every Child Matters agenda and integration through partnership working. At the same time, arrangements had been made for the establishment of a number of children’s mini-trusts to pilot various aspects of the integration agenda, with a view to using the learning from the mini-trusts to inform future Children’s Trust Arrangements. This was effectively the Children’s Trust in Halton.

The Board was advised that there had been a number of developments since the original strategic planning structure was agreed and these were outlined for consideration. In particular, it was advised that modifications were intended to be made to the Alliance Board structures in order to aid and improve working within the Children's Trust Arrangements from April onwards. A copy of the revised structure was attached at Appendix 1 of the report for Members’ information.

In addition, Members were advised that, at the same time as the structure of the Halton Children’s Trust Arrangements was being agreed, the further alignment of health services with the Council’s Children and Young People Department was planned. The two processes were complementary, with the Children’s Trust Arrangements as the key strategic body and the Children and Young People Directorate as the central delivery mechanism for integrated services using common processes.

Three areas of integration were under development and these were outlined in the report. It was advised that all of these integration processes would develop the principle of “Teams Around The Child”.

The Board noted:

·                    that this was a re-alignment of Children’s services so that there was a better arrangement for the people of the Borough;

·                    the Alliance Board (Children's Trust Arrangement) would act as the Governance Body for the Primary Care Trust and Council and other partners;

·                    this proposal was to be considered by the Executive Board on 6th March 2008;

·                    a range of NHS staff was to be aligned within the Council to work in an integrated way. Although there was no more capacity, it was expected that work would be carried out more efficiently/effectively. A reduction in waiting lists could not be guaranteed; however, this arrangement would assist in the prioritisation;

·                    an assessment facility had been put in place to link with learning and equipment could be loaned whilst aid was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 48.

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director – Children and Young People regarding work to date in developing a framework for integrated service delivery to children, young people and their families on a locality basis.

It was noted that, in June 2006, the Children and Young People’s Alliance Board had supported the formation of Children and Young People Area Networks as a means of providing a framework for integrated service delivery. This had been in response to the publication of Every Child Matters and the subsequent passing of the Children Act, which heralded the move to integration of services to children, young people and families.

The formation of five area networks had followed the launch of the inaugural Children and Young People’s Plan in the Borough and the partnership driven new strategic planning framework in the form of the Children and Young People’s Alliance Board.

Inevitably, not all services could be targeted on a locality basis, which could be due to their very specialist nature and/or issues of economy of scale, for example fostering and adoption services. As a consequence, it was recognised that integration at a locality level would function best within a framework that incorporated three levels:

§   Boroughwide;

§   Widnes/Runcorn; and

§   Locality/Area Network.

Since the formation of the networks, and as integration proceeded, further developments had occurred, including:

§   transforming learning via Building Schools for the Future;

§   developments in working arrangements with the PCT; and

§   integrated and targeted youth support.

In addition, the Board received a presentation from the Operational Director - Preventative Services regarding Children and Young People Area Networks (CYPANs) outlining:

·                    purpose/principles;

·                    the five networks in Halton;

·                    progress and key developments to date;

·                    key areas of focus;

·                    delivery mechanisms; and

·                    key processes to secure change.

The Board noted that:

·                    there was an emerging analysis at CYPAN level, building a picture, and consideration needed to be given as to how this information could be presented to Members;

·                    there were to be two more Children's Centres in accordance with the Department for Schools, Children and Families' (DCSF’s) direction (phase 3) and an analysis was being carried out to identify gaps/issues to guide where these should be located;

·                    a large number of health staff now worked out of Children's Centres;

·                    from 1st April, in relation to any services commissioned, the point of contact with the family would be recorded on the Children Centre database in order that a picture of emerging need could be built up;

·                    in the first five years of a child's life, there would be a number of contacts with the Children's Centre and so there would be ongoing contact from birth to school, by which time there would be a picture of need;

·                    the Children's Centre was non-stigmatising; however, families with greater need could be visited at home;

·                    the aim was to identify issues early in order that the family could be supported;

·                    there was a need to ensure that GPs were on-board with the process to facilitate a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 49.

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director – Children and Young People outlining the implications for Children’s Services in Halton of the Government’s new 10 year Children Plan. The Plan aimed to make England the best place in the world for Children and Young People to grow up and it would hopefully signal the beginning of a new way of working to achieve this.

The Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) had drawn up the Children’s Plan with the help of advice, thoughts and issues raised by parents, teachers and professionals, and children and young people themselves. A major consultation exercise had been carried out by the DCSF, which had identified five main principles to underpin the plan; these were outlined for the Board’s consideration.

The Children’s Plan set out plans for the next ten years under each of the DCSF’s seven strategic objectives that would ultimately build a brighter future for Children and Young People in England. Again, these were outlined within the report for Members’ information.

It was noted that, to deliver this, a series of system-wide reforms were required regarding the way services for young people worked together. The aim was to build on the ambitions set out in Every Child Matters and deliver a stepped change in outcomes. To achieve this the DCSF would:

§ expect every school to be uncompromising in its ambitions for achievement;

§ expect Children’s Trusts to deliver measurable improvements for all children and young people, and to monitor Trusts to see if arrangements needed to be strengthened to improve outcomes, e.g. further legislation; and

§   publish a Children’s Workforce Action Plan in early 2008, covering everyone who worked with Children and Young People, which would strengthen integrated working across all services.

The Board noted that:

·                    an Integrated Workforce Action Strategy was in the process of being developed; and

·                    the Strategy would see the culmination of work and a coherent framework.

RESOLVED: That the information relating to the 10 year Children’s Plan be noted.

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director – Children and Young People outlining the three site options available for the location of the new specialist Academy in East Runcorn.

It was noted that Academies were all ability state schools with a mission to transform education. They were set up in areas where there was demand for new high quality school places.

At the Executive Board meeting on 12^th December 2007, it had been agreed that Halton High could be replaced with a new specialist Academy providing 1050 places for pupils aged 11 – 16, and 100 places for post 16 provision. Prior to statutory consultation, it was agreed that further work be undertaken to identify the most appropriate location for the provision, and to secure a sponsor. The Board was advised that, to date, no sponsor had been secured although work was being undertaken to explore this opportunity further.

In order to assess each of the three sites, the Headteacher of Halton High School had consulted parents, staff, pupils and Governors on each of the options. In addition, the Local Authority had undertaken an appraisal of the physical characteristics of each site and the transport issues. A summary of the appraisal of each of the sites, being the current site, the Wharford Farm site and the Halton Sports site, was outlined within the report for Members’ consideration. On balance, having considered all the information available at the time, Wharford Farm Site appeared to be the most suitable location for the development of the new specialist Academy. However, this was subject to further consultation and the view of the sponsor.

The Board looked at the options in detail and considered issues such as:

·                    the impact of flood plains;

·                    cost of transport to a new site and the need to ensure that existing pupils were not disenfranchised;

·                    the fact that a new build would incorporate a sprinkler system;

·                    the need for a traffic impact assessment on the agreed site; and

·                    sustainable targets in terms of the environment.

RESOLVED: That it be noted that, based on the information provided, Wharford Farm is the Board's preferred site for the Halton Academy.

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director – Children and Young People regarding the Directorate’s management of complaints and compliments relating to Social Care services within the Children and Young People Directorate during 2006/7. The Social Care complaints system was regulated by the statutory framework and this report formed part of the requirement of that framework.

It was noted that, in 2006, “Working Together to Safeguard Children” introduced a new guidance for all who worked with children. This required that any complaints which related to allegations against people who worked with children be managed under the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) procedures. In June 2007, the Department of Health had issued a consultation document which proposed that complaints procedures relating to NHS organisations and Local Authority Social Care services for adults be aligned to reduce confusion amongst people. There had been some debate over the inclusion of Children’s complaints within this proposed structure and there was some concern that the focus on Children’s complaints may be lost under the proposals. There was also concern that any new process should include the present safeguards enabling children to complain in their own right with access to advocacy and an independent person monitoring the independent investigation.

The Board noted that practice and procedure may need to be changed as a result of the outcome of the complaint investigation. Revised guidance to staff relating to complaints/appeals procedures (including Social Care) across the Directorate was about to be issued.

RESOLVED: That the information relating to Social Care complaints for 2006/07 be noted.

The Board considered a report of the Chief Executive outlining the third quarter performance management reports on progress against service plan objectives and performance targets, performance trends/comparisons, factors affecting services etc. for:

§   Specialist services;

§   Universal and Learning Services;

§   Community Services; and

§   Business Planning and Resources.

RESOLVED: That the third quarter performance management reports be received.