Agenda item

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 universal service;

·                    initiatives were available such as the recent provision of 1000 lap-tops, and internet access for a twelve month period, to children that would not otherwise have access to such a facility within their homes. This scheme had been funded by the Government and allocation had been based on specified criteria; and

·                    adult learning was commissioned and provided in schools.

 

RESOLVED: That

 

(1)       the presentation be received; and

 

(2)       the progress towards integrating service delivery at locality level, and developments, be noted.