Children and Young People's Strategic Partnership

8th December 2005

Commenced: 2.35pm     Terminated: 4.15pm

Present:

Councillor P. Wilkinson (Chair) Tameside MBC
Ameena Ahmed - Tameside MBC
Jo Baird - Third Sector Coalition
Cheryl Eastwood - Tameside MBC
Jane Forrest - Tameside MBC
Caroline Gregory - Tameside MBC
Lynda Johnson - Primary Heads
Lisa Lees - Tameside MBC
Julie Lord - Tameside MBC
Sheila Piazza - Connexions
Sue Nathan - Tameside MBC
John Rogers - Greenside Primary & Children's Centre
Andy Searle - GMP, Tameside MBC
Melanie Sirotkin - Tameside & Glossop PCT
Ian Smith - Tameside MBC
Councillor S. Smith - Tameside MBC
John Whittle - Youth Offending Team 

Apologies For Absence:

Janet Callender, Julie McCabe-Robinson, Colin McKinless, Chris Scarborough, Tricia Slone, Tricia Spense, Malcolm Watson and Tracy Wood (Part)

1. Minutes 

The Minutes of the proceedings of the meeting of the Partnership held on 10th November 2005, having been circulated, were approved as a correct record.

Arising out of Minute 7 - New Performance Indicators - it was agreed that the aggregated list of performance indicators for each target be circulated prior to the next meeting on 16 th February 2006, in order that comments can be incorporated and agreed thereat.

In respect of Minute 10

2. Health Inequalities in Children and Young People

Melanie Sirotkin, Deputy Director of Public Health, Tameside and Glossop PCT, submitted a report in respect of health inequalities in children and young people which identified key issues, progress to date and future plans for the Health Improvement and Health Inequalities Strategy.

The above Strategy, in line with Government policy, targeted the following health improvement issues, namely:-

• Infant and maternal health
• Lifestyles
• Environment
• Targeting the over 50's
• Mental health promotion

Those themes had been addressed in an action plan agreed in January 2005 which also tackled key gaps in the priority areas detailed above, albeit, it was not a review of all health improvement interventions taking place and included:-

• Reducing smoking
• Preventing and managing other risk factors (die, obesity, inactivity and blood pressure)
• Improving environmental health
• Targeting the over 50's for lifestyle interventions
• Improving the quality and accessibility of antenatal care and early years support
• Improving nutrition in pregnancy and early years and reducing smoking
• Preventing teenage pregnancy and supporting teenage parents
• Improving housing conditions

During this the first full year of implementing the action plan, a number of developments were underway to tackle the priorities. A "Connect 4 Life" pilot project had been implemented with four General Practitioners in the most health disadvantaged areas in the Borough, whereby people in the age group 50 - 64 years, who had more than two lifestyle risk factors, were offered support to develop a personal health plan. The scheme offered increased access to lifestyle interventions and telephone support.

Tameside Acute Trust had introduced a smoke free policy, which was being developed for implementation by the PCT, the Mental Health Trust and Tameside MBC. The Smoking Cessation Service had been re-organised creating a dedicated Tameside and Glossop service, with sessions targeting areas of deprivation and BME groups.

A local obesity strategy had been developed to cover prevention, identification, management and treatment. Those successful Lifestyle clubs which targeted people with a body mass indicator of over 28 had been developed and the Tameside Healthy Food Award scheme had been expanded.

To assist with improving nutrition in pregnancy, two Infant Feeding Leads had been appointed to target improvements in breast feeding rates

A local Enhanced Sexual Health Service for young people had been implemented, which offered additional clinics in areas of need, with pharmacy based emergency hormonal contraception and a condom distribution scheme.

Details were also submitted of the areas where the action plan was supporting the reduction of child health inequalities which would include prosecution of illegal cigarette sales to under 16's; smoking cessation targeted at young men; extension of the Health Catering Award schemes to secondary schools and development of comprehensive food policies within schools; increased access to physical activity in school based settings; targeted home visiting interventions to reduce rates of child injury; and information and advice sessions in relation to vitamin D supplements for BME women and families.

Issues for 2006 included the delivery of the "Choosing Health" White Paper, which would include additional action on diet, activity and obesity, alcohol interventions, stop smoking services, sexual health modernisation.

The Partnership was therefore requested to -

1. consider the contents of the report and where the Children and Young People's Partnerships' main spheres of influence lay, in relation to the factors that could Influence health improvement and health inequalities;
2. consider which health inequalities issues the Partnership is in the strongest position to take action on;
3. develop a view on which issues it would be possible for the Partnership to have the Greatest impact upon;
4. consider how both practice and policy within the Partnership might be adapted to address relevant health inequalities more effectively.

3. Youth Matters - Consultation on the "Green Paper for Youth" 

Sue Nathan , Area Manager for the Youth Service, gave an interesting presentation on the preparation and the consultation with had taken place on 16th October 2005 with young people on the Government Green Paper for Youth.

The Consultation Day, which took place at Dukinfield Town Hall , involved over 70 young people, representing every town, young men and women, disabled and able-bodied, between the ages of 13 - 19 years. They came from youth centres, schools, colleges, care leavers, young carers, homeless young people, young parents, and black and white young people.

The question put to them was "What are your views on the Green Paper for Youth?"

The young people had attended a series of briefing meetings during the previous two weeks and discussed the five main themes with friends, families, youth works and Personal Advisors from the Youth Service.

The actual Consultation Day, took the form of a giant interactive board game, discussion groups and presentations by the young people. Their views were inspiring, challenging and questioning and contributed to the development of young people's services in Tameside from 2005 onwards.

Details of the formal feedback from the Day was circulated and the Chair requested that a further report be submitted to the next meeting of the Partnership.

4. Consultation with Children and Young People Relating to Service Redesign and Improvements

Ahmeena Ahmed reported upon a consultation which had taken place between July and October 2005, with children aged between 5 and 13 years, young people between 13 and 19 years, as well as children and young people from BME communities, throughout the Borough were consulted regarding the availability of a wide range of services. It was intended to use the results of the consultation, where possible, to inform the way in which services were developed.

The consultation was undertaken by means of questionnaires and face-to-face interviews using the following key questions, namely:-

1. Where do young people want services, ie schools, town centres, together with issues relating to access, opening times and availability.
2. What outcomes would young people want from services on offer.
3. What did young people want from confidentiality and privacy in relation to specific services.
4. What did BME communities requires from services in relation to the above questions.

In the 13 - 19 years old category, of the 159 respondents, 74.22% were white with 25.78% of BME origin, with the majority preferring to access services regarding health, safe sex and sexual advice, counselling services and leisure and sports facilities, through schools, health centres, local centre bases, as well as both written and on-line information.

The majority of BME young people had similar preferences to their white peers in relation to location of services, although a greater percentage preferred more written and on-line information.

In the 5 - 13 years age group, the majority wanted counselling available all times, with differences in access points being identified between the BME and non BME children.

In relation to questions regarding childcare, the majority believed childcare should be available at all times close to home, with the BME requiring a greater proportion availability at weekends.

With regard to "help for families", again the majority felt this should be available at all times at a place close to home, as well as by means of telephone and internet.

On the question of "Learning Opportunities", the best place for learning was school, with the majority saying the best time was after school. The non BME group did not require extra help in the evenings compared with 22% of the BME group.

On issues of "health care", 28% of the BME groups preferred access to health advice via the internet, compared with 46% of the non BME group preferring a place close to home; with 23% also requiring access through school or the internet.

The Partnership were mindful that the feedback from the consultation only represented a relatively small proportion of children and young people across the Borough and requested a further report be submitted to the next meeting of this Partnership.

5. Neighbourhood Focussed Road Safety Bid 2006/2007

Caroline Gregory, the Principal Neighbourhood Regeneration Officer, advised the Partnership of the work being undertaken to reduce road casualties particularly in housing renewal areas. To this end work was being focussed on the areas around the four mosques in Ashton and the St. Peter's area of Ashton.

It was also reported that a Tameside MBC had been successful in attracting a £40,000 bid from the Neighbourhood Road Safety Initiative, being one of only four local authorities to attract such funding.

There were three main areas for development which would focus on safer routes, community cohesion and volunteer schemes around the mosques. It was also proposed to develop a Road Safety Training area in Oxford Park .

6. Young People's Drug Group

Lisa Lees, Joint Head of the Community Safety Unit, Tameside MBC, submitted a report up-dating the Partnership on progress again key performance indicators within the Young People's key objection within the National Drug Strategy.

The National Drug Strategy was established in 1998 and was a 10 year strategy aimed at reducing substance misuse, with four key objectives, namely:-

• Young People
• Adult treatment
• Enforcement
• Communities

The local strategy was currently being developed by the Young People's Group of the Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership, however, it was anticipated that it would eventually become the responsibility of the Children and Young People's Partnership planning and commissioning framework.

A Borough wide analysis was undertaken in 2001, which established the need for a young people's misuse service and in 2002 Branching Out was established. Branching Out provided a confidential service to young people and their families who were seeking advice and assistance around substance misuse and also worked alongside professionals such as youth workers and teachers in this area.

The service was provided in a four tiers. Tier one was universal education and prevention, provided in schools by the Healthy Schools Team. Tier Two targeted groups of young people who were considered vulnerable either due to being a "looked after" child or in the criminal justice system. Tiers three and four provided treatment, working one to one with young people providing advice and support.

Details were also submitted of the second quarter performance against the national Key Performance Indicators.

7. Youth Offending Team

Consideration was given to a report submitted by John Whittle, Head of the Youth Offending Team, Tameside MBC, giving a broad overview of how the team contributed to the prevention of offending. The service was established as part of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 and its main aim was to prevent offending by children and young people.

It service users included young people, families, victims, communities and partner agencies, currently dealing with over 450 young people per year. The Team worked as a bridge between enforcement and support, with officers attending the at the Magistrates Youth Court at each sitting and working with both young people and their parents and families where applicable.

Details were also submitted of the key Performance Indicators to which the Team operated.

8. Integration Project Team

Cheryl Eastwood, Assistant Executive Director (Services for Children and Young People), Tameside MBC, submitted a report outlining the progress made to date in relation to the integration of services for children and young people, in response to the provisions of the Children Act 2004.

A further report would be submitted to the next meeting of this Partnership when it was hoped that a clearer picture would be available particularly in relation the co-ordination of services on a four area geographical basis.

9. Dates of Future Meetings

It was noted that the Partnership would meet on the following dates, all meetings commencing at 2.30 pm.:-

• Thursday 16th February 2006
• Thursday 27th April 2006
• Thursday 22nd June 2006
• Thursday 10th August 2006