Area Coordination Management Meeting

Hyde, Hattersley and Longdendale

Time:  9.30am – 11.30am
Date:  Thursday 11th June 2009
Venue:  Hyde Technology School

Present:

Ameena Ahmed -  0-19 Children’s Services Manager
Jo Brown -  Connexions
Kelley Connolly -  Hyde Tech
Julian Sacofsky - TMBC
Beryl Oliver -  Hyde Technology
Helen Hobday -  BLIS
Denise Dawber -  Hyde Tech
Vicky Cuddy -  Children’s Centres
Tim Grahamslaw - TMBC
Mark Burrows -  Youth Service
PC Jed Nelson - GMP
Haje Rakhman - TMBC

Note taker: Lindsay Patchett

Item 1: Welcome

Ameena welcomed everyone to the meeting and introductions were made round the table.

Item 2: Apologies

Caroline Boardman
Jane Cook
Liz Taylor
Emma Barker-Clarke
Gill Gibson

Item 3: Notes of last meeting and matters arising

Minutes of the last meeting agreed as accurate.

Item 5: Hyde Technology calendar – Beryl has met with Linda from New Charter and calendar is now progressing.
Need any dates from the group – these can be added to the calendar.

Item 4: Family Group Conferencing – Julian Sacofsky

Julian Sacofsky gave a brief background to Family Group Conferences:

The idea for FGC originated in New Zealand. Social workers working with Maori families found that care packages were not working as children were being placed in “white” families and this was proving not to be a positive experience for the children. They therefore decided to work with the whole family when problems arose. By engaging the whole family they found that placements were available within the wider family as opposed to placing children with families from other cultures.

Julian explained the process for FGC within Tameside.

• Members of the family will be involved alongside professional at the family meeting. The professionals will give details of their input with the child/children and any concerns they have. The family will be given “private” time to discuss the issues raised and their ideas will be put into the “pot” and looked at alongside other solutions offered by professionals.
• Professionals wishing to set up family meetings will make referrals through Julian.
• Julian stated that he had already had a lot of requests/enquiries for meetings.
• The earlier the meeting is called the better the outcomes appear to be.
• Everyone who attends the meeting is there because the family have agreed to them being there.
• The family are required to complete a consent form before Julian contacts them.
• Families may see this process as a better option before “social work” involvement.
• Some families have a very good capacity to deal with family issues

Vicky asked when would a Family Conference be considered. Julian responded that Family Conferences are suitable at any stage – the earlier the better. At the moment Julian is having to concentrate on the “high end” cases because of resources.

Julian distributed a leaflet giving details of the service and his contact details.

Item 5: Area Profiles

Deferred to next meeting

Item 6: Community Cohesion

Haje Rakhman gave an update of the situation in the Hyde area.

• Partnership meets quarterly
• The use of cultural activities to assist
• Tameside Hate Crime Panel – intervention group to look at the problems
• Hyde – Pre bi-election – group of Bangladeshi youths involved with an incident with a white boy
• Hyde intervention group have devised an action plan following consultation with young people to see what the problems are.
• Youth service have put in additional Friday evening provision.
• Local practitioners group meeting to highlight services available.
• Good work being undertaken with voluntary groups
• Key contacts to be circulated

Ged: there have been further incidents between the groups

• 2 incidents of attacks by Asian gangs
• Need help from other agencies
• Need to engage the young people in activities

Haje: We can provide an update of community cohesion on a regular basis to the group.

Ameena: “ Work is still happening, but we need to strengthen links with Community Services.

Kelly Connolly – agreed to attend meetings with Community Cohesion group
Jo Brown – is happy to send a rep to the meetings.

Mark Burrows:

• New Charter has paid for sessions at the gym for 10 – 15 young people
• Concern about how provision is mapped across the area
• Need to look at community cohesion for the Gee Cross area
• Open for the weekend initiative trying to get a beach built – working to bring sports teams together
• Mark needs to be aware of what is happening from voluntary sector
• Looking at seasonality sports in Hyde Park – Outreach Team

Ameena: SID has a link for the police to be able to download activities

Vicky – Play day at Stamford Park 9th August – 11.00 – 4.00

Item 7: Common Processes update

CAF numbers have improved. 12 CAFs for HHL.

Item 8: CYPP Review

Review going to Strategic Partnership next Thursday.
The new plan for 2010-2013 will be written over the next few months, before October 2009.

Item 9: Youth Online Survey

Tim Grahamslaw (Student Placement) presented to results of the Youth Online Survey Relevant to the Hattersley, Hyde and Longdendale area schools.

Item 10: Update on Early Intervention Programme

Sinead Brophys team will give feedback from the consultation to the area meetings

Item 11: Any other Business

• Ameena gave details of incidents of Bogus Callers, information given out the meeting members
• Hyde Tech are to have a Health Awareness “market” on 9th July – 9.30 – 3.00. Different agencies involved – focus on ECM outcomes
• ECM standards assessment taking place on 7th July at Hyde Tech
• Longdendale Children’s Centre now open
• Money approved for Bradley Green Children’s Centre.
• Drive to encourage young parents to attend Newton Centre – especially those with under 5’s
• This meeting was Beryl Oliver’s last meeting. Ameena and Kelley thanks Beryl for the hard work and excellent contribution she had made to the group.
• Beryl thanked the group and wished to give particular mention to Linda Sidebottom of New Charter Housing Trust for the many opportunities she had given to Hyde Tech.

Item 12: Date/Venue of next meeting

6th August 2009 – Youth Offending Team – Ashton.