Area Coordination Management Meeting

Denton, Droylsden and Audenshaw

Time:  10.00
Date:   Friday 18 July 2008
Venue: Greenside Children’s Centre

Present:

Bob Shaw - Area Co-ordinator & Chair
Chris Harris - Connexions
Dave Hoyle - TMBC
Susan Jones - Family Information Centre
Malcolm Knight - TMBC
John Rogers - Greenside Primary School & Children’s Centre
Maureen Willis - TMBC
Frankie Crichton - Littlemoss High School

Note taker: Lindsay Patchett 

Item 1: Welcome

Bob welcomed everyone to the meeting and thanked them for their attendance.

Item 2: Apologies

Debbie Duddridge
Diane King
Lorna Grennan
Paul Dodd
Sue Lennie

Item 3: Notes of last meeting and matter arising

Minutes of last minute agreed as accurate – no matters arising

Item 4: Families Information Service Presentation – Susan Jones

Sue Jones gave a very informative presentation on the Families Information Service

•  Background to change of service provided (section 12 Children’s Act 2006)
•  Families can access services through just one service
•  Good partnerships with a good knowledge of “what’s available”
•  Universal service not criteria based
•  Telephone help line
•  Information/assistance for children moving on from primary to secondary schools to ensure they meet the application deadlines.

Bob to circulate the presentation to members

Item 5: Common Process – David Hoyle

David Hoyle gave a brief outline of his role including his wider role in information sharing, working closely with the Area Co-ordinators and JASPER/ContactPoint. David and Bob then proceeded to discuss the attached papers and their background.

Both stressed the importance of the Partnership’s Statement of Expectations. The intention is to bring all staff on line with this way of working.

David gave details of the Action plan and how this had been designed and its purpose.

• Operational Managers to monitor the use of CAF’s
• To ensure adequate training for staff involved.

The Common Processes Position Statement was developed in part response to the recent JAR inspection but has proved a valuable tool in informing us where we are in relation to other Local Auhorities. It represents an encouraging position.

David stated that there would be support for practitioners now that the role of CAF Adviser had been recruited to. David informed the group that Jane-Ann Birkitt is to be the new CAF Adviser. Bob mentioned the area-based Common Processes workshops now planned for the autumn term. Members will be advised of dates shortly. (circulated 23rd July)

Bob also presented the latest JASPER performance measures. This presented an encouraging position for Denton, Droylsden and Audenshaw this last month (June) showing an increase in the information to share and action taken categories. There was a view that this might just be the result a single practitioner entry and the group continued to remain cautious. Bob also mentioned the quick survey to assess missing CAFs. Initial results showed that during April and May there were 11 CAFs recorded on JASPER and perhaps as many as 34 other CAFs completed but not recorded on JASPER. However, some further work needs to be undertaken to be sure of accuracy.

Ultimately, managers need to ensure that practitioners are recording common processes activities on JASPER.

Item 6: Area Profile 2009 – Bob Shaw

Bob talked through the Every Child Matters framework pointing out that National Indicators are neatly divided into the Quality of Life Indicators and Quality Service Measures.

This set of indicators will be the only indicators that central government will monitor Local Authorities on and from a C&YP partnership perspective, we will only be monitored on the National Indicators relevant to children.

It is hoped that in the Area Profile to make the indicators available by area and if possible by ward. This will give us much richer picture of service performance and outcomes for children. This led neatly onto the next presentation where the data from Connexions is already available by area but not presented to this group. This will provide an example of what parts of the Area Profile may look like in practice

Item 7: Local Connexions EET Data – Chris Harris

Chris gave a presentation on the young people in NEET (not in employment, education and training) figures for Tameside.

• There are a large amount of “unknowns” this could be because young people leave the area or their home due to family issues. The unknowns are chased up - via post, telephone and home visit. There is also a difference between someone who is unknown who should be at school (pre 16) and someone who is unknown and who has left school (post 16).
• It was suggested that the list of unknowns could be shared with other services as practitioners may well know the whereabouts and are engaged with some of the young people.
• The aim is to clear the list of unknowns with a view to better supporting young people into EET and reducing the numbers in not in EET (NEET).
• The monthly variation in these figures was also noted.
• Chris invited questions for the next session
  

Item 8: Reporting back on Local Networks – Bob Shaw

Bob gave feedback on the Local Networks and a list of future meetings circulated.

Feedback suggested that the main concerns were Road Safety/Safety in the summer

• John asked for more information on the audience for the Networks and what kind of Networks there are to allow members to decide which Networks they should attend.

Item 9: Date of Next meeting

19th September 2008, 10.00 – 12.00: Greenside Children’s Centre

Item 10: Any other Business

No other business