Children and Young People's Strategic Partnership

Minutes - 19th April 2007 

Commenced: 10.00 am
Terminated : 12.05 pm

Present :

Councillor AL Gwynne - Chair
Tom Coffey, Tameside MBC
Alison Cresswell, Learning and Skills Council
Sue Garnett, Tameside MBC
Paul Greenway, Salford
Caroline Gregory, Tameside MBC
Veronica Hyde, Third Sector Coalition
Rafik Iddin, Tameside MBC
Lynda Johnson, Tameside Primary Headteachers
Tony Kay, Learning and Skills Council
Hameed Khan, Third Sector Coalition
Julie Lord, Tameside MBC
David Munday, Tameside & Glossop Primary Care Trust
Pat McKelvey, Tameside & Glossop Primary Care Trust
Sheila Piazza, Tameside MBC/Connexions
Chris Scarborough, Pennine Care
Bob Shaw, Tameside MBC
Ian Smith, Tameside MBC
Jim Taylor, Tameside MBC
Shaun Walton, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service
John Whittle, Youth Offending Team
Tracy Wood, Tameside and Glossop Primary Care Trust

64. Minutes

The Minutes of the meeting of the Partnership held on 22nd February 2007, having been circulated, were approved as a correct record subject to the following being included at the end of the first sentence of Minute 54 – Young People’s Drugs Key Performance Indicators – Up-Date – “…..would transfer to Children’s Services.”

65. Workforce Mapping Project

Partnership received a presentation by David Dalimore of Melnyn Consultancy who had undertaken a research project mapping out the children’s workforce across the Borough.

 66. Children & Young people's Strategic Partnership - 2007/08 Membership Proposals

66(a) Children & Young People’s Strategic Partnership Board

Further to Minutes 48 (14.12.06) and 55 (22.02.07) refer, details were submitted of the revised Membership of the above Board, and it was –

Resolved

That the revised Membership of the Children and Young People’s Partnership Board, as detailed in Appendix “A” to these Minutes be approved and adopted.

66(b) Children & Young People’s Strategic Partnership – Executive and Joint Commissioning Group – Terms of Reference

Consideration was given to the revised Terms of Reference for the above Executive and Joint Commissioning Group, and it was –

Resolved

That the revised Terms of Reference for the Children & Young People’s Strategic Partnership Executive and Joint Commissioning Group be approved and adopted, for details see Appendix “B” to these Minutes

66(c) Children & Young People’s Strategic Partnership – Every Child Matters Outcome Sub-Groups

Consideration was given to the revised Membership of the five Outcome Sub-Groups, and it was –

Resolved

That the revised Membership of the five Outcome Sub-Groups be approved for details see Appendix “C” to these Minutes.

67. Performance Reporting Schedule 2007/08

Tom Coffey, Head of Strategy and Commissioning Unit, Tameside MBC submitted a report proposing a schedule for reporting progress against the Partnership’s priorities which would develop the Partnership’s performance management and reporting processes, thus making the best use of information and ensuring the appropriate people contributed to the process.

The format to be employed was a “Report Card” method which was underpinned by the following principles and would be adhered to by the five Outcome Sub-Groups:-

To provide sufficient information to the Partnership Board to enable it to assess progress in outcomes for children and young people in the area.

• To enable the Partnership Board to identify priority issues and needs within the Borough.
• To support service planning and joint commissioning work to enable the most effective use of funds and resources.
• To aid the evaluation of service contributions to Every Child Matters outcomes.
• To prepare for Joint Area Review and annual performance assessments.
  

Details were also submitted of the next steps which the Outcome Sub-Groups would take to ensure reporting schedule was implemented appropriately.

Resolved

That the Performance Reporting schedule be approved and adopted by each of the five Outcome Sub-Groups.

68. Stay Safe Outcomes

68(a) Local Safeguarding Children Board – Third Quarter Management Information Report 2006/2007

Consideration was given to the Third Quarter Management Information report which detailed performance measures against the Child Protection Register.

Resolved

That the report be noted.

68(b) Anti-Bullying Development Plan

Consideration was given to the above Development Plan which focussed on the prevention of bullying in schools.

Resolved

That the Anti-Bullying Development Plan be approved and adopted.

68(c) Looked After Children – Stability of Placements Project 2005/2006

The Partnership Board gave consideration to a report which analysed the number of placements moves experienced by looked after children during 2005/2006 and the measures being taken to ensure such placement moves were kept to a minimum.

Resolved

That the report be noted.

 69. 2007 Needs Assessment

Tom Coffey, Head of Strategy and Commissioning Unit, TMBC, reported that work was continuing on the final version of the 2007 Needs Assessment which would be published later in the year. He added that up-dates would be submitted to future meetings of this Partnership Board.

70. Area Co-ordination Action Plan 2007/08

Tom Coffey, Head of Strategy and Commissioning Unit, TMBC, reported that an Area Co-ordination Management Team had now been established in each of the four areas. Work was now on-going in respect of the development of action plans, based on their Terms of Reference and progress reports would be submitted throughout the year.

71. Audit Commission Proposal

Details were submitted of the Audit Commission’s proposal to support this Partnership in the review of progress in respect of the “Change for Children” programme.

Resolved

That this Partnership Board enters into further discussions with the Audit Commission regarding the submitted proposals.

72. Teenage Pregnancy

Ian Smith, Executive Director, Services for Children and Young People, TMBC, reported that Tameside, in line with a number of other Local Authorities in the North West had seen an increase in rates of teenage conceptions during 2005. In order to implement an effective strategy, this Partnership needed to ensure that the issue of teenage pregnancy remained a priority over a sustained period of time to achieve the social and behavioural changes required.

The key issues for the Partnership were detailed as follows:-

•  Ensure a better understanding and key responsibilities of the Teenage Pregnancy Strategy for all key stakeholders.
• Implement programmes of work that raise aspirations and achievements of young people at risk.
• Implement the findings from the Young People’s Sexual Health Review.

Discussions had been held at Ministerial level and a Tameside “Champion” would be nominated and it was further suggested that this matter become a standing item on each Agenda of this Partnership.

Resolved

That the report be noted and further reports be submitted to each meeting of this Partnership Board.

73. 2007/08 Priorities

Ian Smith, Executive Director, Services for Children and Young People, TMBC, advised the Partnership Board of the 11 priorities which had been agreed following the Priorities Meetings which had taken place in December 2006 between Tameside MBC, the Primary Care Trust, the Department for Education and Skills, the Commission for Social Care Inspection, the Strategic Health Authority and the Government Office North West, and subsequent discussions with the Chief Executives of our main partners and this Partnership.

The agreed Priorities were as follows:-

• To reduce the rates of teenage pregnancy.
• To continue to strengthen support for children and young people’s mental health needs through a comprehensive CAMHS.
• To continue to raise attainment in all Key Stages with a strong focus on under-attaining groups and schools.
• To improve attendance and inclusion outcomes in targeted schools.
• To increase the proportion of young people moving into education, training and employment.
• To improve children and young people’s health outcomes, including reduction in obesity and substance misuse, through the promotion of healthy lifestyles.

In addition to the above priorities, the Partnership would:-

• Continue to work hard to reduce the impact of domestic abuse on children, improve the stability of placements for looked after children and ensure that safeguarding issues are kept high on the agenda.
• To develop integrated services for children with disabilities.
• To develop a comprehensive and well publicised range of support for parents.
  

Resolved

That the report be noted.

74. "The Youth Offer"

Sheila Piazza, Head of Youth Support Services, TMBC, reported upon the Council’s duty to secure access to positive activities for young people, outlined the new requirements and explained progress to date in achieving those requirements.

Resolved

That the report be noted.

75. Children & Young People's Strategic Partnership Annual Report and Tameside Strategic Partnership Agreement

75(a) Partnership Agreement

Ian Smith, Executive Director, Services for Children and Young People, TMBC, submitted for approval, the final version of the Partnership Agreement between Tameside Strategic Partnership Board and Children and Young People’s Strategic Partnership.

Resolved

That the Partnership Agreement between Tameside Strategic Partnership Board and Children and Young People’s Partnership be approved and adopted.

75(b) Children & Young People’s Strategic Partnership – Annual Report

Ian Smith, Executive Director, Services for Children and Young People, TMBC, submitted a report which provided a summary of this Partnership’s performance against the Community Strategy key measures and performance indicators as, detailed in the Partnership Agreement, and which also set out the Partnership’s priorities for the future.

Resolved

That the report be noted.

76. Change for Children Integration

Tom Coffey, Head of Strategy and Commissioning Unit, TMBC, submitted a report detailing progress to date in respect of integrating services for children and young people in Tameside and making specific reference to the following areas:-

• Joint planning
• Joint commissioning
• Performance management
• Integrated processes
• Participation and consultation
• Workforce development
• Communication
• Voluntary and Community links

Resolved

That the report be noted.

77. Dates of Future Meetings

It was noted that the Partnership would meet on the following dates with all meetings commencing at 10.00 am-:

• 21st June 2007
• 16th August 2007
• 18th October 2007
• 13th December 2007