Area Coordination Management Meeting

Hyde, Hattersley and Longdendale

Time: 9.30am
Date: Wednesday 19th March 2008
Venue: Flowery Centre, Hyde

Present
Sue Garnett, Area Co-ordinator & Chair
Navin Keshani, Hyde Assessment & Family Support Team
Jo Brown, Connexions
Joyce Boyd, Youth Offending Team
Vicky Cuddy, Children’s Centres & Extended Schools
Beryl Oliver, Secondary School rep – Hyde Tech
Chris Thean, Hattersley Neighbourhood Partnership
Gill Gibson, Tameside & Glossop PCT
Denise Smith, Cash Box Credit Union Ltd

Note taker: Jo Cole

Item 1: Welcome

Sue welcomed everyone to the meeting and explained that there are two guest speakers present today; Denise Smith and Navin Keshani. Introductions were made around the table.Chris Thean attended the meeting for the first time and introduced himself as Assistant Neighbourhood Manager Hattersley P/Ship, Theme group coordinator Children & Young People.

Item 2: Apologies

Linda Sidebottom, New Charter Housing Trust
Jane Cooke, Children’s Social Care - Assessment Team
Helen Hobday, EBSD Outreach Team – Inclusive Services
Mary Clowrey, Education Welfare Service
Janet Cooper, Children’s Social Care – Family Support Team
Janet Rathburn, Primary School Rep – Dowson

Item 3: Notes of last meeting and matter arising

The minutes were accepted as a true and accurate record with the following matters arising: -

Item 4.1 – Feedback from Neighbourhood Network Event on 15th December

Chris gave an update. A meeting is taking place tomorrow to plan the second neighbourhood network event, which will be taking place in a pub. This will target groups of the community who may not have been reached.

Item 12 – Good News Items

Sue has visited Acresfield House and a future Strategy and Commissioning team meeting will be taking place there.
Vicky also reported that she has an interest in using it, as an outreach base for the Children’s Centre

Item 13 – AOB

Agenda Items
Sue requested that anybody wanting items on the agenda, to contact her. It is important that the agenda is set by everyone.

Request from Veronica Hyde
Veronica would like to thank those who completed the template. The information received was of good quality and was very useful.

Connexions Statistics
Jo Brown reported that she unfortunately has not been able to produce the statistics for this meeting but will definitely have them for the next meeting.
She also reported that Annie O’Malley sits on the Achieve Economic Wellbeing Outcome Theme Group so will be able to take the statistics mentioned herself.

Participation of Children and Young People in Child Protection Processes
Jo Cole reported that she has not yet received the packs from Jane Cooke so has been unable to distribute them. She will chase this up.

Action items:	Person responsible:	Deadline:
Jo Brown to bring statistics to the next meeting	Jo Brown	22nd May
Jo Cole to chase up packs with Jane Cooke	Jo Cole	As soon as possible

Item 4: Presentation from Cash Box Credit Union

Denise Smith attended for this item and gave a verbal presentation accompanied by a handout.

• Cash Box Credit Union Ltd is a financial co-operative. It has been operating in Tameside for 3 years and was created from the coming together of 5 credit unions from in and around Tameside.
• Cash Box Credit Union Ltd covers the whole of Tameside. There is another credit union called Money Spinner that covers Hattersley and Dukinfield only.
• The advantages of becoming a member with Cash Box Credit Union Ltd are: -  - Loans are available from £50 up to £15,000. Most banks and building societies have a minimum loan amount.
  - No penalties for early repayment.
  - Payments are flexible – can be standing order, cash, or salary deduction (if an employee of Tameside Council, Tameside Sports Trust, New Charter Housing Trust, or Tameside Magistrates Court).
• To become a member you need to:
  - Live and/or work in Tameside
  - Fill in an application form
  - Have proof of ID
  - Pay a £2 one-off membership fee
  - Pay in £1 to open your account.
• There are currently 2700 members with 450 of those being junior members (under 18s).
• There are currently 45 staff but only 2 are paid, with the rest being volunteers.
• An external audit is being undertaken at the moment. The accounts for 07/08 will be looked at as part of this and then the dividend for this year will be announced.
• There is no real budget for advertising. They therefore have to rely on being invited to events and meetings like this and doing presentations at schools, parents evening etc.

Denise thanked everyone for their time and invited questions and comments.

1. Jo Brown was particularly interested in the criteria for becoming a volunteer – e.g. age, training, interview, CRB checks.
2. Sue suggested Denise speak to the area co-ordinators collectively about there being a Cash Box stand at the area network events.
3. Vicky questioned who decides where the collection points are. Denise replied by explaining they are set up wherever they can get premises and where volunteers are able to get to. They are currently at Ashton-under-Lyne - Ground Floor, Council Offices; Denton – Town Hall, Market Street; Hyde – Town Hall, Market Street.
4. Vicky suggested it would be useful to put an advert for Cash Box Credit Union in their local What’s On guide. Denise thanked her for this as a good promotion opportunity.

Spare copies of the handout are available for the ACMT members who weren’t present at today’s meeting. Please contact Jo Cole.

Item 5: Role of Community Link Development Worker

Navin Keshani attended for this item. Her presentation focused on the Madrasah Project and how it has been used to build bridges with the Muslim community.

• The project was launched on 22 November 2006 by the LSCB.
• Madrasahs are Islamic schools within Muslim communities. 1800 boys and girls aged between 4 and 17 years attend the Madrasah in the morning and evening every day including weekends, as well as attending a mainstream school.
• Madrasahs deliver Islamic education in order to preserve religious, cultural and linguistic identities.
• The aim of the project is to safeguard children within BME community, promote effective behaviour management of Madrasah pupils, to provide guidance for the protection of children, and to discuss methods of ensuring the health and safety of Madrasah staff and pupils.
• There are currently 3 Mosques in this area, located on Jackson Street, Ridling Lane and Croft Street.
• Within the Madrasahs, there are Imaams - religious teachers, Ustaads – male teachers, and Ustaanis – female teachers. These all provide voluntary teaching. They have not received any form of child protection training and the Mosques do not have child protection policies.
• Guidance has been written for Imaams on child protection issues and referrals. Training has been offered to all mosques. Most staff of Madrasahs have been CRB checked.
• The Children in Need Framework has been launched to the Mosques.
• A Madrasah Project Steering Group has been set up, with reps from various services working with children and young people.
• Membership of the Steering Group consists of:
  - Members of Mosques
  - LSCB Training Officers
  - A Policy Development Worker
  - An Equalities Officer
  - A School Teacher
  - Children’s Centre Managers
  - Police reps
  - Hyde Bangladeshi Welfare Association rep
  - T3SC rep
  - Health Visitor
  - Doctor
  - School Nurse
  - Ashton Regeneration rep
  - Project Leader (Navin).
• The average class size in the Madrasahs is 60 children.
• The Straight Path was written in consultation with Tameside Mosques. It contains:
  - What is Islam
  - Safeguarding Children
  - Roles and Responsibilities
  - Safeguarding Procedures
  - Positive Behaviours Management
  - Recruitment and Training
  - Health and Safety
• Navin explained that there are currently no copies of The Straight Path available. As soon as more copies get printed, Navin will pass these on to Sue / Jo for distribution.
• The key elements of the work plan are:
  - Evaluation / next steps
  - Delivery of training in mosques – done
  - Child Protection polices in mosques – taking place at the moment
  - Producing guidance – done
  - Meeting with community – fluid with residents moving in an out of the borough
  - Expanding involvement – need to look at people involved
  - Promoting publicity – ongoing
  - Raise awareness – ongoing

Navin concluded her presentation by inviting questions and comments.

How did Navin get involved in this project?
Something she feels very passionate about. She visited the Mosques to pray and then spoke to Imaams about the guidance and child protection issues.

Where are the Muslim families in this area originally from?
Mostly from rural villages in Bangladesh.

How do we deal with Muslims from different countries who have different cultural beliefs?
Navin doesn’t believe it is a barrier or a problem.

Anybody wishing to speak to Navin further can contact her. Beryl expressed an interest in meeting with Navin to discuss the future plans of Hyde Technology School. Jo Brown also expressed an interest in meeting Navin separately regarding young carers and teenage parents.

Sue suggested that Navin returns once copies of the guidance have been received and people have had time to read it.

Spare copies of the presentation are available for the ACMT members not present at today’s meeting. Please contact Jo Cole.

Action items:	Person responsible:	Deadline:
Navin to send Jo C / Sue copies of the guidance once more are printed.	Navin	As soon as possible
Jo C / Sue to distribute copies of the guidance once received from Navin.	Jo C / Sue	Once received from Navin.

Item 6: Area Profile – Final Version December 2007

Sue reported that work is continuing on the Area Profile. At the area co-ordinator team meeting yesterday the Area Profile was discussed, looking at what it is used for and how it can be used further.

It links into the Prevention Strategy which is currently in draft form and it will be used as a way of identifying where there is a gap/need for provision.

Sue has invited Jane Forrest to a future Area Coordination Management Team meeting to explain her new role as Joint Commissioning Manager. Jane will use the Area Profile to identify areas where commissioning should be targeted.

Sue acknowledged that the Area Profile needs to contain much more data to ensure any commissioning work is adequately informed.

Gill
It’s not just what we see as a gap, it’s what the community sees as a gap. More consultation work is needed.

Vicky
There needs to be a strategy for tackling the issue of different cultures within the workforce. For example, Bangledeshi workers feeling intimidated.

Joyce
Need to look at the 4 areas and make comparisons. Something that has proven to work well in one area can be commissioned to another area.

Sue
Need to look at data from all areas – crime rates, employments rates etc.

Gill
This can be a huge task to unpeel the layers to establish why figures are higher or lower in a particular area.

Sue informed everyone of a document that is published annually by the Policy Team within the Council, called ‘Quality of Life’. It is a box file containing 8 booklets about the profile of the community in Tameside.

Anybody who would like a copy of this, please contact Lorraine Kitching.

Sue requested suggestions for any further information that may need to go in the Area Profile.

Action items:	Person responsible:	Deadline:
Anybody with suggestions for the Area Profile email Sue	All	As soon as possible

Item 7: Area Action Plan Updates

7.1 Action Plan No. 2: Integrated Processes

7.1.1 Aligning Common Assessments and Referrals: Outcome of Consultation

Sue reported that following the consultation to align common assessments and referrals, a recommendation report will be submitted to the CLT and the CYPSP to the effect that:

‘When a Common Assessment has been undertaken it will be used to request services without the need for additional paperwork or referral forms.’

Sue also went through some of the responses received.

7.1.2 Service Information Directory: Prototype 2

Sue reported that she has had the opportunity to look at the new design of the Service Information Directory (SID) and feels it is a great improvement. It will be officially launched in April.

Sue reported that suggestions were made to link in with schools’ ICT lessons – maybe 10 minutes at the end of a lesson to show the children and young people how to access SID.

Beryl suggested this may fit in well with the healthy living they are having at Hyde Tech.

Chris questioned whether there have been any young people involved in the new design. Sue confirmed that young people have been consulted.

Action items:	Person responsible:	Deadline:
Sue and Beryl to discuss incorporating SID in lessons.	Sue / Beryl	As soon as possible

7.2 Action Plan No. 8: Monitoring Progress to Integration

7.2.1 Audit Commission Survey: Outcomes Presentation

Handouts of the Audit Commission presentation summarising the outcomes of the Frontline Staff Survey were tabled at the meeting.

Sue went through the presentation in more detail and requested that everyone take this information away to digest and feedback to their teams.

A discussion followed regarding the Common Assessment processes.

Joyce
There are issues regarding completing a Common Assessment and obstacles because social workers insist on a Common Assessment being completed – what about cases that need immediate attention.

Gill
The feedback from health visitors is that they feel they have done everything they can and they feel it should be a social care issue but the case doesn’t meet the criteria.

Jo B
Surely this is an issue that needs taking back to the LSCB. If the lead professional feels it meets the threshold for social care but they don’t meet the threshold, what happens?

Gill
There is also an issue regarding lead professionals’ opinions on what is adequate parenting / adequate care and what meets the threshold.

Vicky
Barnardos are qualified to work with families across the area to establish if they need additional support.

Sue
There is the fear factor for filling in the forms, which needs to be overcome. Hopefully the appointment of the Caf Advisor will assist in supporting staff, aid consultation and embed the processes .

Jo
Would it be useful to have a debate at each of the 4 area co-ordinator meetings regarding completing Common Assessment and any gaps / issues. The collective views can then be gathered from across the borough.

Action items:	Person responsible:	Deadline:
Take the presentation to feed back to teams	All	Ongoing

7.2.2 Management Information Update

Sue circulated the statistics for January and February.

The general feeling was that the figures are incorrect and they do not reflect the activity taking place across the borough. How can we have a discussion about these figures if they are not accurate?

Joyce questioned whose responsibility it is to put the information on JASPER. Gill replied by explaining that it should be the person who completes the CAF. It was acknowledged that this could be why the figures are not accurate – this needs more clarity.

Gill reported that Mary Clark inputs the data for PCT and she has definitely inputted more than what the figures show. Gill will bring the statistics that Mary can print off to the next meeting.

Need to check that post code and addresses are correct. This will affect numbers

Action items:	Person responsible:	Deadline:
Feedback the feelings of the group re: the stats to the rest of the Strategy and Commissioning Team	Sue Garnett	At next team meeting
Gill to bring stats available to her to the next meeting	Gill Gibson	22nd May 2008

7.2.3 CAF Champions Project

Sue reported that a CAF Adviser will be recruited on a 12 month secondment. The job description is completed and is ready to be advertised. There will also be CAF Champions who will already be working in various settings e.g. children’s centres, schools, etc and will act as champions for their setting / area.

7.3 Action Plan No. 9.2: Area Action Plan 2007/08

Sue explained that the briefing note circulated with the agenda for this meeting details the nine elements of the Area Action Plan, giving a judgement of heartening or troubling for each one, depending on progress made.

This briefing note will assist when writing next year’s Action Plan.

Item 8: Review of remit, role and function of ACMT

It was agreed that this item will be deferred to 22nd May to give it the time and focus it deserves.

Action items:	Person responsible:	Deadline:
Add to agenda for 22nd May	Jo Cole	8th May 2008

Item 9: PCT Consultation for New GP Practice

Sue explained that she had included this in the agenda for information purposes as it doesn’t affect Hyde, Hattersley & Longdendale. The areas that the proposal is aimed at are Denton, Droylsden, Audenshaw, Mossley & Stalybridge.

The PCT have received additional funding for some new GP Practices and a consultation is now being undertaken to decide where these new practices will be located. The document that was circulated with the papers for this meeting contains a form for comments and feedback. People can also leave feedback on the PCT website.

Sue requested that everyone takes this information away to relay to their teams who may live or work in the areas affected.

Item 10: JAR Area Network Event

Sue reminded everyone that the JAR Area Network Event for Hyde, Hattersley and Longdendale is taking place on Monday 7th April, 1.30pm – 4.30pm at Hyde Town Hall. Anyone who has not yet booked on, please contact Jo Cole.

Dates of the other areas were given in case staff could not attend the Hyde event

Item 11: AOB

Good News Items

• Joyce reported that the YOT Prevention Team have now moved into Clarence Arcade, along with Branching Out, the Teenage Pregnancy Team, and the 16-19 Mental Health Team. Connexions are already based there.
  
  
• Vicky reported on the Play Lottery Bid that has been submitted this week. If successful, the money will be spent on refurbishing the play area of Stamford Park.
  
  
• Beryl informed everyone that Hyde Technology School are holding a health week, entitled ‘Feel Great’, focusing on self-esteem, obesity and oral health.
  
  She requested ideas for who could have a stand during this week to promote their services. It was suggested that there should be reps from PCT, New Charter and the Youth Service.
  
  Jo B requested that there is a Connexions stand – she will speak to the PA for the school. She also suggested that Beryl speaks to Off the Record.
  
  Sue suggested having a stall promoting SID.
  
  Beryl will email Jo C with all the details of the event for them to be circulated to the ACMT.
  
  
• Jo B reported that the Teenage Parent Peer Education programme has been delivered to all Year 10s at Alder and Two Trees. The feedback received from the evaluation sheets has been very positive.
  
  
• Chris fed back on a conference he has recently attended, ‘Young People – Positive Engagement at Neighbourhood Level’.

Action items:	Person responsible:	Deadline:
Arrange for the Connexions PA for Hyde Tech to have a stand during their health week.	Jo Brown to arrange	As soon as possible
Sue to follow up having SID stall at the Hyde Tech health week	Sue Garnett	As soon as possible
Beryl to email details of health week to Jo C	Beryl Oliver	As soon as possible

The meeting closed at 11.50am

Sue thanked Vicky for her hospitality and reminded everyone that the next meeting takes place on 22nd May at The Jet Centre.

Glossary

• ACMT - Area Co-ordination Management Team
• APIR - Assessment, Planning, Implement and Review
• BEST - Behaviour and Education Support Team
• BME - Black and Ethnic Minority
• BSF - Building Schools for the Future
• BVPIs - Best Value Performance Indicators
• CAF - Common Assessment Framework
• CRB - Criminal Records Bureau
• CWDC - Children’s Workforce Development Council
• CYPSP - Children and Young People Strategic Partnership
• DfES - Department for Education and Skills
• ECM - Every Child Matters
• ISSP (team) - Intensive Supervision and Surveillance
• JAR - Joint Area Review
• JASPER - Joint Assessment System for Prevention and Early Referral
• NEET - Not in Education, Employment or Training
• NRF - Neighbourhood Renewal Fund
• OCN - Open College Network
• OFSTED - The Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills
• PAYP - Positive Activities for Young People
• PCT - Primary Care Trust
• PSHE - Personal, Social and Health Education
• PTA - Parent and Teacher Association
• RAP - Resettlement and Aftercare
• SENCO - Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator
• SID - Service Information Directory
• T3SC - Tameside Third Sector Coalition
• TAC - Tameside Administrative Centre
• YOF - Youth Opportunity Fund
• YOT - Youth Offending Team