Children and Young People's Strategic Partnership

23rd March 2006

Commenced: 2.40pm     Terminated: 4.40pm

Present:

Councillor Wilkinson (Chair) - Tameside MBC
Ian Smith - Tameside MBC
Cheryl Eastwood - Tameside MBC
Ameena Ahmed - Tameside MBC
Jane Forrest - Tameside MBC
Jill Saunders - Consultant to Services for Children and Young People
Tracy Wood - Tameside & Glossop PCT
Sue Ward - Tameside & Glossop PCT
Sue Nathan - Youth Service
Julie Lord - Children's Fund NCH
Sheila Piazza - Connexions, Tameside
Bob Shaw - Surestart
Tom Coffey - Children's Social Care, Tameside MBC
John Whittle - Youth Offending Team
Councillor S. Smith - Tameside MBC
Sarah Newsam - Tameside MBC
Glen Hagan - CAFCASS 

Also in attendance at the invitation of the Chair, Councillor Ged Cooney

Apologies For Absence:

Janet Callender, Jim Taylor, Steve Dicks, Andy Searle, Chris Scarborough

21. Making It Better

Further to Minute 11 (16.02.06. refers), Cheryl Eastwood submitted a copy of the response to the Strategic Health Authority in respect of its proposed changes to childrens services across Greater Manchester.

It was agreed that following the minor amendment in relation to 24 hour, on-site paediatric consultant availability, the response be agreed by this Partnership and forwarded to the Strategic Health Authority.

22. Children And Young People's Plan

Jill Saunders submitted a draft copy of the above Plan and requested that any further amendments should be forwarded to Tom Coffey by no later than 13th April 2006, with a view to publishing the final version in May 2006.

23. Inter-Agency Duty To Co-Operate Compact

Further to Minutes 5 and 19(a) (10.11.05 and 16.02.06. refer respectively), Cheryl Eastwood submitted a final version of the "Duty to Co-Operate" Compact Agreement, which would be officially signed at a ceremony to be held on March 2006.

It was also proposed that the title of the Partnership be amended to be "Children and Young People's Strategic Partnership Trust".

Resolved:

That approval be given to the renaming of the Strategic Partnership as follows:- 

"Children and Young People's Strategic Partnership Trust".

24. Inter-Agency Governance And Partnership Arrangements

Jill Saunders submitted a report putting forward proposed partnership and governance arrangements for Services for Children and Young People, such proposals being based on discussion within the Integrated Services Project Team and this Strategic Partnership.

Details of the arrangements were as follows:-

1. A Constitution (previously approved by this Strategic Partnership and currently being finalised).
2. To review the Performance Indicators previously agreed between this Partnership and the Tameside Local Strategic Partnership and the Partnership Structure (for details see Appendix 1 to the report).
3. To establish five sub-groups of this Partnership to reflect the five themes of outcomes for children and young people, which would:-
   
   • collate evidence of the strengths and areas for development of the theme;
   • provide information on the strengths and weaknesses of the theme and recommended which services needed to be commissioned to the Joint Planning and Commissioning Group;
   • Ensure priorities for work as determined by this Partnership were co-ordinated and developed in the four children's service areas.
     
4. Incorporate the responsibilities relation to the National Services Framework into arrangements.

In addition it was reported that the remit of the Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB), would take primary responsibility for "Staying Safe" and it was therefore proposed that the (LSCB) and the Children and Young People's Strategic Partnership Trust were fully aware of each others work programmes.

With regard to the Joint Planning and Commissioning Group, with would be central to development of all the Trust's arrangements, drawing together information, strengths and areas for development, together with making recommendations to the Strategic Partnership Trust, in relation to planning and deployment of resources. However, in the short term, the Group would have a more limited role as most budgets were not yet pooled.

Reference was also made to the establishment of four Area Co-ordinators, whom it was hoped would be appointed and in post by July 2006.

25. Service Redesign And Improvements Into Four Geographical Areas

Further to Minute 13 (16.02.06 refers), Cheryl Eastwood updated the Trust on the discussions which had been on-going with the Council and the Primary Care Trust in relation to the revised management structures needed for the introduction of the four service areas.

All staff affected had been advised and as previously mentioned it was hoped to have the four Area Co-ordinators in post shortly. The Youth Service had now appointed four Area Managers and work was being undertaken across other service areas to redesign on the four area basis.

Resolved:

That the report be noted a further developments would be reported to the next meeting of this Trust. 

26. Children And Young People's Strategic Partnership Trust - Proposed Logo

Ian Smith submitted four options for a proposed logo for the Trust and following discussion it was -

Resolved:

That a Borough wide competition be held amongst all young people, with the theme for the logo being the "rain forest".

27. Connexions Service - Up-Date

Cheryl Eastwood reported that Tameside MBC was now the lead organisation for the provision of the Connexions Service and two pilot projects would be commencing in the near future. She also advised the Trust that Sheila Piazza had been seconded on a part-time basis to the Management Team for Services for Children and Young People, with specific responsibility for the Youth Offending Team, Teenage Pregnancy Co-ordination, Youth Services and Connexions.

28. Tameside Parenting Research

Julie Lord reported upon the review which had taken place to identify the different parenting training and informal support which was being provided across Tameside with a view to improving service and delivery by means of a multi-agency parenting strategy.

Full details of the recommendations were submitted as follows:-

1. Development of a parenting specialism in each of the four proposed Children's Centres.
2. Provision of crèche facilities for parents attending training.
3. Development of a multi-agency training team.
4. Establishment of links with the Library Service to co-ordination parenting resources/ information.
5. Development of a "parenting web-site" on the Tameside MBC website.
6. Accreditation of all parenting courses.
7. Development of specific courses for young parents, fathers and hard to reach groups.
8. Recruitment of male parenting facilitators.
9. Review the role of PCT parenting facilitator.

Resolved:

That the recommendations detailed in the submitted report be approved and adopted.

29. Up-Dates And Communication - Integration Project Team

1. Annual Performance Assessment
   
   It was reported that the Assessment process had now begun and a first draft would be submitted to the next meeting of this Trust.
   
   
2. Integration Project Team
   
   
3. Play Strategy  

30. Dates Of Future Meetings

It was reported that the arrangements had been made for the Trust to meet on the following dates all meetings commencing at 2.30 pm:-

• Thursday 10th May 2006
• Thursday 10th August 2006
• Thursday 19th October 2006
• Thursday 14th December 2006