Supporting Children and Young People to Achieve Economic Wellbeing

Summary Notes of Meeting

Time: 9.00am
Date: 26th September 2007
Venue: Flowery Centre, Hyde

Present:

Sheila Piazza, Chair
Bob Shaw, Area Coordinator and AEW lead
Vincent Ward, School Improvement Service (14-19 strategy lead)
Allison Cresswell, Partnership Director, LSC
Tony Kay, Partnership Manager, LSC
Annie O'Malley, Operations Manager, Connexions
Lucy Davies, Access & Equality
Caroline Gregory, Priorities Neighbourhood Renewal Officer
Phil Spence, Community Economic Development Manager
Alan Franco, Head of Welfare Rights, Community Legal Services
Steve Openshaw, Inclusive Services
Christine Gerrard, Team Leader, leaving care team
Lorna Grennan, Locality Services Manager, PCT
Catherine Mee, Parenting Coordinator, PCT

Note taker: Bob Shaw

1. Welcome and introductions

Members were welcomed. Members were advised that there would need to be a change to the agenda because some presenting members had to leave earlier than planned. These notes are not reproduced in the order of business of the revised agenda.

2. Apologies

Andrew Leah, Housing Services Manager
Lesley Freeman, Manager for Early Intervention Team, Pennine Care

3. Minutes of Last Meeting

Approved.

4. Matters Arising

There was a discussion about the use of heartening and troubling. Bob explained that they were terms had been used by another Local Authority – other terms or methods of scaling or scoring could equally be used. The origins of the terms are found in the Results (or Outcomes) Based Accountability method adopted by the Partnership as its favoured reporting tool. All other outcome theme groups have adopted this approach.

No matters of accuracy reported .

5. Proposed Judgements (from last meeting)

The judgements as set out the minutes were agreed.

6. Proposed Improvement Actions (from last meeting)

The meeting requested that initial task allocations be reflected in this set of minutes; otherwise the improvement actions and their allocation to key officers were agreed

• The preparation of a chapter for inclusion in the Tameside Housing Strategy focusing on children, young people and families (Lead: Andrew Leah ; liaison with Bob Shaw). Revised strategy to be completed by March 2008. Draft strategy and considerations to be presented to this outcome theme group in the spring.
   
• The introduction of the new (ECM) common processes to strategies led and managed by Housing and Community Regeneration to
   
  
  • better enable the identification of children and families vulnerable to homelessness or facing deficient housing circumstances
  • better enable the coordination of services to this vulnerable group
  • inform the development of an early intervention and prevention housing service with a focus on children, young people and families (Lead: Andrew Leah ; Bob Shaw and Jane Forrest to offer themselves as resources to Housing Options service) New 5 year Homelessness Strategy for Tameside due in Summer 2008
     
• The development of local improvement actions and performance indicators to assess progress. (Lead Andrew Leah : actions to be referenced in the respective strategies)

7. Themes for the Meeting

1. Action is taken to ensure that 14–19 education and training is planned and delivered in a coordinated way, and to ensure that education and training for 16–19 year olds is of good quality (LAA)
   
   Young people aged 11–19 are helped to prepare for working life (APA, C&YP Plan, LAA, NSF)

7.1.1. Report cards

Report Card 1 of 8:

• Identify and reduce the number of Year 11 at particular risk of becoming NEET
• Increase number of Year 11 leavers into EET
• Reduce number of Year 11 unknowns

That the data in this report card be considered

• Heartening with a requirement to continue monitoring

Of concern to this meeting were the variety of methodologies employed to count NEET and EET. The variety does not lend itself to careful or consistent analysis. See proposal below.

Report Card 2 of 8 :

• Increase participation rates of 16/17 year olds (who have left statutory education) into education and training
• Reduce the numbers of 16-18 who are NEET and increase numbers who are EET

That the data in this report card be considered

• Heartening with a requirement to continue monitoring

Report Card 3 of 8:

• The proportion of teenage mothers in education or training

That the data in this report card be considered

• Heartening when set against National and Statistical Neighbour data but continuous monitoring required to achieve the challenging 60% target

Report Card 4 of 8

• The proportion of young offenders in education, employment or training

That the data in this report card be considered

• Troubling when set against the national target of 90%

Report Card 5 of 8

• Reduce numbers of 16–18 year olds joining the NEET group from EET

That the data in this report card be considered

• Heartening but it is troubling that the numbers of employment vacancies available to Young People in Tameside is low

Report Card 6 of 8

• NVQ Success Rate for All Work-based Learners Living in the Area

That the data in this report card be considered

• This was not judged; deferred to next meeting

Report Card 7a of 8

• The proportion of 19 year olds who achieve at least level 2 by 3 percentage points between 2004-06, and a further 2 points between 2006-08

That the data in this report card be considered

• Heartening but requires continuing monitoring

Report Card 7b of 8

• Increase the proportion of young people who achieve at least Level 3 by age 19.

That the data in this report card be considered

• Troubling

Report Card 8 of 8

• The target is 75% more people to complete an apprenticeship in 2007/08 compared to 2002/03

That the data in this report card be considered

• Heartening

Additionally, the group had available to it background statistical data presented by the LSC.

The group also commented that the meeting probably had too many PIs/Report Cards to consider around NEET/EET issues. Annie and Sheila were asked if they would give some thought to a likely single indicator to enable a more focussed discussion when the group re-visits this in its next cycle of meetings.

7.1.2. Presentations

Vincent Ward presentation

The presentation had two parts to it:

• Part 1: Young people aged 11–19 are helped to prepare for working life
  There were seven evidence requirements considered in this part. The presenter offered a judgement on each. The judgements highlighted in blue were tentatively described to be heartening; those in red tentatively described troubling. Much of this was described as heartening. Notably the elements considered either unknown or troubling were:
   
  
  • Steps taken to ensure that young people are financially literate.
  • Personal, financial, welfare and advocacy support is available to 16–19 year olds to support their education or training – but particularly, do we know the nature and extent of support? This does not emerge easily when we examine Ofsted reports and do we know the nature of what is offered let alone its quality?
  • Careers education and guidance is provided to all pupils in Key Stages 3 & 4 – but particularly questioned was a consideration of whether we are assured about the quality. The view was expressed that we were good at providing careers information but there is no substitute for 1-1 engagement of children with a competent, knowledgeable adult
  • 16–19 year olds' personal & academic development are monitored; challenging but realistic targets for improvement are set; provision is planned to reflect this – but particularly questioned was the need for review of curriculum support focused on learning.
  
  Overall judgement: Heartening with some further enquiry needed
  
• Part 2: Action is taken to ensure that 14–19 education and training is planned and delivered in a coordinated way, and to ensure that education and training for 16–19 year olds is of good quality
  There were eight evidence requirements considered in this part. The same colourful scoring arrangements apply.
   
  
  • 14–19 provision is planned collaboratively in response to an evaluation of the needs of children and young people in the context of the local and national economy – much of this was considered heartening but it was also noted the need to develop the capacity for vocational and work based learning opportunities in Tameside
  • Provision is planned to give access to a range of affordable and structured learning opportunities post-16, with smooth transition from one to another, to support progression to further and higher education, training and employment for all learners. Much is recorded as heartening but issues remain around entry level and level 1 provision and retention at 17 is poor .
  • Provision is planned in a way which is sensitive both to race and other equality issues and to the needs of potentially underachieving groups. (14-19 Partnership). It was noted that this is not yet part of borough wide planning and there was discussion about the Council's Equalities Impact Assessment methodology and the usefulness of this to addressing the evidential requirements under consideration here.
  • Education and training providers for 16–19 year olds are monitored, challenged and supported in improving their provision, especially the curriculum and the quality of teaching. Intervention is undertaken, when necessary, to ensure the provision of acceptable standards of education and training – The need for joint LSC LA planning about how and when to intervene was noted
  • Education and training providers for 16–19 year olds are encouraged and supported in self-evaluation to ensure continuous improvement. The need for joint LSC LA planning about how and when to intervene was highlighted
  • Further questions regarding inclusive practices, race equality and promoting good race relations were raised in respect of two further judgements.
  
  Overall judgement: Heartening with some further enquiry needed particularly around race and inclusive issues

Catherine Mee presentation

Presentation: Primary care teams are aware of the particular needs of teenage children and their families, particularly those who are vulnerable or in special circumstances (Standard 2: Supporting Parents, NHS National Service Framework for Children).

Catherine made the point that Primary Care teams encounter a range of problems with teenage children that typically can lead to many risk behaviours – this is supported by relevant data sets. The response of Primary Care teams to teenage issues is variable. Local data on teenage issues is not presented in a local context; consequently practitioners may not readily appreciate the appearance of risky behaviour in their locality. There is room for improvement. More particularly:-

• making available data on teenagers and placing this in the local context
• development of skills in working with teenagers
• awareness of the needs of teenagers and their families
• range of service available and referral routes
• development of integrated locality working
• development of local evidential base

Catherine also noted currently available services – particularly the ‘surviving teenagers!' course and presented positive course outcome data.

Overall judgement: troubling but see actions below.

7.1.3. Discussion and judgement

The overall judgement for the theme:

Action is taken to ensure that 14–19 education and training is planned and delivered in a coordinated way, and to ensure that education and training for 16–19 year olds is of good quality be considered heartening with a minority of issues identified as troubling

And for the theme:

Young people aged 11–19 are helped to prepare for working life be considered heartening with a minority of issues identified as troubling.

7.1.4. Future Action

Proposed Improvement Actions

1. With respect to the group's considerations on 'Primary care teams are aware of the particular needs of teenage children and their families, particularly those who are vulnerable or in special circumstances', the following improvement actions are proposed:
    
   
   • That disaggregated local data be made available to Primary Care Teams through local area profiles to provide a local evidential base of teenager needs, activities and services (refer to Area Coordinators)
   • That information to the public and practitioners about the range of services available and referral routes be provided (refer to the Partnership's Public Information management and Marketing Group)
   • That the workforce development strategy group be asked to consider addressing the development issues around staff awareness of the needs of teenagers and their families and the skills required in working with teenagers (refer to Tameside Workforce Development Strategy Group)
      
2. With respect to the group's discussions around ‘Provision is planned in a way which is sensitive both to race and other equality issues and to the needs of potentially underachieving groups'
    
   
   • That the 14-19 Partnership consider undertaking an Equalities Impact Assessment to satisfy itself that providers are acting sensitively (refer to 14-19 Partnership)
      
3. With respect to the group's discussions around the employment, education and training of young offenders
    
   • That John Whittle , YOT Manager, be invited to a future meeting to discuss the issue in more depth. (refer to Sheila Piazza , Head of Youth Support Services and to further meeting in next cycle)
      
4. With respect to the group's discussions around the proportion of young people who achieve at least Level 3 by age 19
    
   
   • That the group devote further time to the discussion of the Report Card (refer Alison Creswell and to further meeting in next cycle)

8. Reflection on Process

The process, given the time available, had an overly ambitious feel to it. Trying to examine two themes as complex as these in one session in retrospect was overly taxing and a reduction in the number of indicators might enable better and more focussed dialogue.

It was noted that the next two themes were not as complex these two and that there were fewer performance indicators to consider; it was agreed that we should meet again for the full three hours and attempt to complete this work as scheduled. Nonetheless, the next cycle of meetings should look more carefully at what it productively scrutinise in the normally two hours available to it.

9. Any Other Business

-

10. Date of next meeting

9.00am - 12.00noon. Tuesday 20th November 2007

Special notes:

Supporting children and young people to Achieve Economic Wellbeing

Priorities and reporting 2007/08

Programme of work and nominated leads