Childrens Trust Board

Minutes - 27 April 2010

Commenced: 12.30pm
Terminated: 2.10pm

Present:
Jim Taylor - Tameside MBC (In the Chair)
Steven Pleasant - Tameside MBC
Justin Wiggin - Tameside MBC
John Rogers - Tameside Primary Head teachers
Denise Spence - TASH
Janet Nevin - Ashton 6th Form College
Jenny Stanton - Job Centre Plus
Sheila Piazza - Connexions Tameside
David Berry - Tameside MBC
Claire Bibby - Tameside MBC
Jane Forrest - Tameside MBC
Huw Davies - Tameside MBC
Ameena Ahmed - Tameside MBC
Rafik Iddin - Tameside MBC
Catherine McKay - Greater Manchester Police
Susan Marsh - Governor’s Forum
David Hobbs - Better Choices
Tina Greenhough - GP/Primary Care Trust
Tina Lavender - Tameside Voice
Sarah Petts - Tameside Voice
Tony Okotie - T3SC
Pat McKelvey - NHS Trust

Apologies for Absence:
Councillors Gwynne, Cooney and Taylor, Adam Allen, Linda Zrada and Veronica Hyde

1. Minutes

The Minutes of the meeting of the Children and Young People’s Strategic Partnership held on 25 February 2010 were approved as a correct record.

2. Matters Arising

Minute 41 – Total Place

The Executive Director, Children and Young People’s Service stated that there were some governance issues still to be dealt with before the Place Board could be established and would report back to the Board at a future meeting.

Minute 43 – Terms of Reference – Children’s Trust Board

The Executive Director, Children and Young People’s Service stated that whilst the Terms of Reference suggested membership for the Board, a review should be done to establish whether the membership was correct.

Minute 46 – Outcome Performance Sub Group – Terms of Reference

A discussion had taken place at the last meeting of the Partners regarding the role and purpose of the Outcome Sub Group, and whether to continue with the five Outcome Groups. This was further discussed at the Executive Group meeting; however, the Executive Group had left the decision whether to continue with the five Outcome Groups, to the Trust Board.

3. Teenage Pregnancy Update

Consideration was given to a report of Claire Bibby, Assistant Executive Director, which updated the Board on the report which was brought to the Children and Young People’s Strategic Partnership in February 2010. That report had outlined progress in strengthening governance and addressing the current key priorities for Tameside in this area. The Partners were informed that the current approach and programme of work was supported by the Deputy Regional Lead on teenage pregnancy at Government Office North West. However, despite this the latest data on under 18 conception showed a decline in Tameside’s performance with an increase in under-18 conception.

The report further provided Partners with a progress update on the following priorities:-

• Governance;
• Sexual health services;
• Training;
• Targeted early intervention

The report further informed Partners that three members of the Trust Board Executive had visited Positive Steps, Oldham at the end of March, to discuss Oldham MBC’s approach with their Strategy Manager, as Oldham had been successful in reducing the rate of under-18 conceptions over a number of years. The visit had been useful as it had enabled the Authorities to share good practice. Oldham had some key significant factors at work, which would be discussed by the Executive members to consider whether Tameside’s strategy could be strengthened by the lessons learned during the visit.

The report concluded that there had been a significant sharpening and refocusing of Authorities engagement with the teenage conception agenda, with new structures and strong leadership, which would enable the accelerated progress that was required in this area to be made.

A discussion ensued on the implications for the Borough and the Trust should the rate of under-18 conceptions continue to rise. Reference was made to the work taking place with hotspot schools. Reference was also made to the problem of alcohol and how licensing issues related to under-18 conception and it was suggested that licensing issues be linked in with teenage pregnancies.

The Trust requested the minutes of the Trust Board Executive.

Resolved

1. That the report be noted; and
2. That Partners of the Trust consider whether they were able to support more actively the work aimed at reducing under-18 conceptions.

4. Children And Young People’s Plan Update

Consideration was given to a report of Jim Taylor, Executive Director Services for Children and Young People which updated the Partners on the final draft of the Children and Young People’s Plan.

The first draft of the Children and Young People’s Plan (CYPP) was considered at the Children and Young People’s Strategic Partnership meeting in February 2010. In light of the comments made at that time and at subsequent Board meetings of partner organisations, a number of changes had been made to the Plan. The changes, together with other improvements to the draft were summarised in the report.

The inclusion of:

Key changes were as follows:-

• Foreward;
• Commissioning approach and intentions, including resources;
• Identification of key Common Threads that appeared across all of the five outcomes;
• Draft delivery plan actions for the five outcome themes;
• Strategic Delivery Plan for the Trust Board with actions that related to the Common Threads and to key activities such as the role of the Early Intervention and Prevention and the place of the COMPASS teams;
• Listing of the Quality of Life Indicators and Quality of Service Measures from the National Indicator set

In addition;

• Modifications/simplifications/clarifications had been made to the Trust structure diagram;
• A second diagram showing links between strategies, strategy groups and outcome performance groups had been removed;
• Changes had been made to the ordering of sections; and
• Links to other strategic partnerships, including the TSP had been made more explicit

The report informed Partners of the next steps which was detailed as follows:

• Publishing the Plan mid May 2010 for distribution through all relevant networks to key stakeholders;
• Publishing the children and young people’s version of the CYPP mid May 2010; and
• As the Plan moved into delivery phase, there would be a need to ensure that the actions within the Delivery Plans were SMART

Resolved

That the Partners approve the Children and Young People’s Plan 2010-2013 (Final Draft)

5. Update On Youth Forum

Consideration was given to a report of Justin Wiggins, Participation Strategy Manager, Services for Children and Young People which outlined the progress made to date as a result of the Children and Young People’s Strategic Partnerships decision to develop a Tameside young people’s youth forum. The report investigated the development in partnership working and how young people were being empowered to produce their model for youth forum.

The report informed the Partners of the background to the Tameside Youth Forum including the three options that were outlined to the Children and Young Peoples Strategic partnership in September 2009, as possible methods/models to engage young people in decision making with Option C (Young People’s Voice) agreed to be developed.

The report further detailed:

• Progress to date, which included the format of the initial engagement of young people conducted in three stages; and the residential at Trafford Hall, where 50 young people were confirmed to attend;
• Future developments; and
• Next steps

A discussion ensued and concern was expressed that the NHS were not amongst those agencies involved in the delivery of the residential and that Tameside College was not represented amongst the groups attending. However, the Partners were informed that the list of agencies involved was a preliminary one at this stage and a meeting would take place with the NHS about their involvement. With regard to representation of the different age groups, a second cohort would be invited to attend a future residential and it would be discussed at that stage at how to make it more representative of the different ages. Partners made suggestions as to topics which could be covered at the residential and these included; Sexual Health and Restorative Justice. As the residential would be filmed, it was suggested that a promotional video could be made which could be used for publicity

Resolved

1. That the contents of the report be noted; and
2. Partners make suggestions on the potential activities linked to the Children’s Trust priorities for young people’s involvement.

6. CAF Briefing Paper

Consideration was given to a report Jim Taylor, Executive Director, Services for Children and Young People which provided Partners with a briefing on the delivery model for the Common Assessment Framework (second stage of implementation) for Tameside Children’s Trust. The briefing detailed the following:

• National and overarching planning frameworks;
• Local background;
• Key considerations/specification for new model of delivery;
• Common Assessment Framework (CAF) Policy Statement;
• Benefit realisation,
• Risks, and
• Timeline

He highlighted the need for Managers at all levels to support CAF implementation and practitioners would need to complete common assessments. The implementation plan would detail how the five main functions of the CAF project would be delivered.

He further stated that agencies would need to be clear of their responsibilities in implementing and embedding CAF in their internal processes and procedures and they were accountable for the case management of individual children and young people.

Reference was made to the pre CAF form and it was stated that with effect from the 1 July 2010 conditions would be set out for the use of CAF.

A discussion ensued and Partners requested clarity and guidance around voluntary sector groups and use of CAFs. It was also suggested that the relevance of CAFs could be embedded into the recruitment process.

It was stated that CAF would help to engage other services to help young people and families to obtain effective support and confirmed that promotional work would be done to promote the use of CAFs.

Resolved

1. That the contents of the report be noted; and
2. Partners made comments/suggestions on the embedding of CAF processes as a key aspect of integrated frontline delivery and processes as described within the report.

7. Update Children’s Trust Development

The Partners received a report from Ameena Ahmed, Head of Partnership Development, Services for Children and Young People which updated Partners on the Children’s Trust Development. Partners were informed that following the last meeting of the Partnership at which the Constitution of the Children’s Trust and the Terms of Reference for the Children’s Trust Board Executive and Children’s Trust Board Commissioning Group had been discussed, the Partners had fed back comments and this had resulted in amendments being made to these. She detailed the amendments and stated that the Constitution and Terms of Reference now addressed all the points raised by Partners.

Resolved

1. That the Constitution of the Children’s Trust be approved;
2. That the Terms of Reference - Children’s Trust Board Executive be approved; and
3. That the Terms of Reference – Children’s Trust Joint Commissioning Group be approved.

8. Reporting Schedule

The Partners were asked to note the agenda preparation timetable for the Children’s Trust Board meeting

9. Children’s Trust Launch

The Partners received a verbal report from Ameena Ahmed, Head of Partnership Development which updated Partners on the launch of the Children’s Trust which was due to take place in April 2010. The Executive Trust had discussed ways to promote the wider group stake holders and a meeting had taken place with the Communications Specialists of the Trust Partners to seek their views on the launch. The following suggestions had been made:

• That the Children’s Trust launch be taken on a Roadshow basis
• That two hourly sessions be held with the different agencies involved informing them and discussing integrated working including common processes;
• That a separate event be held for and led by young people

The Roadshow format would allow greater promotion of the work of the Trust, be informative about CAFs and allow greater engagement

Resolved

That the report be noted.

The Partnership was advised of future dates of meetings as follows, all meetings commencing at 10.00am except where stated differently:

10. Information Items:

Children And Young People’s Strategic Partnership Executive Minutes – 15 April 2010

The Minutes from Children and Young People Strategic Partnership Executive Meeting held on 15 April 2010 were attached for information.

The Minutes from the Joint Commissioning Group Meeting held on 15 April 2010 were attached for information.