Area Coordination Management Meeting

Hyde, Hattersley and Longdendale

Time: 9.30am
Date: Thursday 31st January 2008
Venue: Newton Family Centre

Present:

• Sue Garnett - Area Co-ordinator and Chair
• Jan Cooper - Children’s Social Care - Family Support Team
• Janet Rathburn - Primary School Rep – Dowson
• Sue Nathan - Youth Service
• Jane Cooke - Children’s Social Care – Assessment Team
• Jo Brown - Connexions
• Mark Burrows - Youth Service
• Linda Sidebottom - New Charter
• Beryl Oliver - Secondary School Rep – Hyde Tech
• Vicky Cuddy - Children’s Centres
• Gill Gibson - PCT
• Helen Hobday - Inclusive Services
• Mary Clowrey - Education Welfare

Note taker: Jo Cole

Item 1: Welcome

Sue welcomed everyone to the meeting and introductions were made around the table.

Gill Gibson introduced herself as the Locality Service Co-ordinator for Hyde, Hattersley and Longdendale for the PCT.

Item 2: Apologies

• Joyce Boyd - Youth Offending Team
• Judith Grigg - PCT

Item 3: Notes of last meeting and matter arising

The minutes of the last meeting were accepted as a true and accurate record, with the following matters arising:

Sue thanked Beryl for the wonderful tour and buffet that was organised at the last meeting. Beryl was asked to thank the pupils who joined the group for the buffet following the meeting.

Item 9

Regarding the meeting on 2nd October, Linda enquired whether any equipment would be needed. Sue will inform her nearer the time.

Item 4.1: Feedback from neighbourhood Network Event on 15th December

Sue gave feedback on the Hyde, Hattersley & Longdendale Neighbourhood Network Event which took place at the Flowery Centre on 15th December. The event was organised in conjunction with the Flowery Centre’s Christmas event.
The event saw attendance from a wide range of services and key partners, including:

• Housing
• The Voluntary Sector
• The Service Information Directory
• Enterprise (jobs & careers)
• Health
• Youth Services
• Connexions
• Children’s Centres
• CIS

The event was targeted at particular vulnerable groups and Sue felt this was successful as it allowed the information stalls to focus on particular services.
Sue also felt that the ‘peanuts trail’ organised by Linda (New Charter) was successful as it encouraged people to visit the different rooms and stalls.

The overall feedback from partners was that it was a great opportunity for networking and meeting families in an informal setting.

The event was also a good opportunity to undertake some low-level consultation and this carried through in to the afternoon when the Eid Festival event at Hyde Town Hall took place.

The event at Hyde Town Hall was particularly targeted at the community in that area and was only open to females and males under 12 years old. Sue reported that it was very well attended.

Sue expressed thanks to all staff who were involved, particularly as the events took place on a Saturday.

A discussion followed regarding plans for the next Neighbourhood Network Event.
It was suggested that the next one could take place in a primary or secondary school and coincide with parents evening.

Janet R reported that her parents evening is scheduled for the end of February and she would be happy to hold the next event at her school. Dowson is in a central location in Hyde, has good facilities and a big hall.

Sue suggested that there should be some sort of quiz for young people and families with the answers being sort from visiting the various stalls. Linda offered to adapt one that she currently uses for the anti-social behaviour groups.

Conclusion: Sue will consider options for the next event and will give an update at the next meeting.

Item 4.2: Hattersley Mobile Roadshow

Sue gave an update on the successful Hattersley Mobile Roadshow which she linked into with SID as a different way of presenting the neighbourhood networking events.
It was held at Pinfold primary school from 2.00 – 4.00pm, so was aimed at parents, grandparents and C&YP.

Another 3 are scheduled to take place soon – 2 in public houses and 1 in another primary school. This will ensure a wide range of social groups are targeted.
Sue will liaise with Chris Thean about any information he requires from any services.

Item 5: The Changing Role of Tameside Youth Service Presentation

Last year the decision was taken for the youth service to be reviewed, for 2 reasons

• so that everyone has the same common view of the role of the youth service,
• to ensure consistency of the youth service provision within each of the 4 areas.

The presentation summarises the changing role of the Youth Service.

• To enable young people aged 11-19 to become independent positive members of their communities. This has changed from the previous age range which was 13-19.
• Providing and developing safe quality educational projects so that they can enjoy achieve and participate. A good example of quality provision is Bennett Street Youth Base.
• Targeting areas of multiple deprivation.
• Working with young people as partners.

Each young person gets a Personal Development File and targets and goals are set. Goals and targets are then reviewed and future plans are mapped out.

Sue explained the Curriculum Model in more detail.

It is very important to have a model that puts young people right at the centre of everything that is done.

The Youth Service are given targets by the Government. These include BVPIs and recorded and accredited outcomes.

Every year, an award ceremony takes place at Dukinfield Town Hall which is attended by the Civic Mayor. This ceremony is to celebrate and be proud of what the young people have achieved.

The structure of the Youth Service includes a borough wide manager, a quality assurance manager, a manager for each of the 4 areas, 2/3 locality workers in each area, and a large number of part-time workers.

There is now consistent provision in each of the 4 areas, including: -

• 3 youth centres in each area. These are open 2 nights a week with 4 members of staff each night. The Hyde, Hattersley and Longdendale area currently has 2 youth centres, both opening 1 night a week in Longdendale, one in Hyde and one in Hattersley 4 members of staff in each centre ensures quality of provision and covers absences.
• Detached / outreach work delivered in each area 3 nights a week. This work moves around depending on need. Need is mainly determined by information received from patrollers and the police.
• Specialist work delivered 3 nights a week, the focus of the work dependent on the needs of the young people in that area. For the Hyde, Hattersley and Longdendale area, it is currently the arts; dance, drama, music, media, etc.

From April, each local authority has to provide a targeted youth support service for young people who are most at risk.

Tameside Local Authority’s answer to this is the PAYP scheme, which is intensive one-to-one work. – positive activities for young people

Young people who are referred to the PAYP scheme are assigned a key worker and their needs are assessed.

They are enrolled on an OCN course which could be for a range of things, including self-esteem and drugs/alcohol.

As well as locality work in each of the 4 areas, there are also borough-wide projects which take place, including: -

• Accreditation Project
  Based at Cycle-Ops in Ashton.
• Junior Awards
  Funded through the Children’s Fund, this work is done with children under 11 years of age and takes place on a Wednesday after school at Bennett Street Youth Base in Newton. The co-ordinator is Kirsty Edwards and she can be contacted on 0161 368 7401.
• Multi-media Project
  Currently based at Duke Street in Denton, includes singing, playing the guitar, dj-ing, rapping. This project has 70-100 young people attending every week. The project runs on Mondays 3pm – 9pm, Tuesdays and Wednesdays 3pm – 7pm and Saturdays 10am – 4pm.
• Virtual Baby Project
  Young people are able to gain an insight into being a teenage parent by having the ‘baby’ for a weekend. Very successful project which delivers a positive message. These virtual babies can be loaned out to anybody wishing to borrow them.
• Disability Project
  Based at Bennett Street Youth Centre in Hyde. There are currently 60 active members who attend the youth club every Tuesday and Thursday. Ring and Ride and carers/escorts are arranged for some of the young people to assist in transportation and care whilst at the centre. More details can be obtained from Arlene Lomax on 0161 366 6615.
• Youth Opportunity Fund
  The amount available through the YOF is currently £150k per year. The YOF has been running very successfully for the past two years.
  Young people apply for grants to the YOF Panel. The Panel membership consists of young people who are responsible for making the decisions regarding the grants.
  There was a borough-wide panel last year but this has now changed to reflect the 4 areas. From this year there will be a panel in each area. The panel for the Ashton area has been established, currently meeting every Wednesday evening at the New Charter office in Ashton.
  Details of the criteria for applying and an application form were circulated during the meeting – further copies can be obtained from Sue Nathan.
  A Mayor’s Youth Ball takes place every year for the young people involved in the project.
  Janet reported that some of the children at her school helped a Mossley Cycle Club apply for funding through the Youth Opportunity Fund and were granted £5000. The pupils were very engaged and focused.
• Out Loud
  Confidential youth club for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender young people which is based in Ashton. They have recently produced a film about the bullying they face. It is currently being edited and will be premiered soon.

Sue concluded her presentation by showing a short video clip of recent activities and invited any questions.

There was a general discussion regarding the image portrayed in the media.
Vicky explained that there are issues at the Flowery Centre. Vicky and Sue to meet again to discuss possible solutions.

Linda talked about how young people showing signs of anti-social behaviour of today have different aspirations and expectations than previous generations. We need to change our expectations and delivery to meet the needs of the young people so we give them what they need rather than what we think they need.

Item 6: Area Action Plan

6.1 Action Plan

Referral Arrangements
Sue checked that everyone had received the email that was circulated yesterday regarding the proposal for aligning common assessments and referrals. Some members had not yet seen the email so will double check when they get back to the office. Please contact your line manager if the information has not been cascaded.

Service Information Directory (SID)
SID is currently going through an upgrade to make it more user friendly. It will be going out for consultation soon and will be going live in April.
Sue acknowledged that it will need continual monitoring to ensure it is meeting the needs of the public. The web address for SID is www.tameside-sid.org.uk.

Management Information: December 2007
Sue explained that this is a work in progress. The figures are not 100% accurate.
This report provides information on the use of "Common Processes" as recorded on JASPER at a given point in time and since the system went live during December 2006. It provides an overall count of specific activity during the period, e.g. total number of Common Assessments completed. The report does not give a summary of the total activity associated with "Common Processes" as not all practitioners have access to the system to use this information at this time.

It is important to note that reporting on activity in each of the 4 areas requires each child's record to have an LLPG (land and property gazetteer) validated address. Not all child records have a validated address which means there is potential for a discrepancy in the overall activity to that in the area statistics.

A discussion followed regarding general issues with JASPER and Common Assessments.

Linda

• At the area co-ordination meeting for Stalybridge, Dukinfield and Mossley that she has attended, they had a discussion regarding how the figures are not accurate.
• People are daunted by the form as they feel they have to fill in every box – this is not the case.

Mary

• JASPER is designed to arrange a child and family meeting but not to log it. You would log it as information to share.
• Confidence with JASPER isn’t great at the moment.

Jan

• At the last management meeting, she was told that the system will soon be refined to show who is registered and who is accessing / logging on.
• Still issues around people not having enhanced CRB checks or training.

Conclusions: General concerns about the lack of child and family meetings being recorded. The overall feeling is that the system is not accurate and needs refining. Sue will take this back to the area co-ordinators and will feedback at the next meeting.

Action items:	Person responsible:	Deadline:
Sue to discuss issues with her colleagues.	Sue Garnett	Ongoing

6.2: Action Plan No. 8: Monitoring Progress to Integration

Staff Survey Interim Headlines
Sue reported that the results of the Frontline Staff Survey that was conducted by the Audit Commission in November and December of last year have been collated and, along with a full analysis, should be published soon.

Item 7: Updated Children and Young People Plan

Sue requested that everyone note the Children and Young People Plan which was circulated with the papers for this meeting.

Sue explained that the Children and Young People Plan will need to be reviewed every year. This year, the review will take the form of a self assessment in preparation for the JAR.

A proforma has been designed and will be circulated soon to gain information regarding examples of good practice relating to targets and priorities.

Item 8: JAR Area Workshop Events

Sue reminded everyone that the JAR is taking place from 30th June 2008 for 2 weeks.

Sue explained that JAR Workshop Events will take place in each of the four areas to assist staff to understand the JAR and explain what their role might be during the inspection. These events aim to improve communication and raise awareness.

The workshops will involve group work to look at resolving potential gaps.
Details of the workshops will be circulated before the next meeting.

A discussion followed regarding the areas that the inspectors may focus on. Sue suggested that partnership working may be looked at and the area co-ordination meetings are a good example of this.

Item 9: Staff Directory

Sue gave an update of the progress of the Staff Directory.

It is now in its final form and will be submitted tomorrow (Friday 1st February) to be published on SID (it will be password protected).

Sue urged everyone to have one final look at their section for any mistakes and email any amendments through to Jo before tomorrow.

Action items:	Person responsible:	Deadline:
Check staff directory for amendments	All	1st February

Item 10: Good News Items

Acresfield House (Harbour Farm estate)
Linda reported that they have a property on the Harbour Farm Estate which consists of an upstairs and downstairs space.

She explained that the upstairs area could be used as office space and the downstairs area could be used for meetings, one-to-ones, community events, etc. The downstairs room holds approx 20 people round a table.

Hiring of this venue would be free of charge to all of New Charter’s partnering organisations and bookings can be made through Linda.

Mossley Children’s Centre
Linda talked about work currently starting at Mossley Children’s Centre to transform a blank wall that is next to the play area into a . Linking with a local group of artists and local schools, they are going to create a mural that will link to the 5 outcomes.

Liz Hughes, Play Strategy Manager, will also be working with the children’s centre to design engaging activities in the playground the children and families.

Item 11: AOB

Agenda Items
Sue welcomed suggestions for future agenda items – please contact her with any items.

Action items:	Person responsible:	Deadline:
Email future agenda items to Sue.	All	19th March

Could your Community Benefit from £10,000?
Sue circulated a leaflet that gives details about applying for additional funding. Sue requested that, due to the strict criteria, if you unable to apply, please pass the information on to somebody else.

Request from Veronica Hyde (via Sue)
Sue reported that Veronica Hyde has asked people to consider the following questions and return their answers to her - detailed information would be appreciated.

• What active involvement / engagement do you have with the local voluntary and faith sector?
• What success has there been at meeting needs of young people?

Sue explained that Jo C had designed a proforma for recording the answers and will email this out today. The deadline for returning the information will be Friday 8th February.

Action items:	Person responsible:	Deadline:
Jo to email out proforma.	Jo	31st January
Complete the proforma and return to Jo.	All	8th February

Connexions Statistics
As requested at a previous meeting, Jo Brown highlighted some key points from statistics that she has analysed. For the purpose of this exercise, Jo compared the SK14 area (Hyde, Hattersley and Longdendale) with the OL6 area (Ashton). The finding were as follows: -

	SK14	OL6
On the database	157	136
NEET	112 (54 in the Hattersley area)	94
Teen Parents	24	19

For the next meeting, Jo B will refine these statistics into age groups. Sue requested that Jo B send the statistics to Jo C in time for them to be circulated with the agenda for the next meeting

Sue requested that Jo B send the figures above to Bob Shaw for him to address at the next Achieve Economic Wellbeing Theme Group.

Action items:	Person responsible:	Deadline:
Jo B to send Jo C the statistics for the next meeting	Jo Brown	5th March

Participation of Children and Young People in Child Protection Processes
Jane reported that these packs have now been distributed. The purpose of the packs is to gain the views of children, young people and families throughout child protection processes.

It will be the responsibility of the social worker to ensure the forms are completed but it may be the school or the education welfare officer who would be more appropriate to fill them in, depending on who the family have the best relationship with.

Everybody at the meeting expressed a keen interest in these packs and requested a blank pack for information purposes. Jane to follow this up. Jo C will then distribute.

Action items:	Person responsible:	Deadline:
Packs to be requested for all ACMT members	Jane Cooke
Jo C to distribute packs to ACMT members	Jo Cole

Chlamydia Screening Pilot
Gill talked about a Chlamydia screening pilot that is taking place at one of the high schools. This involves a nurse taking a sample which then gets sent away for testing. The result is then sent to the young person in the form of a text message. If the result is positive, they will receive a telephone call to arrange treatment, which will also be done by the nurse in the school. Work will probably stem from this regarding prevention e.g. condom distribution.

Sue thanked Jan for her hospitality and advised everyone that the next meeting will take place on 19th March at the Flowery Centre, Hyde.

THE MEETING CLOSED AT 11.55

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