Issue - meetings

(a)       That the Committee supports the parenting work to date; and

(b)       That the Committee supports the report and the work being undertaken to provide quality, consistent parenting support across Flintshire, taking into consideration future funding proposals in relation to funding flexibilities and the required outcomes. 

The Senior Manager, Children and Workforce, introduced the  report to provide an update on the Flintshire Parenting Strategy Framework and the work being undertaken to provide quality, consistent parenting support across Flintshire, taking into consideration future funding proposals in relation to funding flexibilities and the required outcomes.  The Senior Manager introduced the Service Manager, Early Years and Family Support, and invited her to present the report.

                        The Service Manager provided background information and explained that since 2007 two Parenting Strategies had been published in Flintshire with Flintshire’s Parenting Framework launched in 2018 (appended to the report).  The Parenting Framework detailed the sustainability and further developments of parenting programmes and formed part of the wider strategy for early intervention and prevention in Flintshire.  The work was overseen by the Parenting in Flintshire multi-agency Strategic Group.

The Service Manager advised that the work in Flintshire was aligned to the Welsh Government Parenting in Wales guidance on engagement and support.  The success of the Strategies and the Framework in enabling good quality parenting support was due to the alignment of policy with local implementation, dedicated funding, a dedicated parenting coordinator role, strategic oversight through the Parenting in Flintshire multi-agency group and the collaboration between many services delivering quality information, advice and parenting support.

The Service Manager reported on the main considerations, as detailed in the report, concerning he Parenting Strategy, policy context.

The Service Manager took the opportunity to read out a letter of support from Professor Judy Hutchings, Director of the Centre for Evidence Based Early Intervention at Bangor University for the work on the Flintshire Parenting Strategy and Framework and the work of the multi-agency strategic group, the coordination role and the outcomes.  The Chair, on behalf of the Committee, also expressed her congratulations and appreciation to the Service Manager for the hard work and positive outcomes achieved.

Councillor Gladys Healey sought assurance that support was in place to assist multi-cultural families and that assistance was sought from other organisations to help with this task.  The Service Manager explained that language could present a barrier and support was provided to overcome this.   The Lead Parenting Practitioner gave an assurance that the need to provide multi-cultural support was a key consideration within the Service and referred to the resources and support that was provided in other languages.  The Service Manager also commented on the need to provide multi-cultural support to address safeguarding issues. 

Councillor Kevin Hughes asked what support was available for grandparents who held responsibility as main carers for grandchildren.  The Service Manager explained that whilst there was no specific programme for grandparents the importance of their role was recognised and they were welcome and encouraged to engage with the Service to establish cross-generation links.

            RESOLVED:

(a)       That the Committee supports the parenting work to date; and

(b)       That the Committee supports the report and the work being undertaken to provide quality, consistent parenting support across Flintshire, taking into consideration future funding proposals in relation to funding flexibilities and the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 52