Agenda item

(a)       That the update be noted;

(b)       That the Families First Programme Overview attached to the report be noted; and

(b)       That a report on how the views for securing further improvement from

            Estyn can be implemented be submitted to a future meeting of the

            Lifelong Learning Overview and Scrutiny Committee.  

The Director of Lifelong Learning introduced a report on the progress of the Flintshire Children and Young People’s Plan “Making a Positive Difference 2011-2014” as the vehicle for Flintshire to deliver the Welsh Government Child Poverty Strategy 2011, and as the catalyst to commission collaborative strategic projects.  He invited Ann Roberts, Children and Young People’s Partnership (CYPP) Co-ordinator and Families First Lead, to give further detail on the development of the Plan.

The CYPP Co-ordinator provided background information and referred to the key considerations in the report.  She advised that the Flying Start plan had been agreed by the Welsh Government and was being delivered and supporting families.  The Communities First and the Health Social Care and Wellbeing plans had significant cross over to the CYPP plan with some agreed shared priorities.  All three plans enhanced each other to deliver the best outcomes for children, young people and families. 

The CYPP Co-ordinator referred to the Families First Plan which was a delivery plan for the CYPP and informed the CYPP about the level of vulnerable families in Flintshire.  It was also informed by a mapping profile of services for families with a disabled child.  The Co-ordinator explained that the CYPP took an active part in the recent Estyn Monitoring Visit to demonstrate to inspectors how the whole CYPP worked in an outcomes focussed approach to all delivery.

The Coordinator distributed copies of the Families First in Flintshire Programme Overview for members’ information.

During discussion the Director of Lifelong Learning and CYPP Co-ordinator responded to the questions and concerns raised by members around how families and young people in need of support were identified and how they gained access to the information and services provided. 

Councillor P.G. Heesom raised concerns regarding admission arrangements in schools, and also referred to communities which had a high number of families with recognised needs.  The Director agreed to provide further explanation to Councillor Heesom on the schools admission policy following the meeting.  He gave an assurance that the services which had been outlined by the CYPP Co-ordinator to help families and young people were available county wide. 

The CYPP Co-ordinator commented on the need to capture the overall performance of interventions and track consistently the progress of children and young people.  She referred to the benefit of early bespoke interventions with families which made measurable contributions to improved educational outcomes for learners.  However, the early intervention work by wider support services with learners and their families was not known or built on by schools or school improvement services.  She advised that there was a need for awareness to be raised through schools and suggested that school governing bodies could assist in this respect.  Members were informed that a referral training programme was provided to individuals and it was suggested by Councillor V. Gay that it would be helpful if this could be included in the School Governor Development Training Programme produced by the Lifelong Learning directorate. 

Councillor S. Jones expressed a concern around the cost of providing referral training.  The CYPP Co-ordinator explained that funding had been secured from the Welsh Government for a period of 18 months for informing and training people and that additional funding was expected in the future. 

The Director of Lifelong Learning and CYPP Co-ordinator responded to the further queries raised by members concerning how  families who did not wish to respond to the referral process were supported, the mechanisms in place for recording the source of referrals, and how the Local Service Board could be more demanding of the outcomes of the CYPP.

The CYPP Co-ordinator commented that it was anticipated that there would be an increase in referrals in future as a result of changes in the Welfare Reform and improved information and knowledge amongst communities.

RESOLVED:

 (a)      That the update be noted;

(b)       That the Families First Programme Overview attached to the report be noted; and

(b)       That a report on how the views for securing further improvement from

            Estyn can be implemented be submitted to a future meeting of the

            Lifelong Learning Overview and Scrutiny Committee.