Agenda item

(a)       That the current financial support offered to corporate parenting activity in Flintshire be endorsed;

(b)       That County Council be asked to consider making Corporate Parenting Training for Member compulsory;

(c)        That Corporate Parenting training be provided during a future County Council meeting; and

(d)       That the Children’s Services Forum be asked to contact Judicial Officials regarding the need to improve future Court Timeframes.

A presentation was provided to the Committee on the Access to Action (A2A) card with was being rolled out to all secondary schools in Flintshire.  The presentation was written and performed by Young Carers.  Members were informed that the A2A card was an ID card, produced to the specific needs of the young person, which when presented in a school or social services setting signalled that the young person had personal circumstances that may require extra support or further discussion.  Schools which were involved in the initial pilot had endorsed its benefits and would continue to use it and the young people who carried the card said that it gave them reassurance and increased their confidence.  The card had been developed by Barnardos Young Carers and the Children’s Services Participation Groups.

Councillor H.J. McGuill commented on the need to ensure that the A2A scheme was ‘rolled out’ to all relevant health professionals and suggested that it was placed on the agenda for discussion at practice managers forums.  The Head of Children’s Services advised that Phase 1 had been launched in secondary schools and was to be introduced in primary schools.  The item was also on the agenda for consideration by the Children’s Services Forum.   She said she would ensure that parallel activity on the rollout was taking place. 

Following the presentation the Head of Children’s Services introduced a report to provide an update on activity surrounding the corporate parenting responsibilities of the County Council which were first set out in “Circles of Care: Corporate Parenting n Flintshire”.  She provided background information and referred  to the update report on corporate parenting which was appended to the report and invited members to put forward any suggestions to promote corporate parenting in the Authority

The Chairman suggested that compulsory training should take place during a meeting of the Flintshire County Council when all Members would be present. 

The Cabinet Member for Education emphasised the need for Members to demonstrate their commitment to their role and responsibilities as corporate parents.  Councillor H.J. McGuill reiterated the sentiments. 

Councillor V. Gay commented on the training provided to school governing bodies, which was to become compulsory in the future, and suggested that it may be helpful if a training module on corporate parenting was included in the programme

The Chairman referred to the impact of the new Court Timeframes which aimed  to reduce delays in cases during proceedings to 26 weeks.  She suggested that the Children’s Services Forum be asked to write to the judicial officials concerning the proposed reduction in court waiting times and the impact this had on children’s education.

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the current financial support offered to corporate parenting activity in Flintshire be endorsed;

(b)       That County Council be asked to consider making Corporate Parenting Training for Member compulsory;

(c)        That Corporate Parenting training be provided during a future County Council meeting; and

(d)       That the Children’s Services Forum be asked to contact Judicial Officials regarding the need to improve future Court Timeframes.