To consider progress against the children and young people’s plan.

The assistant director, education and commissioning, presented an update on priority 2 of the health and wellbeing strategy.

The priorities agreed by the health and wellbeing board were being developed and delivered through the children and young peoples’ plan.  It was noted that child protection plans and the number of children in care acted as a litmus test for how effectively children were being supported and the range and impact of services being engaged.

The comparatively high number of looked after children (LAC) in Herefordshire in relation to the west midlands region, and the impact on resources, was noted. It was further noted, however, that there were a number of historic factors influencing this and that there was a strategy in place to address this through early help and supporting children in adolescence. The children and young people’s partnership were also recognising early intervention and a whole-service approach to ensuring children were safe from significant harm. 

It was clarified that young people who were not in employment, education or training (NEET) were not included in the figures as numbers had reduced significantly (by around 100) thanks to a successful project to address this group’s needs.

It was noted that figures for LAC were for Herefordshire children only and that Herefordshire also has a significant number of children from out of county placed here in residential homes and independent fostering agencies, for whom there was a duty to provide services such as education and health.

An approach to meeting complex needs by the Council and the Clinical Commissioning Group was in place using a pooled budget. It was recognised that if the pattern of expenditure could be addressed it would enable resources to meet need earlier. However the operating environment placed pressure on the various agencies and so priority areas were identified to redirect resources in order to support vulnerable families. This was achieved through early help and funding accessed via the troubled families programme although it was recognised that there was a need to further develop a partnership approach.

Involvement of primary care and education was also a factor as these services were rooted in their communities although the onus was on the leadership to look system-wide and ensure that local and national issues were taken into account. There was potential to look at the child protection and LAC figures and develop an evidence base to measure impact.

The service priorities were supported by the children and young peoples’ plan. A community hub model was under discussion to show how needs were to be met at the different levels of need and service approaches which mapped to adults’ services. The role of the local area co-ordinator was described as a way of using the precept in a facilitative way from a family perspective with a single service approach and reducing higher threshold work. Experience from adults’ services was that local knowledge supported the prevention of families entering into statutory services and recognising the value of strong communities. It was noted however that there needed to be greater sharing of information to target activity and the co-ordinator would help to achieve real solutions and bring the support together.

Board members noted some excellent outcomes and good practice evidenced and the significant improvement in the health and wellbeing of children especially in areas which were previously red-rated. The Board also noted there were significant areas which needed to progress

RESOLVED

THAT:

(a)          the progress with priority two of the Herefordshire health and wellbeing strategy carried out through the children and young people’s plan 2015 – 2018 be noted and

(b)          the early help strategy be presented to the health and wellbeing board at a future meeting,  to include an update from the director for children’s wellbeing on further issues to address

(c)          The director for children’s wellbeing be asked to bring a report to explain what the current barriers are to effective information and data sharing between agencies and the effect this is having on outcomes and efficient ways of working.