Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 1 December 2011.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 1 December 2011 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

No declarations of interest were made.

To consider a background information report of the Head of Integrated Prevention Services on ‘Children’s Centre Services’.

The report provides background information about the Children’s Centre Core Purpose and the statutory basis for Children’s Centres.

The Panel is requested to consider the information presented in the report and raise any issues that may form part of the Scrutiny Review.

Contact Officer: Mike Hughes Tel: 0161 474 5753 email: mike.hughes@stockport.gov.uk 

The Head of Integrated Prevention Services and the Assistant Head of Integrated Prevention Services submitted a report on behalf of the Service Director (Children’s Safeguarding & Prevention) (copies of which had been circulated) providing background information on the Children’s Centre Core Purpose, the statutory basis for Children’s Centres and the Healthy Child Programme.

The following key issues were highlighted:-

• In October 2010, the Sure Start Children’s Centres Statutory Guidance set out a statutory duty on local authorities to ensure sufficient provision of Sure Start Children’s Centres (as defined in The Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009) to meet local need.
• The Government had introduced an updated Core Purpose, which had a focus on improving outcomes for young children and their families, in particular for the most disadvantaged families in order to give children under 5 years of age the best possible start. Universal services would be retained where possible but there would be a sharper focus on assessing multiple risk factors and helping the families most in need.
• The Core Purpose had three focus areas: (1) child development and school readiness; (2) parenting aspirations, self-esteem and parenting skills; and (3) child, family health and life chances.
• Based on previous requirements to have each centre serving approximately 800 children under 5 years of age in each community, Stockport currently had 19 Children’s Centres.
• The new proposals would mean retaining 12 hubs delivering the full Core Purpose as Sure Start Children’s Centres. 7 centres would become satellites. These would no longer be Sure Start Children’s Centres and would not deliver the full Core Purpose, however they would retain the Early Help Service.
• The 12 hubs would cover Stockport’s Priority Areas. The four Priority 1 Areas combined with the nine Priority 2 Areas had the top 20% of the most deprived families in the borough. The new proposals would allow a redistribution of financial resources from other areas in the borough to allow for a greater focus on these Priority Areas.
• The 7 satellites would not cover any Priority Areas. The streamlining of management responsibilities in these centres would mean a reduction in reporting requirements to Ofsted, data analysis and the delivery of the full Core Purpose. There would be a reduction in management capacity from 12 to 9 equivalent full-time staff.
• There would be an introduction of a charging policy for certain non-statutory services at each satellite. Despite having pockets of deprivation, there is likely to be more ability to pay for additional, optional services in these areas. The services in the 12 hubs would remain free of charge.
• The services delivered in each hub and satellite would be tailored to meet the needs of the community they serve.

A representative of the Director of Public Health submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out a summary of health perspectives on the Streamlining Family Support Programme.

The following key issues were highlighted:-

• The timing of the transfer of the future commissioning arrangements for NHS family support services would differ  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

To consider a report of the Head of Integrated Prevention Services outlining the ‘Proposals for Children’s Centres’.

The report provides a summary of the methodology used for the formal consultation on the proposals regarding Children’s Centres. It provides the context for the management proposals in relation to future delivery of Children’s Centres and also the plans for access to Children’s Centre services and service delivery.

The Panel is requested to consider (i) the information presented in the report; (ii) the proposals for management and service delivery across the Hubs and Satellites; and (iii) the targeting and prioritisation of the Children’s Centre service.

Contact Officer: Mike Hughes Tel: 0161 474 5753 email: mike.hughes@stockport.gov.uk 

The Head of Integrated Prevention Services and the Assistant Head of Integrated Prevention Services submitted a report on behalf of the Service Director (Children’s Safeguarding & Prevention) (copies of which had been circulated) outlining the methodology used for the formal consultation on the proposals regarding Children’s Centres.

The following key issues were highlighted:-

• The management proposals in relation to the Children’s Centres were the subject of an extensive consultation between September and December 2011. The geographical reorganisation of the centres had been aligned with the work of the Neighbourhood Management Boards and the health visiting teams.
• Currently, there were 19 centres with 12 equivalent full time leaders. Under the new proposals there would be 9 equivalent full time leaders of the 12 hubs who would have management oversight of the 7 satellites.
• The local authority had a responsibility to publicise the services at each Children’s Centre to ensure that families are informed about where and when to attend the centres.
• The management reorganisation would retain a Family Worker post at each satellite, created to deliver any needed learning and development activities for vulnerable families who were unable to pay for those services.
• Data analysis allowed the services available at each centre to be tailored to the needs of each area to ensure that families were receiving the most appropriate services to their needs.
• Each hub had a responsibility to prioritise the families that live within their reach area. If there was capacity for a particular service, families from a different area could still attend, however the hub would need to prioritise local families in need. This was particularly important in Priority Areas.
• A workshop would take place on Thursday 12 January 2012 with Children’s Centre leaders across the borough to discuss the new management proposals.

The following issues were discussed/comments made:-

• It was noted with concern that the new management structure model of the hubs and satellites was not in alignment with Ward and Area Committee allocations. Officers explained that there were clear reporting lines in place from each Children’s Centre to both Neighbourhood Management Boards and Area Committees and that it was important to note that the management model set out in Appendix B would not affect the delivery of services to families and only related to the administration of the centres.
• In creating the new management structure, data including the numbers of children under 5 years of age and the needs of each community had been taken into consideration.
• The importance of each Neighbourhood Policing Team being made aware of the geographical reach and management structure of each hub and satellite.
• There was already successful integration of work between health visitors and midwives in Children’s Centres that ensured families in need were targeted.
• It was important to monitor any contracts in place with entities providing fee-paying services at each satellite centre in order to keep the costs of any service low.
• The need to ensure that any vulnerable families living in satellite areas who may not be able to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

To consider a report of the Head of Integrated Prevention Services.

The report sets out the draft project plan for the Scrutiny Review – Streamlining Family Support Services.

Contact Officer: David Tomlinson Tel: 0161 218 1634 email: david.tomlinson@stockport.gov.uk 

The Head of Integrated Prevention Services submitted a report on behalf of the Service Director (Children’s Safeguarding & Prevention) (copies of which had been circulated) containing the draft project plan for the future meetings of the Panel.

The following issues were discussed/comments made:-

• The proposed site visit to the Contact Centre would take place between Wednesday 8 February and Tuesday 6 March 2012. There would be no more than 3 Councillors at each visit. It was requested that anonymous case studies be circulated prior to the visit.
• Ann McGrath should be invited to the Scrutiny Review Panel meeting on Wednesday 7 March 2012 and there should also be representation from the Youth Offending Service and the voluntary sector.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and an update presented at the next meeting.

RESOLVED - That future meetings of the Scrutiny Review Panel – Streamlining Family Support Services be held on the following dates at 5.30pm:-

Tuesday 7 February 2012

Wednesday 7 March 2012