Agenda and minutes
Venue: Committee Room 2, Town Hall, Stockport. View directions
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Welcome, Introductions and Apologies Minutes: Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Shan Alexander, Helen Klepper, Caroline Gallogly, Chris McLoughlin, Mohammed Farooq and Alison Cresswell. |
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To agree as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held Wednesday 18 September 2013. Minutes: The Minutes (copies of which have been circulated) of the meeting held on Wednesday 18 September 2013 were agreed as a correct record.
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Matters Arising Minutes: There were no matters arising. |
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Performance Monitoring |
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Quarter 2 2013/2014 Performance Report PDF 741 KB Minutes: Donna Sager (Service Director, Strategy & Performance, Stockport Council) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing performance in the second quarter of 2013/14 against a number of indicators.
RESOLVED – That the report be noted.
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Partnership Progress Update Verbal update of the Partnership Chairs. Minutes: Early Years
Viki Packman (Head of Early Help and Prevention Services, Stockport Council) reported that two Children’s Centres inspections had been conducted by Ofsted and whilst there were positive comments about outcomes, both were rated ‘Requires Improvement (RI)’ due to low registration rates.
Early Intervention
Viki Packman (Head of Early Help and Prevention Services, Stockport Council) reported that there were a larger number of open cases with children’s social services then would be expected and this was being investigated. Teenage pregnancy rates in the borough were decreasing and there had been a reduction in first time entrants to the youth offending justice system.
Education
Richard Bates (Service Director for Education, Stockport Council) reported that there had been a significant increase to 90% in the number of pupils in the borough attending a school rated by Ofsted as either ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’. The number of exclusions had increased and this was being investigated through a Council Scrutiny Review which would be reporting on their findings and making any recommendations in 2014.
Safeguarding
David Mellor (Chair, Safeguarding Children Board) reported that following challenges raised by the Board regarding e-safety a full review was to be carried out and a report brought to a future meeting of the Board.
Child Poverty
Viki Packman (Head of Early Help and Prevention Services, Stockport Council) reported that the benefits cap had affected more than 60 families in Stockport and there had been an increase in referrals to food banks. There would be a ‘Step Down’ event on 29 January 2014 for colleagues to discuss strategies to address this.
Health
Duncan Weldrake (Public Health Specialist, Stockport Council) reported that local partners received early access into the Family Nursing Partnership programme and recruitment will start after Christmas.
He also highlighted a range of new immunisation programmes that would be carried out in schools, including HPV and Meningitis C.
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New Belongings Project PDF 34 KB Additional documents: Minutes: Jeanette Warburton (Service Manager, Children’s Social Care, Stockport Council) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) briefing the Board on the New Belongings project, the aim of which was to create a ‘gold standard’ in supporting care leavers.
The following comments were made/issues raised:-
· Concerns were raised that it was not known how many care leavers from outside the borough were living in Stockport. · Health trainers and mentors could help engage and support care leavers in accessing services such as GPs and dentists. · A motion due to be discussed at the next Council Meeting regarding apprenticeships could include discussion of care leavers. · Services such as the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service and the Youth Offending Service could extend the age range they work with to 21 years or 25 years old to provide necessary support to care leavers. · The age at which a child can stay in foster care would be raised to 21 years old, or 25 years old if at university.
RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.
(2) That the Board agrees to support the New Belongings action plan.
(3) That the Chair be requested to write to services such as the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service and the Youth Offending Service and request that they consider extending the age range of clients to whom they support and provide services.
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Children's Centres Target Groups PDF 91 KB Minutes: Viki Packman (Head of Early Help and Prevention Services, Stockport Council) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) requesting the Board’s approval of proposals to target groups of Children’s Centres users and seeking support from partners for joint work with Centres to identify and engage these target groups to benefit from services.
The following comments were made/issues raised:-
· Concerns were raised that a focus on Ofsted’s criteria for Children’s Centres may be in conflict with the needs of the wider population the Centres served. It was suggested that the outcomes targeted should be those optimal for the users of the Centres. · If the services provided at Children’s Centres did not meet Ofsted inspection criteria then the services could still be provided but under new governance arrangements. · Key to the provision of services was the outcomes for service users.
RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.
(2) That the Corporate Director for People be requested to review the aims and objectives of the Children’s Centres and a revised report be submitted to the next meeting of the Children’s Trust Board.
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Minutes: Kath Carey (Strategy and Performance Project Manager, Stockport Council) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing the Ofsted Single Inspection of Services for Children in Need of Help and Protection framework which was introduced in November 2013, in preparation for a possible inspection/visit.
RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.
(2) That members of the Board be requested to circulate the Ofsted Single Inspection of Services for Children in Need of Help and Protection framework to colleagues in their organisation and the need for continued preparation for the Ofsted visit be highlighted to them.
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Domestic Abuse: Update On Review PDF 58 KB Minutes: Viki Packman (Head of Early Help and Prevention Services, Stockport Council) and Helen Boyle (Deputy Head of Service, Community Safety Unit) submitted a report (copies of which have been circulated) updating partners on the progress of the local Probation Service Review (PSR) work stream on Domestic Abuse.
The following comments were made/issues raised:-
RESOLVED – That the report be noted. |
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ADCS President's Speech At National Children and Adults Services Conference PDF 56 KB Minutes: The Chair submitted a report (copies of which have been circulated) detailing the ADCS President’s speech given at the National Children and Adults Services Conference on 16 October 2013.
RESOLVED – That the report be noted. |