Agenda and minutes

The Director of Children’s Services welcomed everyone to the Board meeting and thanked them for their attendance. 

Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Jennifer Connolly, Andrea Green, Josie Kershaw, Rebecca Key, Bev Milway, Richard Mortimer, Jennie Neil, Danny Pearson, Anita Rolfe, Tony Ryan, Heidi Shaw, Deborah Woodcock and Claire Woodford.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 20 November 2020 were approved as a correct record.

Members were invited to declare any interests they had in any of the items on the agenda for the meeting.

No interests were declared.

To consider the report of the Service Director Strategy and Commissioning.

This report covers how partners across Stockport have approached the development of a shared Borough Plan, including an overview of the insight which has informed the development of the priorities, and introduces a draft Borough Plan for consideration. The draft plan has been shared across Stockport partners.

The Board is asked to comment on and note the report.

Officer contact: Holly Rae on 474 3014 or email: holly.rae@stockport.gov.uk    

A representative of the Service Director Strategy and Commissioning submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing how partners across Stockport have approached the development of a shared Borough Plan, including an overview of the insight which has informed the development of the priorities, and introduced a draft Borough Plan for consideration. The draft plan was shared across Stockport partners. 

The Board thanked Holly Rae (CSS Head of Service) for the update and for the information shared and welcomed the work that had been done to date.

RESOLVED – That the update be noted.

To consider a report of the Stockport Family and NHS Foundation Trust.

The report provides details relating to how Stockport Council, the Foundation Trust and other partners are working together to improve the outcomes for all children 0-5years, reduce health inequalities and ensure there is sufficient, high quality early education and childcare.

The Board is asked to note the report.

Officer contact: Maura Appleby, maura.appleby@stockport.nhs.uk  

A representative of the Stockport Family and NHS Foundation Trust submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing how Stockport Council, the Foundation Trust and other partners were working together to improve the outcomes for all children 0-5years, reduce health inequalities and ensure there was sufficient, high quality early education and childcare.

Maura Appleby (Principal Lead Integrated Services, Health) highlighted the following: -

·         the purpose of the Startwell Strategy 2021-24

·         the vision and ambition for children and young people

·         the objectives and impact of the Startwell Strategy

·         feedback relating to a parents and carers survey conducted in 2020

·         the Stockport picture according to data from 2019

·         the whole system and community approach including the principles and approach

·         performance management and governance

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         there was a lot of local learning as well as responding to the national views and ensuring everything was evidence based.

·         the Board welcomed the report and thanked the team for all the work despite the time lost during the pandemic.

·         It was noted that the lost time during Covid provided more time to respond and to consider in more detail other aspects of the strategy and look at planning new ways of working and moving forward.

RESOLVED – That the report and presentation be noted.

To consider a report of the Stockport Family and Stockport NHS Foundation Trust.

The report provides details relating to the Healthy Child Programme 0-19, with the key headlines and priority areas.

The Board is asked to note the report.

Officer contact: Maura Appleby, maura.appleby@stockport.nhs.uk

A representative of the Stockport Family and NHS Foundation Trust submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing details relating to the Healthy Child Programme 0-19, with the key headlines and priority areas.

Maura Appleby (Principal Lead Integrated Services, Health) highlighted the following: -

·         Providers would be equipped to design effective, family orientated services to build upon local assets and community based approaches.

·         The Healthy Care Programme (HCP) would be extended from 19-24 years for those children with a statutory requirement.

·         Key priority areas include pre-conceptual care, maternity, effective care continuity between midwifery and health visitors (HV), reducing inequalities and mental health assessments by a HV at all mandated assessments.

·         Opportunities include bringing together a robust approach across both health and the local authority for 0-19 year olds, defined support in early years and educational settings for children with additional and complex needs and creating a public health pathway for children and young people.

It was commented that discussions would be held with the Greater Manchester area in light of the Green Paper and to respond to the national picture in terms of resources and funding to deliver equitably.

The Director of Children’s Services informed the Board that she Chairs the Children Integrated Board as part of the GM authorities and would raise the issues at the next Board meeting.

RESOLVED – That the report and presentation be noted.

To consider a report of the Safeguarding and Learning Unit.

The report describes Stockport’s approach to improving the lives of children in our care and care leavers and outlines our vision and objectives, reports on some of our recent achievements and developments and sets out how we intend to achieve our goals.

The Board is asked to note the report.

Officer contact: Nuala O’Rourke, 0161 474 5659, nuala.orourke@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Safeguarding and Learning Unit submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) describing Stockport’s approach to improving the lives of children in care and care leavers and outlining the vision and objectives and reporting on some of the recent achievements and developments.

Nuala O’Rourke (Head of Service, Safeguarding and Learning) highlighted the following: -

·         The purpose of the Corporate Parenting Strategy for 2020-23 including its values, priorities and vision.

·         The outcomes for the children and young people.

·         The Stockport picture including the number of children in care in Stockport, the number of care leavers who the authority were in touch with aged 18-21.

·         The number of care leavers aged 18-21 that were in suitable accommodation.

·         The impact of Covid-19 and how the pandemic has reinforced inequalities with many children living in the communities.

·         The response to the priorities designed by the care leavers.

·         The Stockport way of working including the governance arrangements, principles and the approach.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         The ‘golden thread’ through the strategy was to look after the children as though they were your own.

·         The report was welcomed and was a not a new approach but a far more integrated approach highlighting new ways of working and the levels of integration.

·         The Board enquired about the expectations and how it would work and feed into the care providers and be aligned with the care agreements e.g. training etc. In response, it was stated that the point was well made and that it would be looked at and the discussions would be held at the Children Integrated Board.

·         It was commented that the context could be raised at the Greater Manchester level to ensure the level of commissioning was taking place and that there was a joined up approach.

RESOLVED – That the report and presentation be noted.

To consider a report of the Director of Children’s Services.

The report provides details relating to the governance arrangements, the SEND RAG ratings, the priority areas, an overview of risk and the next steps.

The Board is asked to comment and note the report.

Officer contact: Sally Roy, sally.roy@stockport.gov.uk

The Director of Children’s Services submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing details relating to the governance arrangements, the SEND RAG ratings, the priority areas, an overview of risk and the next steps.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         Following the SEND Inspection held in September 2018, there were a number of written actions including the establishment of various Boards for SEND Improvements to action.

·         Another inspection/revisit to Stockport was due from May 2021 onwards, but there have been monitoring visits by the DfE.

RESOLVED – That the report and presentation be noted.

To consider the Forward Plan of agenda items for future meetings of the Stockport Family Partnership Board.

The Board is recommended to note the report.

Officer contact: Charles Yankiah, 0161 474 3206, charles.yankiah@stockport.gov.uk   

A representative of the Strategic Head of Service & Monitoring Officer (Legal & Democratic Governance) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out planned agenda items for the Stockport Family Partnership Board’s next meeting.       

The Chair requested that any proposed agenda items for consideration for the forthcoming meetings should be submitted to Nuala O’Rourke.

It was proposed that the following agenda items be considered for future meetings: -

·         SEND monitoring

·         Overall response to and the recovery from the pandemic

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the following agenda items be considered for future meetings: -

·         SEND monitoring

·         Overall response to and the recovery from the pandemic

The Chair of the Safeguarding Children’s Partnership submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on the work and priority areas for the Children Safeguarding Partnership over the last 18 months.

RESOLVED – That the report and presentation be noted.

Nuala O’Rourke informed the Board that consideration needed to be given to the appointment of a Vice Chair for the Board.

It was proposed that Anita Rolf (Clinical Commissioning Group) be considered for the position of Vice Chair.

RESOLVED – That in the absence of Anita Rolf that Nuala O’Rourke on behalf of the Board speaks to her regarding her interest in the position and provides an update to the next meeting.