Issue - meetings

Councillor David Mellen, Portfolio Holder for Early Intervention and Early Years introduced a report on the Edge of Care Services. Helen Blackman, Director of Children’s Integrated Services and Tracey Nurse, Head of Children’s Social Work provided additional narrative and information. They highlighted the following information:

(a)  there has been a national rise in the number of children and young people who need to be accommodated and those involved in Care Proceedings. In response to this increase the Council has developed a range of services, known as Edge of Care Services, which work with children and families to ensure that, where it is safe to do so, children remain with their families and avoid the trauma of family breakdown;

(b)  The reasons that children and young people come into care are numerous and complex. As such a multi discipline approach centred around the child is necessary along with sustained work, continued support and a gradual withdrawal to offer effective edge of care services;

(c)  Abuse and neglect are the top reason for younger children coming into care, however as the child gets older, generally, the main reasons change, and family breakdown, offending behaviour and mental health become the main driving factors to young people being accommodated;

(d)   The Edge of Care Panel was established in 2011 to respond to the increased demand for care alongside challenging budget restrictions. It aims to identify families in crisis and in need of urgent intervention and families that are at risk of breakdown in the foreseeable future where intervention will build resilience and prevent the breakdown;

(e)  The edge of care hub was then developed and MST (Multisystemic Therapy) introduced. The hub works with children and young people and their families between the ages of 0-18 and focus is on families in crisis and Priority Families;

(f)  Additional services such as MST standard are involved with children aged 11-18 and focuses on families where the young person is either offending or at risk of offending, risk of exclusion, has mental health issues or substance misuse issues. It also targets parent who have unresolved trauma and aims to tackle the underlying causes of family breakdown. This can involved mental health support and substance misuse support for the parents as well as the young people within the family;

(g)  Safe Families is a faith based group that targets families with children 0-12 years old. They use trained volunteers to befriend troubled families offering flexible mentoring, respite, support within the home etc;

(h)  There has been a significant increase in interventions targeting children and young people most at risk of coming into care. These range from robust packages of support and intervention to accommodation. There are many services available to offer the tailor support that each family, and family members requires to improve their outcome;

(i)  The Edge of Care Panel is a weekly, multi-agency meeting chaired by the Head of Children’s Social Work. There is representation from across Council Services, the Police, NSPCC and CAMHS and works  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6