Agenda and minutes

Helen Watson

Sarah Fielding

None

Last meeting held on 23 March 2021 (for confirmation)

The minutes of the meeting held on the 23 March 2021 were confirmed as a true record.

Report of Corporate Director for People

Sophie Russell, Head of Children’s Strategy and Improvement, delivered a brief presentation updating the Partnership on the Children and Young People’s Plan 2021-2021. The following points were highlighted and questions responded to;

a)  The general themes of the previous plan remained in place but with additional emphasis being placed around the prioritisation around ensuring Children, Young People and families are heard and included.

b)  Focus remained on the continuation of key priorities of ensuring that Children, young people and families in Nottingham will be:

·  Happy and Healthy

·  Safe and Supported

·  Learning and Achieving

c)  Once of the significant proposal in the plan was to improve the Governance structure; there are currently a large number of meetings and efforts were being made to explore how, as a partnership, the Governance structure could be more effective and streamlined.

d)  Work would be undertaken to establish sub-groups for each themed area of work, chaired by partner agencies.

e)  Sub-group meetings were to take place quarterly to bring together the work and programmes being delivered, identify gaps and overcome barriers. They will work to develop and drive clear action plans to make a positive difference for children, young people and families in Nottingham.

f)  Each sub-group would feed back into the Children’s Partnership at each meeting and contribute to the supporting strategies and frameworks to ensure that participation and engagement, development of the workforce, joint commissioning and a clear performance framework underpin all of our work.

Partners welcomed the achievement and the ambition of the plan and were pleased to see the inclusion of voluntary and community sectors in the plan. It was explained that the plan be considered as a shared partnership plan, which would be a live/fluid document that would look towards establishing a more holistic approach.

Resolved to note the Nottingham City Children and Young People's Plan 2021-2024

Report of Corporate Director for People

Jon Rea, Engagement and Participation Lead Officer gave a brief presentation on the refreshed Children and Young People’s Participation Strategy 2021-25.

The following points were highlighted and responses provided to questions:

a)  The Strategy had been created to help improve opportunities for children and young people to be heard and to enable them to have more influence over the decisions affecting their lives and the world they live in.

b)  Sharing views and ideas contribute to a safe, healthy and happy childhood and by listening and involving children and young people, lessons could be learned about how best to support them to help them achieve good outcomes in life; this would also help children and young people develop the skills and experience they need when transitioning into their adult lives.

c)  Using different approaches for various situations is a necessity in supporting Children and Young People;

i)  Individually, an awareness is needed to ensure that children and young people are listened to and their opinions valued, especially children and young people with SEND, looked after children and those in receipt of services due to vulnerability.

ii)Socially there is a need for a culture that listens and offers encouragement

iii)Informally, group settings and meetings need structured activities and engagement to demonstrate positive outcomes and to ensure that all voices are heard.

d)  The aims of the participation strategy and the partnership approach included gaining a better understanding of how to support participation of vulnerable children and young people, to increase use and availability of technology to improve virtual participation and to improve the partnership culture of participation to give young people a voice in decisions that affect them

e)  Improvements were need to the previous arrangements and as such a partnership level steering group could be established to oversee the strategy and provide the correct apparatus for dealing with accountability.  

f)  Engagement with schools and colleges would be improved with a better connection with school governors to highlight the work and benefits of the Participation Strategy

g)  There was a shift from a Council-centric approach and an enthusiasm to grow partnership networks through engagement.  

Resolved to note the Children and Young People's Participation Plan 2021-2023.

Report of Corporate Director for People

Kathryn Bouchlaghem –Early Years Manager outlined the presentation on the Creation of a Speech, Language and Communication Pathway for Nottingham City

The presentation included the following information:

a)  Following the LGA peer review carried out in 2019, one recommendation had neem to create a Speech, Language and Communication Pathway. Work had been undertaken with some assistance from Leicester City Council and attempts had been made to galvanise partnership working. 

b)  Local Needs analysis of children not developing their speech language and communication skills had an impact on attachment, attainment, mental health, leisure, wellbeing and later achievements.

c)  There has been a collaborative approach with the Youth Justice System to identify what the emerging needs are. It was not about intervention nor was it a council lead initiative- it has been 2 years of work with all partners from all agencies and a collectively desire to compile a workable Speech, Language and Communication strategy.

d)  One of the main benefits would be to measure participation for kids and families and the potential to have earlier identification for support.

e)  Nick Lee, Director of Education updated the Board on the Creation of a Speech, emphasised the need to drive the engagement of this strategy at family and community levels to get recognition and a full understanding of the best way to proceed. Extensive work would need to be done in order fully train the workforce with regards to the requirements of the Speech, Language and Communication Pathway.

The Board discussed the proposed timetable, noting that the document was to be submitted to the Health and Wellbeing Board for approval for consultation in July 2021. It was agreed that the timeline be re-visited to ensure that there was adequate time prior to it going out to consultation.

Resolved that a revised timetable be put together prior to it being signed off by the Health and Wellbeing Board.

Presentation by Youth Offending Service Manager

Jacquie Thomas, Practice Development Manager, Children and Families and Wilf Fearon - Early Help Head of Service, updated the Board and gave a presentation.

The following information was highlighted

a)  A new structure had been put in place; Play and Youth Services had seen significant cuts and in comparison to previous years, the service was considered very small.

b)  Age group covered was 5-19 years old delivering directly to Children and Young People (CYP).

c)  Work has been underway with CYP in the community and to establish a safe space. The team had still been able to deliver directly with CYP –it’s been very difficult but it has been made easier through collaborative working with multi agencies.

d)  Efforts have been made to get a seamless service and a purpose built safe space provided to maximize delivery and they continued to run a model of ‘open access’ so that CYP can drop in at a time that has been specified.

e)  At present 25 sessions are being delivered across the City. Emphasis has been placed on building and establishing relationships and to provide some continuity for CYP.

f)  There have been challenges with regards to safe delivery specifically during Covid but there has been a retention of face-to-face contact during the pandemic.

g)  Achievements listed included working more closely with partners which included being able to deliver the summer programme which was challenging

h)  Focus was on CYP with specific needs and especially those suffering with anxiety and depression in part due to Coved with some having been involved in anti-social behaviour.

i)  Specific concerns raised by CYP included drug and alcohol misuse, sexual health service and fitness. A number of self- assessments had been undertaken alongside workers observation to establish how CYP can be best helped.

j)  There had been an increase in young female attendance which was a positive and targeted youth work continued to evolve and change to keep current and up to speed.

The Chair thanked Jacquie and Wilf for their continued work and recognised the importance that the team had played specifically over the pandemic and when there had been grief amongst young people particularly when a life had been lost to suicide.

 Resolved to note the updates and progress made by the Play and Youth Team

Presentation by Head of Children’s Strategy and Improvement

Due to technical issues, this item was deferred to the next Board meeting of the Children’s Partnership Board to be held on the 28 September 2021.

Presentation by SSBC Programme Director

Karla Capstick, Programme Director - Small Steps Big Changes (SSBC) gave presentation to the Board on Small Steps, Big Changes (SSBC) - partnership update.

The following points were highlighted and questions responded to;

a)  The programme was lottery funded for 10 years, with 4 years still remaining. Focus was in four wards and the programme offered support to families from pregnancy to the child’s fourth birthday.

b)  The four wards (Aspley, Bulwell, St Ann’s and Hyson Green and Arboretum) were selected due to the high levels of babies being born annually and high levels of need, with child outcomes not at a suitable level.

c)  There were 3 key child development outcomes aimed for that SSBC children would have including:

i)  Healthy and positive social and emotional development

ii)  Effective and age appropriate communication and language skills

iii)  Good nutrition

d)  Reference was made to cross partnership system change and aspirations with regards to the legacy left and sustainability beyond the lifetime of the funding. It was noted that the programme was a long term investment without immediate results; the first SSBC children being at an age where they were about to start school.  

e)  As part of the legacy of the programme, there had been a continued commitment to influence not only at a local level, but at a national level too. This included evidence from the SSBC being submitted to the Health and Social Care Select Committees and the House of Lords Life Beyond Covid Committee

The Board recognised the value of partnership working and it was noted that during the pandemic, partnership and multi-agency working had become more important and in many cases strengthened with a commitment to continue cohesion post Covid.

Resolved to note the presentation and the update given.

None

For noting / discussion

Resolved to note the forward plan with the inclusion of potential future items on;

a)  Supporting families: Family Hubs in Nottingham and

b)  Update from Nottingham College

To agree to meet at 4.30pm on the following Tuesdays during the municipal year 2021/22:

2021    2022

28 September  29 March

14 December

The future meetings of the Children Partnership Board meetings were as follows:

28 September 2021 

14 December 2021

29 March 2022