20th May 2014 (1-4pm ) HillsidePrimary School, Tanhouse, Skelmersdale

Minutes

Attendees / Apologies
Angela Aspinwall Livesey (Chair) – Primary Schools / Jonathan Hewitt (DSL) – Lancashire County Council
Claire Martin – FE education / Steph Critchley – Children Centres
John Doyle – Secondary Schools / Greg Mitten - VCFS
Nikki Hennessy – CountyCllr. Lead Member for Schools / John Nelson - WLBC
Laura Davidson – Early Support Lead
Donna Aspey – CYPT Development Officer
Helen Bilsborrow – Children’s Social Care
Nighat Parveen - YPS
Gill Hughes - Clerk
Agenda Item / Action Notes / By
  1. Welcome and introductions
/ Angela welcomed everyone and introductions were made round the table.
  1. Apologies
/ Apologies were noted from Jonathan Hewitt, Greg Mitten, John Nelson and Steph Critchley
  1. Notes of last meeting, agreement and matters arising.
/ The notes of the last meeting were accepted as correct by all present.
GH reported that Anna Bailey the representative for Public Health is no longer in post therefore outstanding actions have not been completed.
  1. Proposed changes to CYPT structure and meeting schedule
/ JN was not available to provide an update. The proposal was discussed and a response to the consultation agreed by the board.
Action: GH to distribute the proposal electronically to all
board members.
Action: GH to complete a draft response based on the
Board’s comments and concerns. E-mail to AAL / GH
GH
  1. Participation
/ It was decided to leave this item until Jonathan is available.
Action: Put on agenda for next meeting / AAL & GH
  1. Action Plan
/ DA confirmed that despite the proposed structural changes, CYP Trust want districts to provide a local action plan to incorporate into the County plan.
Priority 1 – Exclusions
JD fed back concerns from head teachers re. increased exclusions from 3 last year to 7 (probably going to increase to 9) this year. It is felt that this increase is due to funding issues at Acorns who are struggling to provide respite support to schools.
Actions: LD to track what funding Acorns have received via
Early Support
LD to identify how many requests for support have
some link to exclusions
JD to send letter to Bob Stott raising concerns of
Secondary School Heads in West Lancs. Also, share
this letter with NH.
Board members to review aspects of the action plan
where they have an input and send any amendments
or additionsto GH who will create a master copy for
review at the nextmeeting. / LD
LD
JD
All/GH
  1. Early Support Core Offer
/ LD confirmed that Early Support and Working together with Families have now merged and will now be known as Prevention and Early Help. Work is ongoing to streamline meetings whilst ensuring the right professionals are around the table.
There have been 45 requests for support since October 2013.
Action: LD to get a breakdown which identifies multi agency and
single agency requests for support
LD reports that commissioned services are working really well and some providers have a waiting list due to increased caseloads.
Prevention and Early Help has a worker seconded from Jobcentre Plus to support families where worklessness is an issue
The Board discussed timescales for early support, consent issues and how professionals engage with families. Capacity for services to take on caseloads was also raised as an issue. / LD
  1. Safeguarding
/ The Board received a verbal update on safeguarding issues.
Social Worker caseloads are currently high but there are no particular trends. HB confirmed that all referrals to the service are appropriate.
Drug related friction between families has been a recent issue.
Chorley, South Ribble & West Lancs are to get 5 additional Social Worker posts.
The Social Worker in WoodlandsSchool is working well and this has been extended for another year.
  1. Public Health
/ The Board received an update on the revised input from Public Health. Anna Bailey is no longer in post, Karen Thompson is now the Strategic Lead for Public Health in West Lancs. Karen has confirmed that she will be unable to provide a representative to sit on the CYPT Board locally but has offered a link worker to ensure that action plans are aligned, work is not duplicated and that there is an effective line of communication between Public Health & WL CYPT. The Board nominated NH to be the link with Public Health.
Action: GH to put link worker (Andy Ascroft) in touch with NH
The 3 Public Health priorities of Starting Well, Living Well and Aging Well were discussed with particular focus on Starting Well. There are concerns by Board members about those families requiring support the mostare not accessing Children’s Centres, therefore not receiving the support they need.
Action: AAL to write to NH highlighting concerns so that
they can be fed back to the Health & Wellbeing Board. / GH
AAL
  1. School Nursing Service
/ No rep. from Public Health. No update available.
  1. NEET
/ The Board received a verbal update on NEET which currently stands at 3.5% in West Lancs which is very low compared to the national picture. The not known figure is also very low in West Lancs, 3.2% v 10.8% nationally.
The targets for this year have not yet been set but will be available in time for the next meeting.
The Board discussed why more 16 & 17 year olds are currently NEET and felt this might be due to responsibility to provide Careers Education Information Advice & Guidance now lies with schools and this has led to some inconsistency in provision. WL head teachers work collaboratively and there is greater consistency in provision in this area.
Work by the NEET Partnership has paid dividends which is reflected in low NEET figures.
The Board discussed skills gaps versus young people’s aspirations relating to local employment opportunities.
Action NP to provide electronic NEET report which will be
circulated with the minutes.
The Board also received a verbal update on Youth Strategy. Three thousand booklets have been printed, paid for by WLBC. The booklets are aimed at vulnerable children and their families. Lead professionals and schools will have a stock of the booklets which contains information on a variety of activities and places to go.
The Board agreed a low key launch followed by publicity & marketing.
Action: NP to arrange a promotional photograph with JN & NH /
NP
  1. Private Fostering
/ Children’s Social Care need to know when Private Fostering arrangements are entered into to enable them to carry out an assessment. There are currently no known private fostering arrangements in West Lancs. Private Fostering is where a distant relative or friend is/has looked after a child for 28 days or longer.
The Board offered support to promote awareness of Private Fostering.
Action: AAL to raise awareness at Shares
HB to distribute marketing material for other partners to
distribute in the course of their work.
GH to arrange for a flyer to promote Private Fostering
within VCF sector organisations. / AAL
HB
GH
  1. AOB
/ NK informed the Board that there is some funding available via WL CCG (Carol McCabrey) to discourage young people from starting smoking and supporting smoking cessation. Funding would go to pastoral support in schools.
  1. Date of Next Meeting
/ Tuesday 8th July 2014, HillsidePrimary School, Tanhouse, Skelmersdale, 1-4pm

Gill Hughes, , 01695 733737

22.5.14