Action Plan - Contents

  1. Development of Integrated Governance and Commissioning for Children’s Services Leading to a Children’s Trust
  1. Involve Children, Young People , Parents and Communities through Consultation and Participation work
  1. Develop the Voluntary, Community and Private Sector
  1. Develop the Multi-Agency Workforce
  1. Develop High Quality and Inclusive Universal Services

i)Promote Healthy Lifestyles and Tackle Health Inequalities

ii)Implement Early Years and Child Care Development Plan

iii)Implement Schools for the Future and 14-19 Strategy

iv)Implement the Parenting Support Strategy and Action Plans

  1. Preventative and Support Services

i)Develop Local Accessible Support for Families

ii)Develop the Children Fund Programme

iii)Promote Positive Contribution to Society

  1. Provide High Quality Value for Money Specialist Servcies

i)Reduce Alcohol and Drug Misuse Among Young People

ii)Services for Pupils with Special Educational Needs

iii)Services for Disabled Children

iv)Child Adolescent Mental Health Dorset HealthCare NHS Trust

v)Reduction in Rates of Teenage Pregnancy and Improved Support to Teenage Parents

vi)Looked After Children and Young People Leaving Care

vii)Improve Services for Young Carers

viii)Young Offenders and Those at Risk of Offending

ix)Reduction of Young People Not in Education, Employment and Training (NEET)

  1. Establish a Local Safeguarding Children’s Board and Improve Services for Children in Need of Protection

i)Establish a Local Safeguarding Children’s Board

ii)Further Develop Child Protection Services

  1. Develop Information Sharing and Assessment (ISA) Model
  1. Provide Information to Parents/Carers, Children, Young People and Professionals

1

ACTION PLAN – CHILDREN’S SERVICES REVIEW

1. Development of Integrated Governance and Commissioning for Children’s Services Leading to a Children’s Trust
1.1 / Aim & Purpose of Activity / Outcomes to be Improved / Action / Lead Individual and agencies involved / Resources Required / Timescale
To develop a robust inter-agency framework for the planning commissioning, funding and delivery of services to children and young people.
This arrangement to lead to the formation of a Children’s Trust by 2007/8 at the latest. /
  • To ensure all five strategic outcomes for all children and young people in Poole are improved and to achieve cost efficient and integrated service.
/ (a)To establish a Governance Board to oversee the development of integrated Children’s Service. / John McBride, Chief Executive, Borough of Poole.
Borough of Poole
Poole Primary Care Trust
Dorset NHS Healthcare Trust
Connexions across Bournemouth Dorset and Poole / Officer, Councillor and Non-Executive Board Member time. Within existing resources / Terms of reference agreed and Board formally to meet by January 2005.
(b)To establish a Senior Officer Executive Group to plan, commission and oversee implementation of children’s services planning. / John Nash, Policy Director (Education/Children’s Services), Borough of Poole. / Officer time. Within existing resources. / Terms of reference and Group in place by December 2004.
1.2 / Ensure all relevant agencies in statutory private and voluntary sectors contribute to planning and delivery of effective services for children, young people and their families and carers. /
  • Delivery of improved outcomes for all children and young people.
  • Vibrant voluntary, community, private and faith sector.
/ a)Review of Role, Terms of Reference and working method of Poole’s Children and Young People’s Strategic Partnership and related other planning groups. / John Nash, Policy Director (Children’s Services)
All partner agencies in Poole’s Children and Young People’s Strategic Partnership / Officer time within existing resources / March 2005
1.3 / Development of single plan for Services for Children and Families. /
  • Ensuring improved outcomes for all young people and children; delivering integrated high quality, safe and cost effective services.
/ a)To develop a comprehensive and effective plan for improved outcomes and integrated services for all relevant services, in line with Government Guidance. / John Nash, Policy Director (Children’s Services)
Agencies represented on the Executive Group and CYPSP. / Existing arrangements to be reviewed across Borough of Poole and Poole PCT to achieve increase in capacity in commissioning activity.
All agencies to contribute. From existing resources. / January 2005 to March 2006 work on developing Single Plan and Joint Commissioning Strategy.
April 2006 Single
Plan becomes effective and will be monitored each quarter.
1.4 / Develop a framework for a formal Children’s Trust acceptable to all partner agencies and in line with Government guidance. /
  • To ensure better outcomes for children and young people via integration of services and effective and value for money com-missioning.
/ a) To develop an agreed model and any necessary Memoranda of Understandings or Undertaking. / John Nash (Director of Children’s Services)
All members of Senior Officers’ Executive Group. / Officer time.
Within existing resources. / Model framework to be developed for consultation by 30 September 2005.
Framework to be in place by April 2006.
1.5 / Develop a Joint Estates/Property Strategy across agencies. /
  • Ensure integrated services are delivered at locations which are accessible to children, young people and families and to make most efficient use of properties.
/ a) To review the Property/Estates Portfolios of all partner agencies in light of the Joint Strategy for Children’s Services developed via the Single Plan. / Jan Thurgood, Policy Director, Borough of Poole
Relevant Officers in all partners agencies / Officer time.
Within existing resources. / Review Report with full recommend-ations – December 2005
1.6 / Develop Joint Strategy for use of I.C.T. /
  • Ensure integrated systems enable information sharing across agencies and within the Trust and good access to information and services for children, young people and families.
/ a) To further develop a Joint Strategy for I.C.T. in order to implement an interfaced or integrated system according to Government recommendations.
b) Implement nationally required system for Children’s Social services “Integrated Children’s system” / Relevant Officers in all partner agencies.
Children and Families Social Services in collaboration with Dorset and Bournemouth Social Services. / Additional funding for post of ISA Project Manager for 2005/6.
£50,000
I.T. Costs approximately £20,000 dependent on Government funding.
Estimated costs up to £250,000 Borough of Poole Capital Replacement Fund. / Joint Strategy in place and key systems able to transfer data across agencies by March 2008.
Integrated Children’s System in operation from 1 January 2006.

ACTION PLAN – CHILDREN’S SERVICES REVIEW

2. Involve Children, Young People, Parents and Communities through Consultation and Participation work
Aim & Purpose of Activity / Outcomes to be Improved / Action / Lead Individual and agencies involved / Resources Required / Timescale
2.1 / Improve the participation and involvement of children, young people, parents and communities in the shaping and development of their communities and services. /
  • Children, young people, parents and communities feel their voice is heard and can experience the difference this has made.
  • Communities and services can show improved outcomes as a result.
/ a)Multi-agency group, including young people established and strategy and principles agreed
b) Actions include:- / SASS and Youth Service for children and young people.
Pupil and Parent Services for parents.
LSP for communities
Children and Families, PCT, NCH, Connexions, YOT and all agencies working with children and young people. / Existing time and budgets rationalised to arrange and support consultation and participation work.
  • Pro-actively planning consultations.
  • Collating key messages received.
  • Ensuring these are taken into account when planning services.
  • Giving feedback to those consulted.
/ Sept 2005
Review quarterly and report to CYPSP
2.2 / a) Review of arrangements across agencies for consultation, advocacy and participation work with children and young people and produce recommendations which will improve outcomes and impact of consultation work. / Seconded Senior Manager working to Director of Children’s Services / Senior Manager time (See Action 6(i)(a) / Report with recommendations – April 2006

ACTION PLAN – CHILDREN’S SERVICES REVIEW

3. Develop the voluntary, community and private sector
Aim & Purpose of Activity / Outcomes to be Improved / Action / Lead Individual and agencies involved / Resources Required / Timescale
3.1 / To increase the capacity of the voluntary, community and private sectors by establishing new or enlarging existing organisations and partnerships. / To ensure all five strategic outcomes for children and young people in Poole are improved. /
  • To link with the Local Strategic Partnership “Active Communities” and the Council’s “Poole Connects” Projects.
/ Fred Davies, Policy Director
Poole Partnership
Borough of Poole
Council for Voluntary Service / Officer time.
Within existing resources. / Autumn 2004
3.2 /
  • To engage with Statutory, Voluntary and Independent Agencies working in Poole to identify gaps in service and unmet need, which could be appropriately met by the voluntary, community or private sector.
/ Fred Davies, Policy Director
CYPSP / Officer time / Autumn 2004
3.3 /
  • * To identify priority areas of work for investment by the voluntary, community or private sector in Poole.
/ Executive Group / Officer time / Winter 2004
3.4 /
  • Incorporate into developing Single Children’s Plan and & Commissioning Strategy
/ Executive Group / Officer time.
Additional resources as identified in 1.3 / December 2005
3.5 /
  • Seek additional funding to meet bullet point 3 above (*) and link with Council’s “Poole Connects” project to increase fund-raising.
/ Executive Group / Dedicated short-term support to make applications for funding.
Additional resources as identified in 1.3. / Spring 2005
3.6 /
  • Commission voluntary, community or private organisations to deliver the services identified in bullet point 3 above (*).
/ Executive Group / Dedicated short-term support to assist CYPSP commission services.
Additional resources as identified in 1.3. / Summer 2005

ACTION PLAN – CHILDREN’S SERVICES REVIEW

4. Develop the Multi-Agency Workforce
Aim & Purpose of Activity / Outcomes to be Improved / Action / Lead Individual and agencies involved / Resources Required / Timescale
4.1 / To develop a coherent, stable, skilled and motivated multi agency workforce / Children and young people are more effectively protected.
Improved accountability of different professionals for the safety and welfare of children and young people. /
  • Establish a multi-agency Planning/Development Group for children to work on Occupational Standards in preparation for the Sector Skills Councils Report and on workforce planning.
/ Sarah Elliott, Director of Service Delivery, Poole Primary Care Trust
Workforce Development Specialists:
Borough of Poole
Poole PCT, Poole Hosp, DHCT,
Connexions,
Workforce Development Confederation, Bournemouth University, Borough of Poole College and Local Education Institution. / Additional officer time to undertake the work and produce a report.
£15,000 in 2004/5 and 2005/6. Money to come from Government Grant.
Printing and advertising. Within existing budgets. / Workforce Planning/
Development Group established by December 2004
Produce report with recommen-dations by July 2005
4.2 / A sustainable, adaptable workforce that can continue to meet the
changing needs of children and young people. /
  • Review and make recommendations on Recruitment and Retention and develop shared recruitment campaigns and common recruitment materials.

4.3 /
  • Plan a Workshop to consider changes in roles in working with children.
/ Workshop venues/speakers
Consultancy/
Trainer time. Venues. Course materials. / Spring 2005
4.4 /
  • Develop a multi-agency Leadership Development Programme for Team Leaders and Operational Managers
/ Relevant officers in partner agencies. / Within existing resources. / September 2005

ACTION PLAN – CHILDREN’S SERVICES REVIEW

5. Develop High Quality and Inclusive Universal Services

i) Promote Healthy Lifestyles and Tackle Health Inequalities
Aim & Purpose of Activity / Outcomes to be Improved / Action / Lead Individual and agencies involved / Resources Required / Timescale
Promote the health, emotional and social well-being of children and young people. / Children and young people develop more healthy lifestyles and health inequalities are reduced. / (a) Improve life chances for children by implementing the Local Health Plan.
(b) Tackle health in equalities by implementing the Health Inequalities Plan.
(c) Further develop the Healthy Early Years, Healthy Schools and Healthy Youth Centre Scheme.
(d)Implement the recommendations of the Service reviews for Heath Visiting and School Nursing. / Sarah Elliott, Director of Service Delivery, Poole PCT
Adrian Dawson, Director of Public Health, Poole PCT and Borough of Poole
Ruth Angel, Poole PCT
Sarah Elliott, Director of Service Delivery, Poole PCT / Already identified. / See Local Health Plan and Health Inequalities Plan
Review to be completed and report published in Autumn 2004.

ACTION PLAN – CHILDREN’S SERVICES REVIEW

5. Develop High Quality & Inclusive Services

ii) Implement Early Years and Child Care Development Plan – see Plan at www
Aim & Purpose of Activity / Outcomes to be Improved / Action / Lead Individual and agencies involved / Resources Required / Timescale
Greater provision for parents ensuring:
  • Choice.
  • Flexibility of provision.
  • Well qualified staff.
/
  • Increased number of child care places.
  • Increase proportion of childcare workforce with Level 2 and 3 qualifications.
  • All provision fully staffed.
/ a)Creation of 811 new places (as required by DfES) with as many as possible integrating care and education.
b)Create 2 Children’s Centres in areas of need.
c)Develop finance and business advice and support to child care places.
d)Set up Child Minding Support Scheme
e)Enhanced support and Training programme.
f) Arrange targeted recruitment campaign. / Early Years/Sure start team.
Sue Willcocks,
Head of Early Years in Pupil and Parent Support. / Sure Start funds.
Childcare grant. / 2006

ACTION PLAN – CHILDREN’S SERVICES REVIEW

5. Develop High Quality and Inclusive Universal Services

iii) Implement Schools for the Future and 14-19 Strategy
Aim & Purpose of Activity / Outcomes to be Improved / Action / Lead Individual and agencies involved / Resources Required / Timescale
Promote access to good quality education. /
  • Easier access to education through an improved structure.
  • Schools are more community focused.
  • Better use of limited resources.
  • Standards of attainment are improved.
/ a) The organisation of schools will be reviewed and the current scheme will be re-organised through the “Schools for the Future”
(see “Striving for Excellence” Borough of Poole Strategy and Business Plan). / John Nash, Director of Children’s Services
Borough of Poole. / Substantial capital funding required via:
-DfES Grant
-Section 106
-Borrowing
-Sale of land
-Capital funds / 2009
Improve learning opportunities, skills, qualifications and employment of young people aged 14-19. / Young people become competent and motivated learners and are able to achieve their full potential educationally and socially evident in:
  • Improved basic skills including numeracy and literacy at age 11 and 16.
  • Better qualified entrants to FE/HE/work-place.
  • Reduction of young people not in education, employment or training.
/ b) Implement the Plans in the Education Development Plan and the 14-19 Strategic Plan focusing on:
  1. Implementation of national strategies at ages 4-14.
  1. Development of “personalised” curricula from 14-19.
  1. Improving transition between all phases and school to HE or work.
/ - Jane Portman, Head of School Advice and Support Services
working with:
  • Headteachers
  • Schools
  • LSC
  • Bournemouth and Poole College
  • Connexions Service
/ Set out in EDP and 14-19 Strategy. / 2007
See Education Development Plan and 14-19 Strategic Plan (website address)

ACTION PLAN – CHILDREN’S SERVICES REVIEW

5. Develop High Quality and Individual Universal Services

iv). Implement the Parenting Support Strategy and Action Plans
Aim & Purpose of Activity / Outcomes to be Improved /

Action

/ Lead Individual and agencies involved / Resources Required / Timescale
To enable all parents and carers to have access to good quality parent education and support appropriate to their needs. / Children grow up in a stable and caring family environment.. / (a) Sustain universal Health Visitor time for Statutory visits and additional Health Visitor support with psychology advice, when additional needs have been identified.
(b) Provide additional support and advice for:-
i)Looked After Children and Care Leavers
ii)Teenage Parents
to enable them to gain positive parenting skills.
(c) Develop additional support for parents who have a learning or physical disability.
(d) Establish Parenting Early Education Project (PEEP) for parents of children 0-1 with additional needs on bonding with their children.
(e) Establish additional Parenting Support Programmes to which Staff can refer.
(f) Develop a library of information about parenting and child developmental needs. / Sarah Elliott, Director of Service Delivery, Poole PCT working with all agencies working with children. / Existing and additional Health Visitor and psychology time funding for PEEP project. / April 2006

ACTION PLAN – CHILDREN’S SERVICES REVIEW

6. Preventative and Support Services

i) Develop Local Accessible Support for Families
Aim & Purpose of Activity / Outcomes to be Improved / Action / Lead Individual and agencies involved / Resources Required / Timescale
Develop locally based preventative and support services through establishment of Children’s Centres, Extended Schools, Youth Advice Centres and through effective co-ordination of existing professionals and community development activity. The initiative to begin in the areas where outcome data indicates highest need. /
  • Ensure 5 strategic outcomes and multi-agency performance outcomes are improved in areas of highest need.
  • Services are more integrated and accessible to service users in the areas.
  • More Services are accessed by those with greatest needs in the areas.
/ (a)Senior officer appointed to lead Neighbourhood Development Projects in Turlin Moor and the Rossmore Schools Pyramid Area (for a two year period). /
  • Director of Children’s Services
  • All agencies and voluntary organisations working with children, young people and families
/
  • Funding for lead professional and resources (£80,000 per annum) and Action Research Project (£10,000).
  • Funding to be included in Borough of Poole Medium Term Financial Plan.
/
  • April 2005 Lead Professional appointed.
  • October 2005
Publication of locality services development model based on full consultation with local communities.
(b)Develop and implement a strategy for Extended Schools for the Borough of Poole / Director of Children’s Services
Schools and relevant managers from all agencies. / Extended School funding from DfES / April 2006
First Extended Schools open.
(c)Develop Children’s Centres for co-ordinated services for families with children under 5 years in Turlin Moor and Alderney. / EarlyYears Team Officers, relevant schools and Officers. / Bid for resources to the DfES Surestart Unit submitted October 2004. / Open first centre in March 2006.

ACTION PLAN – CHILDREN’S SERVICES REVIEW