For Aberdeen’s children Integrated Children’s Services

MEETING TITLE: Achieving Outcome group – Thursday 3 April 2015
PARTICIPANTS: Neil McLennan (Chair), John Cairns (Minutes), David Bliss, Maggie Hepburn, Bill O'hara, Linda Buchanan, Jacinta Birchley, Laura Thomson, Helen Adair,, Matthew Musset, Carol Sadler, Heather Farquhar, James Simpson, Brian Fraser, Graham Donald, Mary Annal, Sally Sweet, Christine Murray, Willie Kenyon
APOLOGIES: Charlie Penman, Neil Hendry, Louise Beaton, Lynn Smith, Sheila Erskine, David Innes, Jill Barry, Joanne Larsen, Ken Milroy, Denise Foreman, Rachel Elliot, Brian Dunn,

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3. / Minutes and Matters Arising / Discussion on work experience charter – agreement that ACC reps will link with Andrew Miller within Education Scotland to influence the national charter which is being developed. / Linda/Chris/Sally to link with Andrew Miller within Education Scotland
4. / Strategic Feedback & discussion / Communication
Meeting opened through discussing reporting links to and from the Achieving outcome group meeting to ensure that key messages are being shared widely across all representative services and networks. Highlighted links through members including sharing key items with Educational Phycology local and national networks, Policy and Performance team, Children and Young People 3rd sector forum, Respected and Included outcome group, Business construction forums, Children Services managers, Library services team, Community, Housing and Infrastructure leads, Aberdeen Guarantees partners, ACC Development officers, DWP Youth team and regional networks & SDS local team.
Feedback from Self Evaluation – January meeting
A summary paper was provided to the group to highlight discussion points from January’s evaluation event. Since the event, the Care Inspectorate have now published the Aberdeen City Children and Young people’s inspection report which was also shared as part of the meeting papers. Overall this report was a positive inspection for the partnership in the city, receiving a ‘good’ evaluation in six inspection categories, and an ‘adequate’ evaluation in three. LB asked to repeat the thanks from Chief Officers to all staff who support our children, young people and families in Aberdeen. The inspection report acknowledged that improvements had been made in ensuring positive post school destinations for young people, the positive increase of ten percentage points over the past five years in regeneration areas, and the introduction of Aberdeen Guarantees. However the performance of schools was below national indicators in almost all key measures. Although attainment has improved, the report stated that the pace of improvement has not matched comparator or national averages and relative performance has declined overall. The educational progress of some children and young people looked after away from home needs to be more sufficiently addressed. The ICS board are now in the process of developing an improvement action plan and each Outcome Group is being asked to identify the key areas for improvement within the report, particular to their areas of responsibility. These will then be brought together by Lead Officers for the Outcome Groups and the ICS Board and will be signed off by ICS Chief Officers in May 2015. The draft response is due by 22 April 2015 and agreement that David Bliss, Neil McLennan and John Cairns will meet to draft 1st version of plan also taking into account January’s established actions for 2015/16.
Discussion on Achieving outcome group sub group reporting structure
Three proposals were put forward to the group and merits of each where discussed. General consensus that we need to agree membership for each group to make best use of everyone’s time. After discussion, preference for Model 1 which has five sub groups, Aberdeen Guarantees, Attainment, Achievement, ASN and Corporate Parenting leads. NMcL asked all members to consider where they would be best placed within this structure and who should be lead for each area.
Aberdeen Guarantees
Sally Sweet provided an update on the progress with the Aberdeen Guarantees commitment and shared a written update for the group. Partners involved with Aberdeen Guarantees met during a Workshop session within the PMO and agreed a new mission statement: “Supporting young people’s transition into employment.”.
The group have identified a need for a clear Management and Governance Structure and have agreed a new structure. Following the Workshop the proposed Project Manager (in consultation with the PMO and other Project Team Members) is in the process of drawing up a number of documents which will be put to the next meeting in May:
• Project Proposal
• Project Governance
• Project Relationship Matrix
• Project Reporting and Approvals Timetable
• Project Targets, Measures and KPI
• Project Plan
Outcome group members approved the new guide for young people which will now be published on the website and shared with schools
The circulated business>school partnership agreement was not approved as there has now been development nationally to set a template for these agreements. This is also an area which will be led by the North East Invest in Youth group.
North East Invest in Youth update
Rachel Elliot passed her apologies for the meeting. The recently published ‘Elevator pitches’ was shared with the group as part of the papers to provide latest update on national developments. Members are also linking with either the North East Invest in Youth board or themed sub groups. Charlie Penman/ Neil McLennan are links to the board, Sally Sweet links with Communication group, David Innes is linking with Careers Advice group. Shire reps are links to the Modern Apprenticeship and Work experiences groups.
Update from Wider Achievement discussions
John Cairns updated on discussions on creating a system to measure and monitor achievement across the city. Partners have agreed to host an awareness raising/consultation event after the Easter period to start to shape a local plan for measuring national achievement awards for 12-25 year olds. Adventure Aberdeen have appointed Mark pain on a temporary basis as Wider Achievement Award who will take forward required actions.
Community Learning & Development – Requirement for 3 year Plan
Linda Buchanan provided an update on the requirement for ACC to have a 3 year partnership plan for Community Learning and Development by 1 September 2015. To start discussions, ACC Youth Development team coordinated a citywide Youth work forum in February 2015 which included input from Jim Sweeney (Youthlink Scotland). From this event, it was agreed that local partnership groups would be formed to focus on Youth Work & Adult learning delivery within the city and both groups have met recently to establish outstanding actions. Linda shared a written presentation from Education Scotland which highlighted requirements and will provide an update on progress at the August meeting.
Update from GIRFEC Consultation event – March 2015
John Cairns provided a written update on national discussions around the latest GIRFEC implementation guidance focusing on the potential implications to all services if the planned named person for ALL 15-17 year olds is introduced in 2016. Group members shared concerns around this requirement which will be reflected in city response which will be submitted in May 2015. A future update will be provided once available.
Aberdeen City Council – Sector Skills Audit
Heather Farquhar provided an update the recently published Aberdeen City Skills Audit, highlighting key messages from the report. These included;
Overall the 3 key barriers to recruitment are:
·  Lack of qualified people
·  High Salary expectations
·  Lack of experienced people
Efforts to increase the skilled labour pool by attracting people from outside the city were negatively impacted by:
·  Lack of affordable accommodation
·  Cost of Living
·  Competition from other sectors/employers
Quality of school/further education leavers was only a barrier to recruitment for the Engineering sector and within companies with 51 -100 staff.
All businesses stated that skill shortages were negatively impacting on their business across 7 broad categories, with the overall 3 top issues being:
·  Struggle to meet contractual obligations and obtain new work
·  Increased stress and workload on staff
·  Restricted business growth
Increased workforce stress has never been highlighted as an issue in any of the 5 previous audits
Looking at longer term business impacts driven by continued skill shortages larger organisations were most concerned about the:
·  Reduction in quality of service
·  Whilst smaller companies were most concerned about the:
·  Reduction of business growth potential
Finally when asked what Aberdeen City Council could do to assist in addressing the current recruitment and retention difficulties within the city responses were broadly segmented in to 5 key section:
·  Increased Business/School links
·  Accommodation – access to more affordable accommodation/cost of living.
·  Infrastructure Improvements – Road network improvement/bus service and public transport costs
·  Introduce Weighting Allowance
·  Attract more people to the city
European Social Fund 2014-20 update
Heather Farquhar updated that the ACC have the opportunity to bid for £2.56m through the European Social Fund, though to receive funding the council needs to contribute 60% of funding. ESF allocation would be available until 2020. A Neighbourhood engagement model has been submitted to the stage 1 of the application though HF also highlighted that a focus on Foodbanks and the creation of a citywide employer database could be included in the next stage of the bid. / David Bliss/Neil McLennan & John Cairns to meet to draft action plan response for 22 April deadline
All members to consider proposed sub groups and align themselves with the best group, which each member being on up to 2 groups at maximum.
Agreement that all current group members will be invited to the next meeting on 21 May 2015.
Invite member of Invest in Youth board to the next meeting
David Bliss to provide overview for proposals for new corporate parenting board.
Request that all services provide a written update at all meetings
Sally Sweet to provide Project Proposal/Governance/Relationship Matrix/Reporting and Approvals Timetable, Targets, Measures and KPI & Project Plan at May meeting for approval
Christine Murray to publish approved guide on www.aberdeenguarantees.com
Update on Achievement network event at the next meeting
Linda Buchanan to update on progress with 3 year CLD plan at August 2015 meeting
Highlight the new Child’s plan template which is on the Aberdeen getting it Right website
5. / Opportunities for All offer / Update on Employability Fund provision 2015/16
Willie Kenyon provided an update that the EF provision for 2015/16 has not yet been officially confirmed yet, though could confirm that there is not a lot of change from providers funded during 2014/15.
WK also highlighted last week’s Youth recruitment event which attracted around 250 school leavers during the vent at the music hall. Members reflected that this was a reduction on last year’s 400-500 attendees and also noted that some schools did not allow pupils to attend due to SQA preparations.
Carol Sadler updated that Community Jobs Scotland is to expand during 2015/16 with 1000 places available across Scotland, 300 of which will be ring fenced for vulnerable learners.
Activity Agreements update
John Cairns updated that the team are working on a End of year report for 2014/15 and aim to have a draft text version of the report complete for the next outcome group meeting in May. The Aberdeen City return to the government is due on 11 April, early indications are the progression rate for 2014/15 has improved and will be around the 75% mark. JC also updated that funding has been extended for 2015/16. / Willie Kenyon to share EF update at next meeting
Laura Thomson to pick up on issue of non-attendance of schools at citywide careers events
John Cairns to provide Activity Agreement report for approval at Mays meeting
5. / Data & Management information / 16+ Data Hub arrangements
John Cairns updated on progress with the 16+ Datahub. All schools across the city are being supported to complete interim spreadsheets each month which will capture pupils information and any 16+ offers which are in place. This arrangement has been agreed with schools and will run up until July 2015 when the new national Seemis page is launched.
Feedback from National OFA/Skills Network event
Written update from national OFA meeting – highlighted that SDS have confirmed reporting procedures will remain the same for the 2013/14 follow up SLDR which will be published in June. Agreement that an update of the timeline for rolling out the new participation measure should be highlighted at the next meeting
Risk Matrix update
John Cairns/James Simpson updated on recent discussions on developing the Seemis risk Matrix module. Dyce Academy have agreed to test the matrix once risk criteria’s and weighting have been agreed by ACC Senior Managers. Its is hoped that the tool will be piloted between April to June 2015 with the view of developing guidance and support for all schools to use the systems at the start of the 2015/16 school term.
Aspirations Survey update
John Cairns updated that September 2015 has now been agreed to run and promote the aspirations survey with all secondary schools to improve the partnerships communication with young people and to influence and inform future planning. / Update at August meeting on new national 16+ page
SDS to update on Participation measure at May meeting
John Cairns/James Simpson to update on Risk Matrix progress at May meeting
John Cairns to share latest version of the aspirations survey questions for comment of members – Final survey to be approve at may meeting and shared with schools so that planning can be made for start of 2015/16 term.
Next full group Meeting: Thursday 21 May 2015

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