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Councillors and committees

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Whickham Room - Civic Centre

Contact: Rosalyn Patterson TEL: (0191) 433 2088 EMAIL:  rosalynpatterson@gateshead.gov.uk 

Items
No. Item

F50

Minutes of last meeting pdf icon PDF 76 KB

The Committee is asked to approve as a correct record the minutes of the last meeting held on 19 March 2018

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on 19 March 2018 were agreed as a correct record.

F51

Liaison with Gateshead Youth Assembly pdf icon PDF 67 KB

Report of Strategic Director, Care Wellbeing and Learning

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee heard from Andrew Adams, (Chair) and Josh Smith (Vice-Chair) of the Gateshead Youth Assembly.  Josh and Andrew wanted to advise the Committee of their plans and priorities for 2018-19 but first of all took the Committee through some of the work they had undertaken in 2017-18 and which they will be taking forward again into 2018-19.

 

·         Emotional Wellbeing – this is something which the assembly will carry on with as part of their existing work as this is an issue which hasn’t gone away.  The plan is to ask the CYPS team to talk to the assembly and discuss the way the GYA can help support young people who suffer from emotional wellbeing issues.

·         Self Confidence and Self Esteem – this again is in the plan to continue to have a series of self-confidence and self-esteem workshops throughout the year.  Each year these sessions are delivered by young people who have been through GYA and are coming back to volunteer.

·         Tobacco and Alcohol – The assembly will continue to work with Public Health around tobacco and alcohol related issues and how we can protect children and young people from the effects of smoking e-cigs, alcohol and from being manipulated by the manufacturers of tobacco and alcohol related products

·         Environment – the assembly will continue to support WWF Earth Hour and make efforts to reduce our consumption of disposable products and encourage our members to use public transport where appropriate.

·         Bullying – bullying both cyber and real world continues to be a massive issue for young people, the assembly plan to work on projects which enhance young people’s self-confidence, self-esteem and emotional resilience so they are better equipped to copy with bullying and stand up against it.

·         Child Poverty – the assembly will continue to work on issues around child poverty, we regularly hold collections for the Foodbank and 5p clothing bus etc. along with some extensive work supporting refugees and asylum seekers in Gateshead.

·         Peace of GYA – Working with Peace of Mind the assembly have launched a series of drop in sessions for refugee and asylum seeking young people and GYA members to work together on projects, activities and events that affect young people.  This project will focus on social action and essential life skills.

 

The assembly have organised several residential weekends which they use for some of the confidence building workshops and they continue to work with Northumbria Police.  Also Josh is on the Board of Governors of the QE.  The assembly advised the Committee that they feel well supported by Gateshead and invited members of the Committee to their convivial supper on Tuesday 29 May.

 

The Committee advised the representatives from the assembly that they appreciate them attending the Committee and providing a comprehensive report.

 

RESOLVED -             That the information presented to the Committee be noted.

F52

Monitoring - OSC Review of Oral Health pdf icon PDF 69 KB

Report of Director of Public Health

Minutes:

The Committee received a 12 month update on progress against the recommendations from the Review of Oral Health in Gateshead.

 

The final report set out four recommendations which were agreed by the Committee.  A six month update on progress was given to Committee in September 2017.  Further progress to date against the recommendations is as below.

 

Recommendation 1 – work collaboratively with all commissioners of oral health services to ensure services are meeting the needs of the population and addressing the inequalities as detailed in the JSNA.

 

The findings from the National Dental Epidemiology Programme Survey which was completed at the end of July 2017, will not be available until Summer 2018.  Once the findings are published we will identify any particular areas of concern and work with relevant services and partners to decide how these can be addressed.

 

Work will also be progressed as part of the 0-19 Public Health nursing service and all commissioners of oral health services.

 

Recommendation 2 – review oral health promotion work in line with the transfer of responsibility from NHS England.

 

As previously mentioned oral health promotion work has been embedded in the new specification for the 0 to 19 public health nursing service.  The service has been awarded to Harrogate and District Foundation Trust and will commence on 1 July 2018.  The 0 to 19 will have an identified lead for infant feeding and nutrition who will work on policy and pathway development, in conjunction with key partners.  This will include but is not limited to breastfeeding, oral health promotion, promotion of healthy family diet and nutrition.

 

Recommendation 3 – Embed oral health promotion across the early help strategy to ensure a life course approach.

 

Discussions have taken place with the manager of the Early Help service to decide how the new 0-19 public health nursing service will work with them to ensure that a life course approach is taken.  The new service will work with the early help teams to look at how health promotion questions can be incorporated into the routine enquiries/assessments they undertake with families.

 

Recommendation 4 – Ensure Making Every Contact Count approach incorporates Change 4 Life Programme

 

The public health team has three MECC posts and a public health resource and information assistant who will work together to ensure they incorporate appropriate change 4 life programme materials as part of the MECC training programme.

 

It was queried whether there were targets set for the new provider.  It was noted that there will be KPis and it has been suggested that there are key themes which are looked at on a quarterly basis.

 

RESOLVED - That the information contained within the report be noted.

 

   

F53

Children and Young People's Commissioning pdf icon PDF 430 KB

Report of Strategic Director, Care Wellbeing and Learning

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee received a report to update on the key actions/milestones and timelines for the Commissioning and Quality Assurance Team in Care Wellbeing and Learning.

 

The Commissioning and Quality Assurance Team in Care Wellbeing and Learning, commission services for children and young people aged 0-18 years and for children with statements of educational needs and/or disabilities to the age of 25 years.

 

The Commissioning and Quality Assurance Team work within the policy context of Vision 2030 and aligns to the Children’s and Families Act 2014. 

 

Key Areas of Focus for the next two years include:

 

·         Developing a Commissioned Service – Outcome Framework

·         SEN/D Joint Commissioning Arrangements

·         Family Support Service Review

·         Review of Post 16 Education Placements

·         Develop market alternative Post 16 Alternate Education

·         Collaborative Procurement (NE12)

·         0-19 Commissioning of services – school nursing/health visiting and family nurse partnership

·         CAMHS Service Redesign

·         LD and Autism Services for Children – Transforming Care

 

The following areas have been identified as pressures or gaps in service:

 

·         Local residential and emergency residential children’s home beds

·         Services for young people aged 13-17 years with CSE/SEMH needs both male and female

·         Support services – challenging behaviour / substance misuse / self-harm / sexualised behaviour

·         Early help – Local Assessment Residential – to review parents and child interaction on the “edge of care”

·         Alternate Education Offer – SEN/D and Post 16

·         Support accommodation / bespoke or single occupancy units

 

The future work plan for the Commissioning and Quality Assurance Team in 2018-2020 is to review and commission new services to help address the gaps that have been identified for children and young people in Gateshead. 

 

RESOLVED - (i)        that the work plan for 2018-20 be noted

                          (ii)      that the Committee receive further updates on the plan as work progresses          

F54

LSCB Emerging Priorities pdf icon PDF 160 KB

Minutes:

The Board received an update from the Local Safeguarding Children’s Board on their emerging priorities for 2018-20.

 

Based on a review of the current five thematic priorities, and areas highlighted through the Learning and Improvement framework, it is the opinion of the LSCB Business Manager that key business plan priority areas for 2018-19 should be:

 

·         Voice of the Child

·         Communication and engagement with the frontline (including schools)

·         Early Help

·         Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing

·         Child Sexual Exploitation & Missing.

 

There is concern with regards to waiting list figures for CAMHS.  The Board have been asking for figures of those on waiting lists and would welcome the input from this Committee.  The Board is looking for assurance that children will be assessed.

 

It was also noted that there is concern with regards to specialist services waiting times and people getting support at the right time before they hit crisis point.  It is felt that success should be measured by earlier interventions, it has been found that school interventions are often more effective.

 

RESOLVED - that the information contained with the report be noted.

F55

NEET Care Leavers - Progress Update pdf icon PDF 345 KB

Report of Strategic Director, Care Wellbeing and Learning

Minutes:

A report was presented to seek the views of the Committee on the provision on the support offered to care leavers and forward these views to the Looked After Children’s Team.

 

An increasing focus is being placed on care leavers and every local authority has a statutory duty under Children Leaving Care Act 2000 to offer care leavers support.  Gateshead published their current offer on the Council website, which outlines the service and support we offer.

 

Under the Children and Social Work Act 2017, the Government introduced the requirement for local authorities to publish a ‘Local Care Leaver Offer’, which outlines services for care leavers available within the local authority area.  The Local Offer will be published in April 2018 and will include:

 

·         Council tax exemption for care leavers up to the age of 25

·         Peer mentoring

·         Housing pathway with a range of options for young people

·         An improved employment, education and training offer from both within the council and from partners.

·         Support from our partners and local businesses to support our care leavers both practically, emotionally and culturally

 

The Government has introduced a set of Corporate Parenting principles that require all departments within a local authority to recognised their role as corporate parents and encourage them to look at the support and services they provide.  The principles require corporate parents:

 

·         To act in the best interests, and promote the physical and mental health and wellbeing of those children and young people

·         To encourage those children and young people to express their views, wishes and feelings

·         To take into account the views, wishes and feelings of those children and young people

·         To help those children and young people gain access to, and make the best use of, services provided by the local authority and its relevant partners

·         To promote high aspirations and seek the best outcomes for those children and young people

·         For those children and young people to be safe and for stability in their home lives, relationships and education or work; and

·         To prepare those children and young people for adulthood and independent living

 

All Care Leavers have a pathway plan which considers the young persons need for support and assistance, based on previous assessments and LAC plans.  The pathway plan sets out what they need and who will support them.  The plan is reviewed every six months to ensure the care leaver is being support in their transition from care.  The pathway plan outlines:

 

·         Accommodation

·         Practical Life Skills including money management

·         Education and Training

·         Employment

·         Financial Support

·         Specific Support needs

·         Contingency plans for support if independent living breaks down

 

 

These elements are intended to provide a full package of support to the young person to enable them to make the transition from care to living independently.  The young person’s voice is key to the success of the pathway plan and they be actively encouraged to attend the pathway plan review or have their views represented by a person of their choice or via MOMO.

 

It was noted  ...  view the full minutes text for item F55

F56

OSC Work Programme Review pdf icon PDF 138 KB

Joint Report of the Chief Executive and Strategic Director, Corporate Services and Governance

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee received an update on the Work Programme which following agreed changes by Cabinet in July 2018 which were to ensure that

·         The Work Programme is first and foremost member led

·         Enhances the leadership role of OSC Chairs and Vice Chairs in driving forward, directing and shaping individual OSC work

·         Enhances engagement and involvement with OSC members in shaping the focus of the work of specific OSCs

·         Creates stronger relationships with the Executive

·         Enable Overview and Scrutiny to better understand and track how it is influencing Cabinet Policy / Decision making going forwards

 

The pilot changes commenced in September 2017 and this is the first review following the changes.

 

The development of the work programme for 2018/2019 have been drawn up with input from partners and stakeholders and committee members.  The OSC Co-ordinator will carry out further work with OSC lead officers across all of the OSCs to consider what future improvements can be made to process the tracking of how OSCs are influencing policy development and decision making with a view strengthening the annual review process going forwards.

 

RESOLVED - (i)         That the information contained in the annual review be noted.

                        (ii)        that the provisional work programme for 2018/19 be endorsed by the Committee

                        (iii)        that it be agreed that further reports will be brought back to the Committee to identify issues which the Committee may be asked to consider.

 

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