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Agenda item

Cabinet Member:      Councillor Dilwyn Morgan

 

To receive a report on the above.

 

 

Minutes:

Submitted - the report of the Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, noting that it was a very exciting strategy.   Historically, there had been successful preventative work, however, there was a need to learn from integrated working and the importance of the individual, and a prime example of this was the implementation of the Ysbyty Alltwen Scheme.   It was noted that a Parliamentary Review of Health and Care in Wales referred to developing seamless care services that are convenient and close to home.  The intention was to make the services much more integrated within the Council and other partners, in the hope to focus everyone's attention on early intervention and targeting families correctly and offering services that would reduce the subsequent need for much more intense intervention.  It was acknowledged that there was a duty on everyone to safeguard children and young people; however, focus needed to be placed on dealing with issues early and the hope was that we would strive to develop the concept within the Council and the external partnerships. A positive step that had been made was the transfer of an officer from the Economy Department to the Children and Families Department and this provided additional capacity within the Department.  

 

Members were given an opportunity to ask questions and the following points were highlighted:

 

(a)              Reference was made to the Families First programme and the acknowledgement that the programme had been successful and that the input of the third sector had been essential, e.g.  Citizens’ Advice Bureau.   If the programmes were successful, why did the model have to be changed?

 

The Head of Service explained that the Government had decided to abolish the grants to the third sector for the purposes of developing financial literacy. During the transitional year, Gwynedd was the only authority that funded last year, but whilst accepting that it had been a success, it was not possible to extend the resource due to the lack of financial resources and the national guidance.  It was added that this did not mean that families could not be referred to the Citizens' Advice Bureau; however, the money used to ensure that they were given priority.

 

In terms of the proposed model, a lot was learnt from the advantages and the benefits over the past five years, that needs were not being met, specifically families where the children were teenagers, low-level mental health, speech and language delay and homelessness issues. The intention was to have services in their place, and target families so that it was possible to identify children who came into care and put a team around them, i.e. assessment of needs and realising that there was a need to recommission and target a different cohort of families.

 

(b)  Did the Education Department have input as a result of problems with children's lack of skills? 

 

In response, the Cabinet Member for Children and Young People confirmed that Education was one of the essential partners and that support had already been received from the Department.   Also, fortunately, it was noted that the health service was a very strong partner in Gwynedd and was a huge hub for the Children and Families Service.

 

The Head of Service added that speech and language was one of the main priorities. It was acknowledged across the age ranges, including teenagers, that it affected their confidence, behaviour and ability to reach their potential. The intention was to extend the provision across the County and to collaborate with the Health Board, the third sector, as well as the Education Department in order to better identify the families. 

 

(c)              The strategy was welcomed and it was asked whether there was an intention to work with Housing Associations?  

 

The Head of Service confirmed that more attention needed to be given to the above in its entirety, and reference was made to a pilot example of working with Housing Wardens in Maesgeirchen, Bangor, who had a wealth of key information.    

 

(ch) Whilst welcoming the report, more information was needed and they were reminded of the need to address the needs of children with disabilities. 

 

The Head of Service noted that the vision was presented before the Committee and that she was very grateful to the Leadership Team for the support to move forward. The task of the new officer would be to refine the plan and collaborate with the partnership and an update could be presented on the developments in a year's time.

 

(d)              The importance of the trans-agency collaboration and how successful the model had been, was noted. Hopefully, the new youth workers would be able to contribute to the above strategy. 

 

The Cabinet Member for Children and Young People explained that the Youth Service only reached 25% of youths, noting that there were missed young people in the County.    Hopefully, the new model in youth work would reach out so that more young people were reached, however, in terms of the Children and Families Service, any additional partnership was welcomed.  

 

 

   Resolved:       To accept, note and give thanks for the report.

 

Supporting documents: