Committees
The Joint Committee on Children and Young People will take place in the Brahan Room, Netley Centre, Highland Hospice, Bishop’s Road, Inverness on Friday, 14 March 2008 at 10.30 a.m. Tea and coffee will be available from 10.00 a.m.
Please note that there is no car parking available at the Netley Centre. You may, however, park at Highland Council Headquarters.
Alistair Dodds
Chief Executive
Highland Council
Declarations of Interest – Members are asked to consider whether they have an interest to declare in relation to any item on the agenda for this meeting. Any Member making a declaration of interest should indicate whether it is a financial or non-financial interest and include some information on the nature of the interest. Advice may be sought from Officers prior to the meeting taking place.
Business
1. Apologies
2. Minutes of Meeting of the Joint Committee held on 18 January 2008
Circulated for noting.
3. Revenue Budget 2007/08 – Monitoring
Report No CYP-08-08 by Bill Alexander, Head of Integrated Children’s Services providing monitoring information to 31 January 2008 and the projected year-end position on those areas of expenditure that have been delegated to the Joint Committee.
The Joint Committee is asked to note the report.
4. Early Years Review
Report No CYP-09-08 by Bill Alexander, Head of Integrated Children’s Services updating Members and making recommendations on the ongoing review of Early Years Services.
The Joint Committee is asked to agree:-
i. that, other than where it is stated that it is not achievable in 2008, all
provisions now be commissioned and operate with both 3 and 4 year olds;
ii. where local capacity allows, local authority nurseries accept 3 year olds from
the week after the child’s 3rd birthday, involving a charge that is
comparable with childcare fees in the private and voluntary sector;
iii. that in the Ross, Skye and Lochaber area
- the status quo be retained at present at the Nevis Nippers Playgroup/Caol Nursery, Upper Achintore Playgroup/Upper Achintore Nursery and Inverlochy Playgroup/Inverlochy Nursery but that these be reviewed in one year;
- the status quo be retained at the Kilmallie Playgroup/Banavie Nursery;
- new provision be commissioned at Elgol
iv. that in the Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross area
- the status quo be retained at the Fearn Playgroup, Norlin Playgroup/North Nursery, Brora Playgroup/Brora Nursery and the Reay Playgroup/Melvich Nursery;
- the Thrumster Nursery be retained;
- 3 and 4 year old provision in Lybster is combined in one setting
v. that in the Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey area the Peter Pan
Playgroup be de-commissioned.
5. NHS Highland Children’s Champions
Report No CYP-10-08 by Jan Baird, Director of Community Care informing Members of the outcome of discussions which had taken place in regard to the proposals for Children’s Champions across NHS Highland following on from the recommendation made by the Joint Committee at its meeting on 7 November 2007.
The Joint Committee is asked to note:-
i. that, with exception of the North Community Health Partnership area, NHS
Highland’s membership on the Joint Committee already reflects the other
Community Health Partnership and Specialist Services Units;
ii. Colin Punler, Non-Executive Director has been nominated as the Children’s
Champion for the North Community Health Partnership; and
agree:-
iii. that Colin Punler assumes the voting rights of the clinical lead post currently
vacant;
iv. that NHS Highland’s clinical membership be addressed when the clinical
leadership review in children’s services is concluded; and
v. NHS Highland’s remaining Non-Executive Directors assume the role of
Children’s Champions.
6. For Highland’s Children 3
Report No CYP-11-08 by Bill Alexander, Head of Integrated Children’s Services providing an update on the review of “For Highland’s Children 2” and consultation with parents to progress proposals for “For Highland’s Children 3”. Members are reminded that an earlier report explained the background to Children’s Planning and how there is now a requirement to work within the Single Outcome Agreement which is currently under negotiation.
The Joint Committee is asked to agree:-
i. that the current policy is to align the various planning frameworks to ensure
an appropriate fit of children’s plan improvement objectives and targets;
ii. not to progress to a new generation of the Children’s Plan at this time but
to take stock on the basis of the Single Outcome Agreement, the
supporting framework and the new partnerships that are forged around it;
and
iii. in the meantime, the various strategic groups continue to work towards
defining the strategic priorities for children’s services for the next three
years across the authority.
7. Housing Support for Care Leavers
At its meeting on 13 December 2007, the Highland Council recognised that aftercare services for looked after children were in need of further development, including the need to develop housing support options that keep young people away from general homelessness provision. Accordingly, the Highland Council agreed that the Joint Committee on Children and Young People should further consider how it might address enhanced housing support for care leavers. In this regard, Joint Report No CYP-12-08 by Bill Alexander, Head of Integrated Children’s Services is circulated setting out and seeking agreement for two specific housing support initiatives for care leavers namely, supported accommodation and a supported lodgings scheme.
The Joint Committee is asked to agree the development of the dedicated supported accommodation and supported lodgings schemes for care leavers in Highland.
8. Getting It Right for Every Child
Report No CYP-13-08 by Marj Stewart, Project Manager updating Members on the development and implementation of “Getting It Right for Every Child” in Inverness and Highland.
The Joint Committee is invited to note the progress that continues to be made.
9. Implementation of the Mental Health Framework
Report No CYP-14-08 by Bill Alexander, Head of Integrated Children’s Services detailing how children, young people and carers have been involved in the development of the Highland Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) Framework Implementation Plan to date and considering further options for how children, young people and their carer will be involved in the development and implementation of the plan over the coming months.
The Joint Committee is asked to note the report.
10. Future Business of Joint Committee for Children & Young
Report No CYP-15-08 by Bill Alexander, Head of Integrated Children’s Services setting out a proposed list of reports to be considered at future meetings of the Joint Committee on Children and Young People.
The Joint Committee is asked to note the list.
11. Date of Next Meeting
The next meeting of the Joint Committee will be held on Friday 6 June 2008 at 2.15 p.m. in the Council Chamber, Highland Council Headquarters, Inverness.