The Joint Committee on Children and Young People will take place in the Council Chamber, Highland Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Friday, 6 June 2008 at 10.30 a.m. Please note the change in time.
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 14 March 2008
Circulated for noting.
3. Revenue Budget 2008/09
Report No CYP-16-08 by Bill Alexander, Head of Integrated Children’s Services informing Members of the revenue budget allocated to the Joint Committee budget for 2008/09 from the Highland Council and NHS Highland and which makes proposals with regard to expenditure in the coming year.
The Joint Committee is asked to consider the report and to agree the budget proposals for 2008/09 as detailed in the report, including:-
i. the arrangements proposed by Highland Community Care Forum for the
pan-Highland young carers’ project; and
ii. to second one current practitioner to achieve Chartership as a Forensic
Psychologist.
4. Revenue Budget 2008/09 – Monitoring Report
Following on from the above, Report No CYP-17-08 by Bill Alexander, Head of Integrated Children’s Services detailing the position of the Joint Committee for Children and Young People budget as at 30 April 2008, after one month of the new financial year. The report indicates that, at this early stage, it would appear that the service is likely to deliver all services within the budget allocated.
The Joint Committee is asked to note the current budget position as at 30 April 2008.
5. Update on Out of Authority Placements Action Plan
Report No CYP-18-08 by Bill Alexander, Head of Integrated Children’s Services and Stephen Iliffe, Senior Manager (Additional Support Needs) providing an update on actions being taken with regard to Out-of-Authority placements. It includes proposals to secure Service Level Agreements for enhanced educational provision at Glachbeg Croft and for emergency care provision at Cromlett House.
The Joint Committee is asked to consider the issues raised in the report and to agree that Service Level Agreements be established for Cromlett House and Glachbeg Croft.
6. Governance of Childcare Grants
Report No CYP-19-08 by Bill Alexander, Head of Integrated Children’s Services updating Members on childcare grants awarded in 2007/08 and which makes proposals for future arrangements for these grants.
The Joint Committee is asked to consider this report, note the childcare grants awarded on 2007/08 and to agree the proposals for future arrangements for these grants as follows:-
i. to ensure due scrutiny, the budget management passes to the Resources
Manager (Early Years);
ii. to ensure alignment with local strategy, funding decisions continue to be
dependent on application to the local childcare partnership and
endorsement by Area Service Managers;
iii. applications be routinely discussed with the Area Children’s Champions; and
iv. that, where providers are unhappy with the level of grant provided or
on the nature of grants to certain organisations, a disputes resolution
process be established involving a meeting between the Area Children’s
Services Manager and/or Resource Manager and the Children’s Champion
and any aggrieved parties, with a recommendation to the Head of Service
to determine the matter.
7. ICAN Early Talk Scheme
Report No CYP-20-08 by Jane Baines, Development Officer, Support for Learners informing Members of the progress made on the ICAN Early Talk Scheme which is a national model of best practice.
The Joint Committee is invited to commend those nurseries that have achieved accreditation on the scheme.
8. Early Years Provision
Report No CYP-21-08 by Sam Brogan, Senior Childcare and Family Resource Officer setting out issues in relation to inputs and outcomes for early education in the local authority and independent sectors and which includes the findings which confirm that it is best practice to place 3 and 4 year old provision in the same setting.
The Joint Committee is asked to consider the issues raised and to agree:-
i. further to the outcome of job evaluation, work commence to identify how
some of the challenges and anomalies identified in local authority staffing
arrangements might be addressed in the planning for 15 hours/week
provision from 2010;
ii. that further work is undertaken to examine how commissioning
arrangements can continue to support partner centre provision, including in
relation to terms and conditions across sectors, particularly in relation to
Management; and
iii. to confirm a strategic commitment to support Care and Learning Alliance
(CALA) as the principal partner provider and to enter into detailed
discussion with CALA regarding its future role and long term funding needs.
9. Early Years Staff Qualifications
Report No CYP-22-08 by Sam Brogan, Senior Childcare and Family Resource Officer updating Members on workforce development issues for staff in the pre-school education sector who do not wish to undertake qualifications that meet the registration requirements of the Scottish Social Services Council.
The Joint Committee is asked to consider the report and to agree that staff who have indicated that they do not wish to undertake qualifications should be encouraged to reconsider but that further to that, discussions are initiated with Personnel Services and Trade Unions about redeployment options for these staff.
10. Second Response to Highland Children’s Forum Inclusion Report
Report No CYP-23-08 by Stephen Iliffe, Senior Manager (Additional Support Needs) providing a follow-up response to the report prepared by the Highland Children’s Forum (HCF) on Inclusion Issues “What Difference Would There Be If Children’s Experience Framed Policy?” which was presented to the Joint Committee on 21 April 2006 and was initially responded to in June 2006. Members had asked that a further response be sought showing how services had considered the report and incorporated its recommendations. The report details how the issues raised are reflected in current policy and practice.
The Joint Committee is asked to agree to support the continuing work summarised in the report.
11. Moving and Handling of Children and Young People
Report No CYP-24-08 by Stephen Iliffe, Senior Manager (Additional Support Needs) describing current developments in relation to the Moving and Handling Policy, Guidance and Training and also some related developments. These developments are entirely consistent with the recommendations made in the recently issued national report Handle With Care prepared by Scotland’s Commissioner for Children and Young People.
The Joint Committee is asked to note the action being taken collaboratively by the Highland Council and NHS Highland, Argyll and Bute and to agree to support these continuing developments.
12. Highland Users Group – Presentation
Report No CYP-25-08 by Bill Alexander, Head of Integrated Children’s Services introducing a presentation by the Highland Users Group (HUG) on their recent report on mental health and young people.
The Joint Committee is asked to consider the issues raised in the report.
13. Getting It Right for Every Child - Update
Report No CYP-26-08 by Marj Stewart, Programme Manager updating Members about progress on the development and implementation of “Getting It Right for Every Child” in Inverness and Highland, including activities of the programme team.
The Joint Committee is invited to note the progress that continues to be made and to comment on the report.
14. Communications Strategy
Report No CYP-27-08 by Bill Alexander, Head of Integrated Children’s Services making proposals for a revised communications strategy for integrated children’s services.
The Joint Committee is asked to consider and agree this communications strategy for integrated children’s services.
15. Raddery Trust
Report No CYP-28-08 by Bill Alexander, Head of Integrated Children’s Services seeking homologation of the appointment of Councillor L MacDonald to the Raddery Trust.
16. Future Business of Joint Committee for Children and Young People
Report No CYP-29-08 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 proposed list of reports.
17. Date of Next Meeting
The next meeting of the Joint Committee will be held on Friday 22 August 2008 at 10.30 a.m. in the Council Chamber, Highland Council Headquarters, Inverness.
18. Child protection Follow Through Inspection
Due to the delay in which would otherwise result in this report being considered by the Highland Council and NHS Highland there is circulated Report No. CYP-30-08 informing the Joint Committee of the findings of the follow inspection of services to protect children and young people in the Highland Council area.
The Joint Committee is asked to consider the report and to note that, as a result of the effective performance shown by services in taking forward improvements, HM Inspectorate of Education will make no further visits in relation to the inspection reports published in July 2005 and January 2007.