Committees
The Joint Committee on Children and Young People will take place in the Council Chamber, Highland Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Friday, 3 October 2008 at 10.30 a.m.
Michelle Morris
Assistant Chief Executive
Highland Council
26 September 2008
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 22 August 2008
Circulated for noting.
3. Revenue Budget 2008/09 – Monitoring Report
Report No CYP-40-08 by Bill Alexander, Head of Children’s Services detailing the position of the Joint Committee for Children and Young People budget as at 31 August 2008.
The Joint Committee is asked to note the current budget position as at 31 August 2008.
4. Update on Substance Misuse Advice and Information Services
Report No CYP-41-08 by Pol McClelland, Resource Manager updating Members on the positive developments in improving the delivery of Substance Misuse Services to children and young people in Highland.
In considering the report, the Joint Committee is asked to agree to support and endorse the new positive direction of the Service which will provide a more comprehensive and supportive one stop shop approach to young people and their families.
5. A New Approach to Tackling Scotland’s Drug Problem
Report No CYP-42-08 by Suzy Calder, Substance Misuse and Strategy Implementation Manager and Pene Rowe, Child Protection Committee Development Officer introducing the review by the Scottish Government of its approach to problem drug use, The Road to Recovery. The purpose of this new strategy is to signal a step change in the way that Scotland deals with its drug problem and to set out a new vision for drug treatment and rehabilitation services which are based on the principle of recovery.
The Joint Committee is asked to consider the summary of the national document and the Highland position in relation to the key priorities contained within, as discussed at the Highland Drug and Alcohol Action Team, as well as the developing action plan for children affected by parental substance misuse.
6. Supporting the Transition for Young People with Additional Support Needs into Young Adulthood
Report No CYP-43-08 by Marlyn Campbell, Development Officer (Disability)
setting out the policy for the management of transitions between children’s and adult services for young people with additional support needs and which has been agreed between Highland Council and NHS Highland officers. It confirms how good management of the transition is critical to various key agendas for both organisations but also makes clear the need to strengthen existing and create new partnerships with employers, colleges and development agencies.
The Joint Committee is asked to agree to:-
i. endorse the approach; and
ii. the proposals for the establishment of this new partnership, including a
major stakeholders conference later in 2008.
7. Children and Young People’s Respite Care
Report No CYP-44-08 by Bill Alexander, Head of Children’s Services setting out the key issues with regard to respite care for children, including the ongoing work to review provision, and the progress that has been made to date.
The Joint Committee is asked to consider the issues raised in the report and to note that these will be taken into account in the continued development of For Highland’s Children 3.
8. Getting it Right for “Children in Distress”
Report No CYP-45-08 by Innis Mitchell, Children’s Planning Officer explaining the requirement for training to support national and Highland strategies for suicide prevention and outlines the reasoning for a broad preventative approach which embraces self-harm and other risk taking behaviour. The report details a specific proposal for training which has been devised through consultation with a range of relevant service providers in the voluntary and statutory sector.
On the basis that some funding is available to undertake this from the Highland “Choose Life” initiative, it is proposed that other funding is made available from the budget previously used to support the activities of “Positive Parenting” within Highland as this organisation has indicated that it is no longer able to undertake work in the authority with parents of children involved in risk and offending behaviours.
In considering the issues raised, the Joint Committee is invited to agree the proposed approach and the virement of funding from Positive Parenting to support this training for three years.
9. Play Development – The Way Forward
Report No CYP-46-08 by Graham Watson, Community Development Manager recommending actions to ensure the delivery and further development of Play in Highland. It emphasises that play is important for children and families and that Highland Council and NHS Highland have an important role in supporting play, particularly in supporting communities in Highland to take forward play projects.
The Joint Committee is asked to note the steps being taken to take forward the Highland Play Strategy and to agree:-
i. to staff resources being committed to support Play Highland or a similar
organisation to constitute itself to act as a coordinating body to maximise
the opportunities for Highland communities to attract grant aid for Play
projects; and
ii. should an announcement be made on funding for Play by the Scottish
Government, a report be brought forward to a future meeting with
recommendations how this body could best be supported to ensure that
the Highlands can have the maximum benefit from the initiative.
10. Mental Health Link Worker
Report No CYP-47-08 by Sally Amor, Child Health Commissioner and Sally Nowell, Clinical Nurse Specialist setting out how the Scottish Government’s proposals for a mental health link worker for all schools might be addressed in Highland.
The Joint Committee is asked to agree the proposals.
11. Future Business of Joint Committee for Children and Young People
Report No CYP-48-08 by Bill Alexander, Head of 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.
12. Date of Next Meeting
The next meeting of the Joint Committee will be held on Friday 28 November 2008 at 10.30 a.m. in Dingwall Academy, Dingwall.
13. Dates of Future Meetings
The following dates are proposed for meetings of the Joint Committee during 2009:-
Friday 16 January 2009 at 2.15 p.m.
Friday 13 March 2009 at 10.30 a.m.
Friday 5 June 2009 at 2.15 p.m.
Friday 14 August 2009 at 10.30 a.m.
Friday 2 October 2009 at 2.15 p.m.
Friday 20 November 2009 at 10.30 a.m.
Members are asked to note that those meetings scheduled for the afternoon will be preceded by a morning Seminar. Venues will be confirmed nearer the time.