Minutes of the Meeting of the Joint Committee on Children and Young People held in the Multi Purposes Room, Dingwall Academy, Dingwall on Friday, 28 November 2008 at 10.55 a.m.
Present:-
Members
Highland Council
Mrs M C Davidson (in the Chair)
Mr W Fernie
Mr A M Millar
Mrs E McAllister
NHS Highland
Ms P Courcha
Mr I Gibson
Mrs A Bethune
Mrs G McCreath
Mr C Punler
Mrs J Baird
Others
Miss C Burns, Youth Convener
Mr G Macleod, Northern Constabulary
Officers:-
Highland Council
Mrs H Dempster, Director of Social Work
Mr D Goldie, Head of Housing, Housing and Property Services
Mr A McMahon, Children’s Right Officer, Social Work Services
Mr P Mascarenhas, Principal Youth Development Officer, Education, Culture and Sport Service
Miss J Maclennan, Committee Administrator, Chief Executive’s Office
Highland Council/NHS Highland
Mr B Alexander, Head of Children Services
NHS Highland
Ms S Nowell, Professional Lead, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
In attendance:
Mrs M Paterson, Children’s Champion
Mr C Munro, Highland Children’s Forum
Mr T Boyd, Children’s Panel Reporter
Mrs A Brady, Care and Learning Alliance (CALA)
Ms A Darlington, Youth Action Service
Ms C MacLean, Children in the Highlands Information Point + (CHIP+)
Ms R MacSween, Development Officer, Northern Constabulary
Ms F Nixseaman, Highland Community Care Forum Young Carers Project
Ms K Wood, Highland Carers Project
Ms M Clark, Young Carers Project (Golspie)
Preliminaries
Mr G Mackenzie, Rector welcomed the Joint Committee to Dingwall Academy. The new school had opened in June 2008 and the new environment had had a positive impact on pupils with attainment and academic success improving. In addition, the school was able to provide many additional facilities, not only for staff and pupils but to the wider community, including the incorporation of the library.
1. Apologies for Absence
Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of Mrs E MacDonald, Ms J Douglas, Mrs L Munro, Mrs R Morrison, Mr H Fraser, Ms S Amor, Mr A Wilson, Ms J Veasey and Ms R Sime.
2. Minutes of Meeting of the Joint Committee held on 3 October 2008
The Minutes of the meeting of the Joint Committee held on 3 October 2008 were circulated and NOTED.
Arising from the Minutes, also NOTED, in relation to items 4 and 5 (Update on Substance Misuse Advice and Information Services and A New Approach to Tackling Scotland’s Drug Problem), a report would be submitted to a future meeting considering the services that built from early intervention with families where substance misuse was occurring and how these services were funded.
3. Revenue Budget 2008/09 – Monitoring
Report No CYP-49-08 by the Bill Alexander, Head of Children’s Services was circulated detailing the position of the Joint Committee for Children and Young People budget as at 31 October 2008. An underspend of £240,000 was forecast and detail on the main variances was provided. In relation to out of authority placements, Members were informed that investigations were being made regarding the possibility of providing facilities within Highland for young people.
NOTED:-
i. the current budget position as at 31 October 2008; and
ii. that consideration was being given to the proposal of how young people
could be supported within Highland rather than in an out of authority
placement.
4. For Highland’s Children 3 - Update
Report No CYP-50-08 by Innis Mitchell, Children’s Planning Officer was circulated providing an update and making proposals for “For Highland’s Children 3”, the integrated children’s services plan. In the drawing up of the plan cognisance had been taken of the various new planning frameworks, the issues raised at the January 2008 “For Highland’s Children 2 “ seminar and the need for proposals to align with the Single Outcome Agreement. The Plan’s outline structure was explained as were the proposals for its implementation. It was hoped that its phased approval and the suggested cycle of review and consultation would allow a more flexible approach to be adopted and one which could respond to major strategic initiatives as and when they arose.
In discussion, points were raised as to the method of review and that such reviews be undertaken of each specific area. It was important to avoid duplication but also to ensure adequate governance mechanisms were built in. There were many other plans in existence and consideration would be necessary to consider how “For Highland’s Children 3” would fit in with these.
AGREED:-
i. that there would be a detailed but concise published document which
would also be web based;
ii. the outline structure;
iii. that improvement objectives be organised around strategic themes, each
represented by a cross-cutting strategy group;
iv. that each Strategy Group be charged with the specific requirement to
detail how they would carry out consultation and participation with service
users on their strategic planning, monitoring and updating of progress;
v. that “For Highland’s Children 3” be approved as a working tool in Spring
2009 but that formal approval of all the improvement objectives and
associated actions be achieved at subsequent meetings of the Joint
Committee on a phased basis and in relation to the strategic themes;
vi. that the detail of the developing framework and content of “For Highland’s
Children 3” be presented to the Joint Committee at its next two meetings
with a seminar to consider the full draft taking place in Spring 2009; and
vii. further consideration be undertaken of how the governance of the
Children’s Services Plan fitted in with other plans, including the Single
Outcome Agreement.
5. Homelessness and Temporary Accommodation for Children and Young People
Report No CYP-51-08 by David Goldie, Head of Housing was circulated providing information on young people including care leavers who became homeless and about arrangement for the provision of temporary accommodation for young people leaving care and families with children. In providing detail on the numbers involved, he pointed out that one major difficulty was the limited supply of accommodation that could be provided. However, every effort was made to address the needs of young people and reference was made to recent developments which had taken place including the approval by the Council’s Housing and Social Work Committee of a Homelessness Strategy.
It was recognised that providing suitable accommodation would not, in isolation, necessarily solve the problems presented by young people. Often help in developing life skills and providing opportunities, such as learning to drive, would help to secure employment and develop those skills required to sustain more permanent accommodation and it was hoped that such issues would be addressed at a future Joint Committee Seminar looking at Corporate Parenting responsibilities. Early support and intervention was vital and a more focused approach to housing would be incorporated into “For Highland’s Children 3”. Progress had been achieved in reducing the number of families housed in what was termed “unsuitable accommodation” but Members were keen to see this number reduced further. However, the Housing Service was commended for the initiatives underway to meet the challenges of those young people leaving care.
NOTED:-
i. the current position in relation to children and young people occupying
temporary accommodation;
ii. the actions being taken to continue to improve the situation and eliminate
the use of unsuitable accommodation;
AGREED:
iii. that a more focused approach be given to housing for young people in the
new integrated Children’s Services Plan; and
iv. progress made in reducing the number of families living in unsuitable
accommodation be reported to future meetings.
6. Young Carers Strategy
Report No CYP-52-08 by Innis Mitchell, Children’s Planning Officer and Frances Nixseaman, Young Carers Strategy Development Officer (Highland Community Care Forum Young Carers Project) was circulated which introduced the second strategy to support young carers in Highland.
The background leading to the first Young Carers Strategy was provided as was an outline of the developments which had taken place since. In drawing together the various strands of the Strategy, young carers had been consulted about how they felt, what support they received and what help they felt they needed. From feedback, it was evident that there were varied experiences and the aim was to ensure equitable provision, reduce the number of inappropriate caring roles and to facilitate the development of specialist provision to support young carers. A considerable amount of goodwill existed to achieve improvements and the strategy would help ensure that a framework was in place to fulfil this.
The approach adopted by the Young Carers Project, in consulting with users and young people, was commended as an excellent example of how to deliver a working strategy. It was recognised that some issues young carers had to deal with involved Adult Services and it was important that where Adult Services became involved in such cases that they took into account “Getting It Right for Every Child”.
AGREED to endorse the Young Carers Strategy for 2008-2011.
7. Review of Primary Mental Health Workers
Report No CYP-53-08 by Sally Amor, Child Health Commissioner and Sally Nowell, Professional Lead, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, was circulated which introduced a presentation on the outcome of the review of the role of the Primary Mental Health Workers across NHS Highland.
One aim of Primary Mental Health Workers was to be more accessible to young people by being based in communities. They also supported colleagues, both in NHS Highland and the Council’s Education and Social Work Service, in promoting positive mental health and improving links with between Primary Care and specialist mental health services. The review of the service had taken place over an 18 month period, during which time an increase in case loads and waiting lists had taken place. Despite high levels of satisfaction, feedback from referrers using the service had highlighted issues arising as a result of high demand and insufficient resources being provided. Disparities regarding service delivery did need further exploration but this would help to inform future service development.
NOTED the issues raised by the review.
8. Getting It Right for Every Child - Update
Report No CYP-54-08 by Marj Stewart, Project Manager was circulated updating Members on the implementation of “Getting It Right for Every Child” in Highland. In particular, Members were informed of the various training programmes underway and the production of guidance and procedures.
NOTED the ongoing activity to fully implement “Getting It Right for Every Child” in Highland.
9. Future Business of the Joint Committee for Children and Young People
Report No CYP-55-08 by Bill Alexander, Head of Children’s Services, was circulated setting out a proposed list of reports to be considered at future meetings of the Joint Committee on Children and Young People.
NOTED the proposed list of reports and AGREED a report also be considered regarding the services that built from early intervention with families where substance misuse was occurring and how these services were funded.
10. Date of Next Meeting
NOTED that the next meeting would be held in the Council Chamber, Highland Council headquarters, Inverness on Friday 16 January 2008 at 2.15 p.m.
The meeting ended at 12.45 p.m.