Issue - meetings

To receive presentations from the Director of Childen and Young People’s Services setting out Council policy and from the London Regional Adviser outlining the national position and future direction.

The Panel had a tour of Pembury’s Baby Unit and the Children’s Centre which was a Phase 1 centre. It was noted that the under 2’s unit was full with 30 places, but there were vacancies for over 2’s. The total capacity was 70 places. There were 30AM places, 30 PM places, 24 fee paying full time places and 16 community need funded places. A Full time place cost £175 per week. Although the centre was open 48 weeks of the year, there was an issue as to whether the Centre should be open at the weekends for community use. Pembury worked closely within its own cluster group and this had continued as the number of centres had grown. For example the Health visitor visited Pembury on a Thursday and Friday and other centres on different days. All Centre Managers met regularly to exchange ideas on good practice and discuss any problems.

The Director of Children and Young People’s Services gave an overview of the development of Children’s Centres in Haringey. The size of the six Network Learning Centres had been determined following discussions with the PCT around the deployment of services. The most important change was that services were being delivered with the whole family in mind and with a joined up approach. A paper had been prepared for presentation to Cabinet shortly addressing the whole agenda for 0-19 year olds outside of statutory schooling.

Key issues included:

·        There was a good coverage to ensure that needs were met. Discussions took place with other service providers such as the Youth service, local primary schools and it was noted that the Private Voluntary Independent providers  had representation on the Early Childhood Forum.

·        Whilst the Children’s Networks were still in development and being embedded, it was noted that the single referral process was leading to looking at the family as a whole. Early intervention was crucial. Outcome measures for the short and longer term were being developed. A long term target would be to reduce the number of Looked After Children. The investment in Children’s Centres should have an impact on the foundation stage.

·        Details of the formula funding to be provided to Members.

·        Work within Networks, by Family Support Workers and through community engagement was ongoing to identify the most disadvantaged groups. There was mapping and a constant reviewing  of where the need was greatest. An analysis of the Foundation stage profiles showed where provision was good. Although all Phase 1 centres had outreach workers the majority of staff performed some outreach work in one way or another. Centres felt that they were getting better at being aware of areas of need and were working well within their cluster to develop it further.

·        Work was in hand to develop output measures, to determine how the changes impacted on children’s lives. It was proposed that an evaluation of 100 users be undertaken.

·        In respect of Governance arrangement there was a need to look at flexing the Governing Body regulations for Children’s  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10