Issue - meetings

A presentation will also be made.  

The Trust received a report setting out proposals around the establishment of a Workforce Development Strategy.

It was noted that the JAR Action Plan had identified a number of workforce issues that needed to be addressed. The new Children and Young People’s Plan also provided an opportunity for the Trust to consider the needs of staff employed by organisations within its membership.

It was noted that the Children’s Workforce Development Council (CWDC) had produced advice with respect to workforce development and a presentation was provided on the framework developed by the CWDC to support the delivery of the five Every Child Matters outcomes.  The Trust was advised that the adoption of the framework provided a focal point for workforce development and acted provided a forum for generating and sharing ideas for improvement.

In response to concern expressed in relation to the establishment of a strategy the Chair noted that at the Away Day held in May the Trust had recognised that a better understanding of the work carried out by partners agencies was required. There had also been agreement that staff from all agencies should primarily see themselves as working together for children in the Borough. In order to achieve this there would need to be an agreed approach with respect to developing a more integrated workforce.

It was noted that the draft strategy did not set out in detail how it would be resourced and whether additional funding would be required. The Trust was advised consideration would need to be given to how the resources available to the Trust were allocated. Existing resources may need to be used differently to provide the joint training and other initiatives required to achieve a better integrated workforce.

The Trust discussed the establishment of a Workforce Development Strategy and there was a general consensus that there should be more detailed discussion around the financial implications and the practicalities of this at the Children’s Trust EPMG before more detailed proposals were considered by the Trust.  

RESOLVED:

That a the Children’s Trust EPMG should discuss the development of  Workforce Strategy in more detail, particularly with respect to the resources available and how these may need to be realigned and the

That options for developing the work