Agenda item

(Report of the Director of Children’s Services – To be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Children): To set out a proposed model for delivery of Children’s Centres. To follow

NOTE BY HEAD OF LOCAL DEMOCRACY AND MEMBER SERVICES

In accordance with Part Four Section B Paragraph 17 of the Constitution only the item set out in this notice may be considered at the special meeting, and no other business shall be considered.

It was noted that the previous proposed model for the delivery of Children’s Centres in the borough had been the subject of a call in. At this Overview & Scrutiny meeting stakeholders, such as head teachers, children’s centre managers, had expressed their unhappiness around the consequences and impact of the proposed model.  The Cabinet Member for Children and Young People’s service had asked officers to undertake further work, with the involvement of interested parties, known as the Children’s Centre’s Alliance, to develop an alternative model for the delivery of children’s centre services. Subsequently a Children’s Centres task group was formed to undertake this work. The group included Head teachers, a Chair of Governors, Centre Managers from school-run centres, the Head of an LA-run centre, local authority officers (including those representing children’s social care), and representation from health services. Meetings were held with the wider Children’s Centre Alliance group, and with partners in the NHS, to develop an alternative model. 

The Cabinet Member for Children and Young People placed on record her thanks to the working group and Alliance for their participation and hard work in compiling this alternative proposal in a short timescale.  The new proposed alternative model was considered by both the Alliance and Council as an acceptable way forward. As was maintained and made clear following the call-in of the May Children’s Centre report, there would be no additional long-term funding for Highgate, Rokesly and North Bank Children’s Centres other than the commitment already given that money will continue to be made available to pay accommodation costs for health services to continue from these centres.However through a one off pump priming grant, the Council were able to support them to stay open. The pump priming grant would discontinue after a year but it would allow the centres time to develop business models  on how children’s centre  related  activities  could  continue to be provided from the centre.

In considering the proposed model for delivery of children centres, there were some similarities between the model presented in the enclosed report and that set out in the report of 18^th May 2011. It was based on four clusters, it did not feature ‘lead’ centres, and the work of each cluster would be overseen by a Local Partnership Board. There were now also some key differences. The composition of the clusters was different. With the exception of the existing local authority-run centres, staff will be employed and line managed not by the local authority but by the school in which they are primarily based. Whilst centres would work together to plan services across the cluster, there was no Cluster Manager role to co-ordinate/ oversee provision.

We noted that number of cluster options was considered by the Task Group. The preferred option was set out in the table in paragraph 9.2 of the report and was selected on the basis that it:

• Breaks through east/west barriers
• Builds on existing relationships and links
• Reflects patterns of family usage
• Is widely supported by schools and centres

The funding formula used to allocate resources to each cluster considered a combination of under 5‘s population, and deprivation indicators to allocate funding to each super output area. The amounts awarded at super output area level were then aggregated to make cluster budgets using existing children’s centre reach areas. Final funding allocations to the 4 clusters along with a breakdown of how this funding would be allocated to premises, staffing, running costs and leadership &finance was attached to paragraph 9.3 of the report.

The Cabinet were asked to particularly note, advice not provided in the report, that each   cluster would have the flexibility to vary how they allocate their funds (i.e. to staffing or premises or running costs) but whilst keeping to their overall funding envelope. This was in keeping with the Council’s interest in outcomes and not the detail of how the funding was spent.   The LA’s performance management framework would operate at both centre and cluster level and will continue to take into account value for money and outcomes. It was noted that the allocations would be reviewed annually in line with the latest data.

The continued delivery of Health services from children’s centres was welcomed as contributed to the prevention agenda. It was clarified that the type of health services provided from the centres were anti natal, post natal services, and breast feeding support.  Continuing  to provide some  health services from  children’s centres, provided  a  vital source of support for families and also provided  a mechanism for the Council to  identify children in need and at  risk.

It was noted that the reductions in funding was not unexpected news for Highgate, Rokelsy and North Bank children’s centres. They had previously begun to develop business models for funding services in anticipation of this situation. The three centres understood that they would not be fully funded for 2011/12 and were comfortable with this circumstance. They were pleased to receive a pump priming grant to continue developing their business models and were further pleased that funding had been committed to pay for continued delivery of universal health services.

A query was made on the composition of the clusters as Woodlands Children’s Centre and South Grove Children’s Centre, both in St Ann’s ward, were placed in different clusters. Assurance was sought that this was acceptable to the stakeholders involved in both centres. 

The Cabinet Member for Children and Young People responded that this was readily provided, as the Alliance, which composed of Children’s Centre managers, had had key involvement with agreeing the composition of the clusters. It was important to note that, although there was some separation of children’s centres according to ward areas, every cluster would have a Local Partnership Board, the membership of which would be agreed on a cluster by cluster basis but as a minimum would include representation from every children’s centre in the cluster, the Local Authority, health services, relevant voluntary sector organisations, parents and prospective parents within the area. In line with statutory guidance, the Boards would provide advice and assistance for the purpose of ensuring the effective operation of the children’s centres within the cluster. They would play an important part in driving improvement in the children’s centres’ performance.

Positive comment was made about the continuation of Outreach Support Services   which had been a recommendation of the equalities impact assessment.

In terms of funding Highgate, Rokelsy and North Bank Children’s  centres  after 2012, and  how services could be commissioned by these centres, it was  noted that the £25k pump priming grant would allow the centres time to investigate  and test the services that  can work for, local users of  the centre .

In putting forward the recommendations of the report  for approval  by the Cabinet , the Leader  was pleased to note how  Children Centre mangers and Head teachers had successfully come together to form these  proposals  which enabled  Children’s Centres  to work collaboratively in clusters across boundaries. This was a positive outcome.

RESOLVED

1. That the feedback from the consultation summarised in Appendix 3 and the Equalities Impact Assessment in Appendix 4 be noted.

2. That the principles of the arrangements for the delivery of Children’s Centre services in Haringey as set out in sections 8-10 of the attached report be agreed.

3. That officers engage in consultation with trade unions and affected staff on the staffing changes that follow from these arrangements and support schools to undertake consultation with their affected staff and unions.

4. That the proposals for the delivery of children’s centre services at Highgate, Rokesly and North Bank Children’s Centres set out in section 11 of the report be agreed.