Agenda item

(Report of the Scrutiny Review Panel) – To agree the conclusions and recommendations of the Review

Councillor Bull, the Chair of this Scrutiny Review outlined the objectives of the Review which were as follows:

·        To assess the effectiveness of the current preventative strategies for teenage conceptions

·        To assess the effectiveness of the current arrangements for support for teenage parents 

·        To consider the different needs and strategies for prevention and support for different age groups

·        To consider the different needs and strategies for different sections of the community, including special needs and different ethnic groups. 

·        To consider the effectiveness of arrangements for multi-agency working, joined up services and mainstreaming approaches to dealing with teenage pregnancy. 

Councillor Bull outlined the following Recommendations for the Committee’s approval:

(i)                 It is recommended that school governors, working with secondary head teachers and Haringey Council officers ensure that the importance of SRE is understood as a key lever to prevent the incidence of teenage pregnancy.  This includes:

work with head teachers and governors to ensure that there is increased take-up of training for PSHE coordinators, leading to improved quality and impact of teaching and that take up by schools is monitored.

4YP  and Education for Choice services offered to all schools

A revised policy on teenage pregnancy and sexual health to be adopted by all schools, with links to relevant Child Protection Policies.

(ii)               It is recommended that Haringey Council and HTPCT provide guidance to educators on best practice and quality standards.

(iii)             It is recommended that accessible services are delivered when young people need them, where young people need them and delivered in a way that is convenient and appealing to young people:

(iv)              Improving the accessibility of sexual health and advice services to young people is improved

(v)                Making sexual health, family planning and young people’s service provision be made more accessible and appropriate in light of the data analysis findings.

(vi)              Expansion of dedicated young people’s sexual health services particularly to vulnerable groups and in geographical hotspot areas, promoting close collaboration with schools.

(vii)            Providing venues accessible to young people including through the development of Children’s Centres.

(viii)          A telephone advice line for all young people who need advice or help on sexual health and pregnancy.

(ix)              Improving web site information and links to web sites for young people on range of sex and relationship advice.

(x)                It is recommended that Haringey Council and Haringey Teaching Primary Care Trust improve information identifying and targeting teenagers most at risk of pregnancy and strengthen delivery of targeted services for “hard to reach” groups.

(xi)              It is recommended that the Stepping Up programme be made accessible through the Children’s Network, to be given greater coverage across the borough and that funding should be assured for the future, building on its strengths and addressing identified weaknesses.

(xii)            It is recommended that access to childcare for teenage parents is improved, including through the development of Children’s Centres, which should ensure that there is appropriate affordable provision for teenage parents and through increased childcare facilitates in colleges of higher education and the use of childminders.

(xiii)          It is recommended that further mechanisms are put in place to reach teenage parents who need support and advice services.  This should include the development of a local strategy for targeting those young parents not in contact with services and a peer support group to promote access to a broader spectrum of teenage parents in Haringey.

(xiv)          The review panel recommends that work on Sex and Relationships Education be strengthened in the community, including engagement through the Youth Service and other community groups.  The panel would like to see closer collaborative working between the Youth Service and 4YP services, including connections.

(xv)            It is recommended that the Teenage Pregnancy Partnership Board develop a local database of teenage parents:

(xvi)          Develop information sharing across the sector to facilitate creation of a definitive local database of teenage parents**

(xvii)        Target for 90% of teenage parents known to the Connexions Service (currently 45% known to the Connexions Service). 

(xviii)      The panel recommends that specific measures be introduced for improved joint working between the different agencies involved in delivering the Teenage Pregnancy Action Plan, including:

(xix)          Better linking up between partners/initiatives to target vulnerable groups more effectively.

(xx)            Secure Reintegration Officer funding as result of changes in Standards Fund grants for Vulnerable Children Champion   promotes LA and PCT joint working

(xxi)          It is recommended that Haringey Council and the Haringey Teaching Primary Care Trust carry out a review of the publicity, information and advice on sexual health and contraception provided to young people as part of their requirement to communicate effectively with young people and involve them in a review of service provision and delivery.

(xxii)        The panel recommends that the information on teenage pregnancy sexual health and advice is made available to young people in a range of languages and formats. 

RESOLVED:

·                    That the report of the Scrutiny Review Panel: Teenage Pregnancy Review and the conclusions and recommendations of the review be endorsed; and

·                    that the report be referred to the Executive for its consideration.