Agenda item

Before commencing consideration of this agenda item, the Chair reiterated the timely opportunity to continue discussions on the progress of actions to strengthen and co-ordinate local provision aimed at improving the emotional health and wellbeing of young people and their families in Haringey. This meeting provided the opportunity to build a consensus around a single integrated approach that was outcomes focussed multi-agency and shares collective responsibility for integrated decision making to prompt provision of services and avoid statutory intervention whenever possible.

Des Fahy Chief Superintendent expressed that the Community Safety Partnership continues its work on a variety of local plans including early help, stopping violence against women and Girls, youth justice and PREVENT. Work was also underway to co -produce, in London, a Knife crime action Plan and would seek to fill in any gaps in services and the community offer. Partnership working to improve the emotional health and wellbeing of young people and their families would be critical to ensuring the outcomes of these plans are met.

Jennifer Sergeant provided an update of activities since the previous board meeting, which had focussed on the principles of intervening earlier and partners not duplicating their activities. Yvonne Lawson provided the meeting with an understanding of how the Godwin Lawson Foundation had begun and developed to become an important organisation representing and working in communities to tackle knife crime.

Yvonne Lawson spoke about her own personal devastating experience of knife and how difficult it had been to come to terms with the loss of her son.

Yvonne Lawson spoke about her son and other young people who had talent and ambition who had sadly passed way. These young people had felt that their talent and ambition was not enough and it was important for communities and agencies to help young people to realise their ambitions and provide support in their personal development as young people. The foundation found that there was also a lack of intermediaries to support them in this development.

Yvonne Lawson continued to talk about the important of extracurricular activities helping young people build life skills and deter them for becoming involved in gang activity. This was especially important for young people living in a gang related environment.

Yvonne Lawson was pleased with the focus on emotional development being taken forward by the partners.

She spoke about similar work, the foundation was taking forward, with young girls and helping them with decision making and providing them with the skills to deter involvement with groups affiliated with the gangs.

There was a discussion about the issue of stop and search for under 16s and the consequences for carrying a knife. The importance of safe environment was emphasized and ensuring that there was a safe place for young people to contribute to an action plan associated with tackling knife crime. This was also a very political subject for communities. Although, it was felt that stop and search had a role to play, this was about how it was carried out by Police officers and being particularly sensitive with young people and ensuring this is done in a supportive manner with BAME communities. Yvonne Lawson felt that most young people did not trust the Police and it was about overcoming the negativity of young people towards the Police.

The Head of Community Safety and enforcement presented the MOPAC priorities. It was noted that Robbery and Street Based Violence, (measured as Non Domestic VWI), would be the areas of priority for Haringey. Alongside this, it was also confirmed that ASB and a list of high harm crimes would also be a priority for all boroughs. There continued to be discussion on meeting the challenges of the MOPAC priorities and it was noted the importance of embedding a community response all the way through the process including agencies, voluntary sectors, schools and communities working together.

There was discussion on the social and health challenges facing young people and how schools and health and care providers were involved and responding to particular needs. An example of how this could be achieved was considering the health provision triangle in relation to supporting young girl’s resilience and ensuring that young girl’s needs were met at tier 1 and tier 2 services so they did not escalate to use at services at tier 3 and 4.

Noted the activity developed with MAC working in schools. However, there needed to be work at primary school levels with voluntary sector support to ensure earlier support, as offending was, in some cases, beginning at the end of primary school .A response was needed about young people who were carrying knifes because they did not feel safe.

There was a need to take forward more activities between the Police and young people to build trust. These could be small-scale activities, which help promote trust in the police.

The interim director for Children’s services spoke about the recent Ofsted inspection findings on Children’s Services. The inspection considered an evaluation of the multi-agency ‘front door’ for child protection, when children at risk become known to local services and focused on children of all ages who are being or who have been neglected

There had been a ‘deep dive’ focus on children between 7 and 15 years old who have been neglected. This analysis had been shared with local safeguarding board, inviting a focus on the suite of services and the components of this activity. This was to help understand how to work as a meaningful partnership to deliver services at the appropriate time for children and young people to make the difference.

There was a discussion about the required capacity of partnership and how the effectiveness of the partnership could be measured. Noted that this will require partner’s identifying gaps in light of the inspection and responding to the findings a partnership. Noted that the MASH [Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub] require considerable re-alinement and close working with the Police to generate the right direction of help. It was essential to have a multi agenda approach to early help and the partnership have a bigger stronger presence.

Noted that the next steps to meeting the requirements of the inspections findings would be considered by Cabinet.