Archived decisions

Contact: John Wilkinson Ex. 5084

Graham Wright Ex. 7263

1. Summary

1.1. The development of the Children's Fund in Hampshire reflects a County Council corporate approach led by Social Services, closely supported by the Education Department. It has been designed within the framework of government guidance to demonstrate effective partnership working between stakeholders, users, carers, the voluntary sector and statutory agencies to achieve the key aims and objectives of the Children's Fund programme. These are mainly concerned with further developing preventative services for children aged 5 - 13 years and their families, particularly focussing upon those at risk of social exclusion. A multi-agency Hampshire Children's Fund Partnership (Appendix 1) has been established in order to develop and manage such a programme, based upon a submitted plan written to government specification. (Appendix 2)

1.2. In order to meet the timing requirements of the Government's Children and Young People's Unit (CYPU), the draft Children's Fund Plan, together with full supportive data and policies, was submitted by the Partnership on 2^nd December 2002. It has since been endorsed by the County Council's Executive Member for Social Care. Early indicators are that the plan has been very well received by the CYPU. Although it has not yet received final approval, indications are that the Partnership will receive positive news at the beginning of February and will be able to start to deliver services from 1^st April 2003.

2. Background

2.1. During Autumn 2001, Hampshire County Council was invited, as the lead agency, to apply for third wave funding under the Children's Fund. Subsequent approval of the bid confirmed the indicative allocation of grant for £2.4m in 2003-04, pending approval of the Strategic Plan, with an indication of the same level of grant for the next two years. Development funding of £90,000 was released from April 2002.

2.2. Following initial preparation work, a programme manager was appointed in April 2002 to establish the Partnership, develop local groups, conduct consultation with children, parents, communities and agencies, and to develop plans and policies in relation to the aims and objectives.

3. The Aims of the Children's Fund

3.1. The Children's Fund aims to provide a flexible and responsive approach to meeting needs and developing good practice for services to children at risk of social exclusion. The Children's Fund aims to develop services so that children and young people at risk of social exclusion are identified early and services are developed which support them, their families and the communities where they live, enabling them to overcome barriers and disadvantage, and start achieving their potential.

3.2. The overarching objective of the Fund is to provide additional resources over and above those provided through mainstream statutory funding, specific programmes and through specific earmarked funding streams. The key objectives are listed under paragraph 3 in the Strategic Plan.

4. The Strategic Plan (Appendix 2)

4.1. A copy of the Strategic Plan is attached for members information. A copy with a full set of appendices will be lodged in the Members' room.

4.2. Critical to the Strategic Plan has been the mapping report, which, through using indicators of multi deprivation, has been able to focus upon pockets of relative disadvantage within wards across Hampshire. This developing analysis has built upon work conducted through the Early Years Development and Connexions Plans. It has enabled the strategy to focus upon `hard to reach' groups and has provided the basis for the agreed allocation of resources to the respective areas. In particular, the Partnership has been directed by the CYPU to allocate 25% of its resources to activities which are associated with the crime prevention strategy.

4.3. Local Children's Fund Partnership groups in each District area have been commissioned to produce local delivery plans which are part of the strategy and which will be funded by the partnership. These are based upon the five themes of; access; home/school/community; health and well-being; creativity and fun; communication and influence.

4.4. All services developed through the Children's Fund should be seen to contribute to the achievement of existing service objectives, using performance indicators which have been set by the relevant central government department. In this capacity, Children's Fund activity is expected to contribute to Education Development Plan targets related to attendance, exclusion, attainment, the performance of ethnic minority groups, traveller pupils, children in public care, and behaviour. (Section 4.3 of the Strategic Plan)

4.5. The Children's Fund Partnership Management Board (Appendix 1) will drive the delivery of this agenda by playing a proactive role with other partners. i.e. the Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership, Connexions, Youth Offending Team and other statutory and voluntary organisations.

4.6. The Social Services Research and Information Unit at Portsmouth University has been commissioned to co-ordinate the monitoring and evaluation of specific services and activities in the progress towards the objectives and targets. They will report on a regular basis to the Partnership Board.

5. Recommendation

That the Education Policy and Resources Committee welcomes the opportunity afforded by the Children's Fund to develop further the County Council's corporate preventive work for children in need, through partnerships with key stakeholders in the County.

Section 100 D - Local Government Act 1972 - Background Documents

The following documents disclose facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and has been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report.

NB The list excludes:

1. Published works

2. Documents which disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act.

TITLE FILE

Children's Fund Guidance 2001 Children and Young People's Unit DfES. (CYPU)

The Children's Fund - Third Wave Children and Young People's Unit

Letter to Chief Executive from the 20 July 2001.

Director CYPU

Clarification of some Children's Children and Young People's Unit

Fund Policy Issues. Letter to Chief 8 November 2002.

Executive from the Director of CYPU