Contact: Penny Velander, Policy and Performance Officer, ext 7479

This summary sheet is intended to provide an `at-a-glance' summary for members and introduces the project brief and project timetable, which are drafted by the core review team.

1 Purpose of the Service

1.1 The Quality Protects Management Action Plan contains 11 objectives for Children and Families Services. The following objectives most accurately describe the purpose of the areas under review:

· Objective 2. `To ensure that children are protected from emotional, physical and sexual abuse and neglect'

· Objective 3. `To ensure that children in need gain the maximum life chances and benefit from educational opportunities, health care and social care'

· Objective 5. `To ensure that young people leaving care, as they enter adulthood, are not isolated and participate socially and economically as citizens'

· Objective 7. `To ensure that referral and assessment processes discriminate effectively between different types and levels of need and produce a timely response'

1.2 Due to restructuring within Social Services this review will be conducted in two stages. Both stages are fully described in 1.1 and 1.2 in the main report

1.3 The Statutory basis for providing this service is:

· The Children Act 1989

· The Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000

· Working Together

· DoH National Assessment Framework

· Education Act 1993, 1996, 1997

· Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970

· Data Protection Act 1998

· Human Rights Act 1998

2 Evaluation of whether the review will meet the Best Value principles

2.1 From the start this review has been professionally co-ordinated, robust in it's approach and committed to following the Best Value process and principles. The core team has good representation from members and staff in all areas of the service. The scope of the review has been clearly identified.

2.2 The core team has met regularly to project plan the review. A successful visioning event was held on 10 January 2003 which attracted wide attendance from stakeholders in both the voluntary sector and local authorities. A clear vision for the future of the service was created and the issues to be addressed were identified.

2.3 The strategic vision for this review is:

`All children will have the best start in life through the provision of a range of locally based, accessible, child and family-centred services which are responsive to and supportive of their needs. Services should work in partnership to ensure the most effective use of resources and improved outcomes for children and families'

2.4 The following issues have been identified for the review:

a. accessibility of services

b. maximising participation (community, children and families)

c. effective partnerships at all levels

d. commonly agreed referral, assessment and planning processes

e. effective and efficient use of all resources, including staff

f. effective communication and information sharing

g. effective monitoring and evaluation

h. direction and leadership

i. outcomes for children

2.4 During phase two of the review working groups will be established to focus on different topic areas using the EFQM framework as a starting point. The four C's will be thoroughly explored through stakeholder events and consultation and the core team will encourage challenge at all stages

2.5 Recent external factors that the review will need to consider are:

· The publication and recommendations of the Laming report

· The anticipated Green Paper, `Children at Risk' (Spring 2003)

· Outcome of the SSI inspection of Children's Services 2002/03

· The Identification, Referral and Tracking system required by the Government

· Implementation of the Departments Care Management Manual (Children and Families) 2003

2.6 The following members were nominated to participate in the review:

· Cllr Frankum

· Cllr Hayes

· Cllr Holden-Brown

· Cllr Snaith

In light of the overall timescale now identified for the review, Members may like to confirm their continued participation

3 Outcomes sought

3.1 At the end of phase two an Option Report will be presented to Social Care PRC for consideration

4 The review details

4.1 At this stage it is estimated that over the 19 months of the review it will need £4,000 direct costs will be incurred and there will be 612 staff time on indirect costs

Recommendation

1. That the Best Value review of Support for Children and Young People in the Community proceeds in accordance with the approach timetable outlined in the project brief

2. That the Policy Review Committee confirm the list of Members to participate in the review

N.B. The list excludes:

1. Published works

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