Contact: Steve Love Ext. 7284 Email: [email protected]

1 Summary

1.1 This report identifies the specific actions that have taken place since the New Zealand Study Tour

2 Reasons

2.1 The action for the New Zealand Study Tour will make a valuable contribution to the implementation of the Children Bill.

3 Introduction

3.1 This report relates directly to the Cabinet Report dated 1 June 2004 and the specific initiatives set out in that report. It sets out the action that has occurred in Hampshire to progress the recommendations.

3.1.1 The National Call Centre

A Social Service Direct, Reception and Assessment Pilot has been agreed for children and families. This project will determine a clear direction and required action for the efficient organisation of reception and assessment service. A senior manager from New Zealand who led the implementation and evaluation of their national call centre has agreed to support the projects. He will supply the New Zealand reports and evaluation and undertake ongoing dialogue with the project leader from Hampshire.

3.1.2 Family Group Conferences

The group of practitioners from Hampshire who are working on the practical issues surrounding the mandatory introduction of FGCs, met with Dr Marie Connolly. Dr Connolly is the Director of Te Awatea Violence Research Centre, Department of Social Work at the University of Canterbury, Christchurch in New Zealand. She is an acknowledged world expert of FGCs and Kinship Care. Dr Connolly attended the group discussion to hear of the progress in Hampshire and to offer her expertise from her experience as a practitioner and now researcher. She has offered continued support to the project and access to relevant research material. A project mandate is in preparation and will be available very shortly.

3.1.3 Family Mentoring

The Chief Executive of the voluntary organisation has agreed to support our proposals to develop a family mentoring project. This will include feedback from the existing projects in New Zealand and access to the research and practice materials as they develop. Family Mentoring if targeted at early intervention and properly supported has demonstrated its potential for families to develop their life skills. A project mandate is being prepared and early discussions with potential providers in the voluntary sector have already taken place.

3.1.4 Research and Evaluation Strategy

As part of her visit to Hampshire, Dr Connolly met with colleagues from the Performance Management Unit, research team and from Research in Practice. We have agreed a three-way project between Research in Practice, the University of Canterbury and Hampshire to develop a research and evaluation strategy on similar lines to that which is in place in New Zealand.

4 Conclusion

In a relatively short timescale, some tangible benefit of the New Zealand Study Tour have already been put into place. These opportunities will be pursued and others will be added as we build on the opportunities set out in the Cabinet Report.

The Committee endorse the actions so far to further the opportunities to the young people of Hampshire following the New Zealand Study Tour in Spring 2004.

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.

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