Contact: Nicky Jones, County Parent Development Co-ordinator, Children and Families Branch, Children's Services Department, 01962 876291

1 Summary

1.1 The purpose of this report is to consult with Elected Members about the Hampshire County Strategy for Supporting Parents. The Children Act 2004 puts support for parents and carers as central to delivery of successful outcomes for children. The importance of supporting parents was also highlighted during the recent consultations on the Hampshire's Children and Young People's Plan. It forms an important element of early intervention and prevention work for vulnerable children. Note that in this paper "parenting" is used to mean all the processes involved in bringing up children. Similarly, the word "parents" is used to mean anyone who carries out the parenting role, whether or not they are biologically related to the child.

1.2 This draft for consultation has been produced by a multi-agency group led by Cliff Turner (Deputy Branch Manager, Children and Families), including representatives from voluntary organisations, health partners and staff of the County Council. The draft Strategy is included within the Local Area Agreement and has been discussed at the Children and Young People's Strategic Partnership. The draft Strategy is appended to this report.

1.3 This Strategy celebrates and supports parenthood and is, therefore, consistent with the following Corporate Aims:

_ Aim one of the Corporate Strategy : maximising life opportunities;

_ Aim four of the Corporate Strategy: building strong and safe communities;

_ Aim five of the Corporate Strategy: improving services.

1.4 All five aims of the Children Act are supported through the development of this Strategy:

_ Be healthy;

_ Stay safe;

_ Enjoy and achieve;

_ Make a positive contribution; and

_ Achieve economic well-being.

2 The development of Hampshire's Strategy for Supporting Parents

2.1 There is a broad range of providers currently engaged in parent development and support. Supporting parents covers many different types of activities (from "one-off" advice to long-term group work). The Strategy was commissioned in recognition of the need for a joined-up approach to parent development and support across agencies.

2.2 The Strategy summarises the evidence about the effectiveness of parenting support, articulates values that underpin this work, and identifies priorities.

3 Consultation process

3.1 The consultation process began in early November 2005 and closes on 6 February 2006. Many partners are being consulted, including headteachers and chairs of governors of all Hampshire schools, district councils, health colleagues, voluntary organisations (including those representing parents) and staff of the County Council. Our partners within the Hampshire Local Authority Agreement (LAA) are of course included.

3.2 The consultation invites responses via a questionnaire covering issues such as the need for central co-ordination of parent development services in Hampshire, quality assurance, participation of parents, a needs analysis exercise and the balance of investment between universal and targeted services.

3.3 A simple mapping exercise is also under way as part of the consultation exercise relating to existing parent development and support.

3.4 Following the consultation period, and analysis of returns, it is hoped to launch Hampshire's Strategy at two one-day conferences to be held in the north and south of the county during March 2006. Further details of these conferences can be obtained from the County Parent Development Team from January 2006.

4 Aims and priorities

4.1 The Strategy is not about doing things to parents. It is about working in partnership that fully includes and empowers parents. It aims to:

_ provide a rationale to improve planning and co-ordination of parent development and support services in Hampshire;

_ establish clarity and consistency in the development of parent development and support services;

_ articulate the values and principles that underlie parent development and support;

_ identify priorities for delivering parent development and support in Hampshire;

_ set quality standards for anyone wishing to deliver parent development and support services within the country boundary.

4.2 The Strategy places the County Parent Development Team at the heart of these processes, working in partnership with current and future providers. The emphasis is on creating opportunities and choices, not coercion.

5 Links to other plans

5.1 The Strategy links with the following plans:

_ Children and Young People's Plan

_ Local Area Agreement

_ Early intervention and preventative strategy

_ Child and Adolescent Mental Health strategy

_ Children's Centre strategy

_ Extended schools strategy

_ Safeguarding strategy

_ Draft family support strategy

_ Adult Learning Three-Year Development Plan

_ Behaviour policy

_ Teenage Pregnancy strategy

6 Legal implications

6.1 There are no particular legal implications.

7 Financial implications

7.1 As resources are finite, it is essential to agree how best to identify needs across the whole county. The consultation process aims to achieve a consensus about what the most important indicators are in agreeing the level of need and delivery of services.

7.2 A large part of the funding for the staff and work of the County Parent Development Team is currently resourced from a temporary Standards Fund grant which does not ensure long term funding security and this impacts on the recruitment and retention arrangements for staff in the team. Standards Funds announcements are imminent for the next two years 2006-2008 which will assist in future planning and allow an appropriate timescale for seeking to look at the long term planning for this service under the Change for Children programme and priorities.

8 Personnel implications

8.1 All partners must work co-operatively to deliver an effective service but over the next two years it will be necessary to strengthen the resource allocated to the existing parent development team.

9 Impact assessment

9.1 Race and equality impact assessment has been considered in the development of this report and no adverse impact has been identified.

10 Crime prevention issues

10.1 The Local Authority has considered its obligations and approach under Section 17 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. The approach being developed by Hampshire is consistent with these requirements.

11 Views of the Local County Councillor

11.1 As part of the consultation exercise, Local Members will have an opportunity to express their views.

Recommendations

That the Executive Lead Member for Children's Services be advised:

1 To receive this report to inform Elected Members of plans to introduce and set the direction for Hampshire's Strategy for Supporting Parents;

2 To note the on-going consultation process, which closes on 6 February 2006, after which responses will be summated;

3 To approve the County Council's proposed launch of the Strategy in March 2006.

Section 100 D - Local Government Act 1972 - background documents

The following documents discuss facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and have 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.

None.