Contact: Jayne Shelbourn-Barrow, 023 8061 4179, [email protected]

1 Summary

This report describes the development and current position of the Teenage Pregnancy Partnership in Hampshire with regards to the Government targets and money allocated to meet these targets.

The second part of the report explores how the work could be mainstreamed by the end of March 2008 and the implications for staff and projects.

2 Recommendations

a) That the Executive Lead Member for Children's Services notes the report and success of the Hampshire Teenage Pregnancy Partnership work to date.

b) That a further report is submitted later in 2007 outlining the future of the Teenage Pregnancy Partnership, once details of the Comprehensive Spending Review 2007 are known.

3 Background

3.1 Under the ten-year national Teenage Pregnancy Strategy established in 2000, each top-tier local authority was required to devise a local strategy and set targets to reduce the Under-18 teenage pregnancy rates and to reduce the social exclusion experienced by teenage parents. The 2010 targets are a reduction in Under 18 conceptions from the 1998 baseline of 35.9 to 19.8 (per thousand young women aged 15-17) and 60% of young mothers aged 16-19 to be in some form of education, employment or training.

3.2 A specific grant is given nationally in England to each top-tier local authority to support this work until March 2008. Hampshire County Council's excellent Comprehensive Assessment rating means that this grant is no longer ring-fenced. However, in recognition of the effective partnership approach being undertaken locally, the Cabinet agreed to continue to fully passport the funding to the Hampshire Teenage Pregnancy Partnership in 2004-05 and this was confirmed by the (then) Children's Services Board for 2006-07.

3.3 Hampshire was successful in reaching its 2004 target for reducing Under-18 conception rates from 35.9 to 30.2 (per thousand young women aged 15-17), a percentage change of 15.8% which exceeds the nationally set target of a 10% reduction. At this stage, we were included in the group of authorities likely to reach their 2010 target. However, the December 2005 data released on 22^nd February 2007 shows an increase from 30.2 to 30.9 (per thousand young women aged 15-17) and Government Office South East (GOSE) have indicated that this may result in an amber traffic lighting to reach our 2010 target. Neighbouring authorities' rates have risen following a slowing down / levelling off.

3.4 The indicator used nationally to measure social exclusion experienced by young parents is the percentage of young mother's age16-19 in education, employment or training. The Connexions database is used for this purpose and indicates that as of 1st September 2006, 20.2% were in education, employment or training. In areas where the conception rates are highest, (Havant, Basingstoke, Fareham and Gosport), there are dedicated Connexions Personal Advisors for teenage parents jointly funded by Connexions and the Teenage Pregnancy Partnership.

3.5 Health inequalities have been chosen as an added area of investigation in the JAR, to which the work of the Teenage Pregnancy Partnership will contribute.

3.6 The Children's Services Priorities 2007/08 include reduced teenage conceptions, improved sexual health and support to young parents. The Partnership Board reports to the Children and Young People's Partnership Board on the implementation of the priorities expressed in the Local Area Agreement (LAA), the Children and Young People's Plan (CYPP) and the Annual Performance Assessment (APA). At the Partnership review day 2006, a number of key areas were identified taking into account key documents:

· Teenage Pregnancy Next Steps: guidance for Local Authorities and Primary Care Trusts on Effective Delivery of Local Strategies (July 2006)

· Teenage Pregnancy: Accelerating the Strategy to 2010 (September 2006)

· Reaching Out: An Action Plan on Social Exclusion (September 2006).

Key areas for development to ensure the 2010 targets are met include:

· Research associated with high teenage pregnancy rates is used to develop programmes of early intervention. The risk factors identified in research include: early onset of sexual activity, poor contraceptive use, alcohol and substance misuse, low educational attainment, living in care, and low parental aspirations

· The improvement in Sex and Relationships Education (SRE)

· The development of effective 1 to 1 interventions (awaiting guidance from NICE)

· A reduction of second pregnancies

· A reduction in the number of young women facing repeat abortions

· The development of work focussed on building self-esteem in young people and helping them with their communication and negotiation skills. Part of this work includes young people in Hampshire designing publicity for schools, colleges and youth settings.

· Work on raising the aspirations of young women in deprived areas by intervention programmes and Targeted Youth Support Services.

· Ensuring SRE is included in parenting programmes

· The continued development of targeted SRE for young people who are Looked After

· Ensuring appropriate housing support for young parents

3.7 The Partnership has recently produced data files for each of the 11 districts which will enable planning and focussed work in high rate areas. The Teenage Pregnancy Unit is developing a checklist on making the best use of locally available data, including advice on how best to assess the incidence of second pregnancies.

3.8 The Hampshire Teenage Pregnancy Partnership has multi-agency representation at both board level and at a local level. There are currently 8 Local Implementation Teams, (which it is proposed will move to match the 11 districts). The funding is allocated in number of different ways and this is shown in the table that follows.

3.9 The Teenage Pregnancy Partnership part fund three Connexions Personal Advisor posts in Havant, Fareham /Gosport and Basingstoke and a sexual health nurse covering Havant, Fareham and Gosport. There are opportunities to bid for funding for new initiatives in locality areas. The focus of all funding applications and approvals is the ability for the work to be mainstreamed.

3.10 Hampshire County Council has agreed the extension of the central posts until March 2008. These posts are Strategic Manager, Training Coordinator, Information and Administration Officer and County project Worker (secondment from Health).

4 Budget proposals for 2007/08

4.1 The proposals in this report are expected to maximise well-being in support of the County Council's corporate priorities.

4.2 It also supports the following the `Being Healthy' outcome of the Children Act.

5 Consultation

5.1 The Hampshire Teenage Pregnancy Partnership has a multi-agency representation at both board and local level. Annual review days involve stakeholders and young people are consulted at every opportunity.

6 Legal Implications

6.1 None.

7 Financial implications

7.1 None

8 Personnel implications

8.1 None

9 Impact assessment

9.1 All of the work undertaken by the Teenage Pregnancy Board involves impact assessment. The work focuses on vulnerable and hard to reach young people and those who are socially excluded, i.e. pregnant teenagers, young parents, young offenders, Children looked After.

10 Crime prevention issues

10.1 Not applicable

11 Views of the Local County Councillor

11.1 Not applicable

12 Conclusion

12.1 Hampshire has adopted a local multi-agency response to the Teenage Pregnancy Strategy. The work of the partnership was commended in the Annual Performance Assessment.

12.2 There is clear guidance from central government on what work needs to be done to ensure Hampshire reaches its 2010 targets of a reduction in the Under 18 conception rate to 20.2 and 60% of our teenage mothers in education, employment or training. This work needs to be developed jointly with the parenting strategy, targeted youth support and the development of Children's Centres and extended schools.

12.3 The local data recently produced by the partnership will allow local areas to focus work on high rate areas, areas that are rising and to link with the wider preventative agenda. This coming year is key to ensuring the focus and drive of the Hampshire Teenage Pregnancy Partnership is fully integrated into locality teams and targeted youth support. The County Project Worker, Sexual Health Worker and three Connexions PA posts are based in high rate areas. The rolling 3 year Under 18 conception rates 2002-2004 as follows:

12.4 The central team of three FTE staff all have fixed term contracts until March 2008 and will be eligible for redeployment if further extensions of contracts are not made. Early decisions may assist in the retention of staff.

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.

List documents here or type `none'.

Hampshire Teenage Pregnancy Partnership Action Plan 2006/07

Teenage Pregnancy Next Steps: guidance for Local Authorities and Primary Care Trusts on Effective Delivery of Local Strategies (July 2006)

Teenage Pregnancy: Accelerating the Strategy to 2010 (September 2006)

Reaching Out: An Action Plan on Social Exclusion (September 2006).