Archived decisions

GOVERNANCE OF CHILDREN'S CENTRES IN HAMPSHIRE

1 The Executive Lead Member for Children's Services has adopted an interim working model for the governance of children's centres in Hampshire. Also, the Executive Lead Member has authorised the Director of Children's Services, to make appointments to the Partnership Boards of County Council managed children's centres and delegated to the Chief Officer authority to remove members from the Partnership Boards. Local Members will be invited to nominate a representative to the Partnership Boards.

2 A draft of the above working model was issued with supporting consultation information to prospective statutory partners in November 2006 with responses due back by 9 February 2007. Those organisations invited to comment included health authorities; schools; district councils; Hampshire County Council officers; parents; existing children's centres/early years centres and private, voluntary and independent organisations. Hampshire's model is based on the successful national SureStart Local Governance arrangements. It will need to be reviewed in the light of continuing experience and further central government developments. A summary of the underlying principles of the working model for the governance of children's centres is as follows:

· The County Council is the accountable body for children's centres in Hampshire.


· The County Council will expect all children's centres to operate with a Centre Manager working with a Partnership Board. The Partnership Board needs to be informed by a Parents' Forum and a Practitioner's Forum.


· For County Council managed centres, accountability for the work of the centre and its outcomes will be through the Centre Manager working with the Partnership Board. The Centre Manager will be line-managed through a professional support and performance management system overseen by an appointed senior officer within Children's Centre Services.


· For school managed centres, the County Council will make a contract with the school's governing body through a Service Level Agreement, recognising the governing bodies extended school powers to enter into arrangements or agreements with other bodies to provide community services.


· In other third-party managed centres contracted responsibility for the work of the Centre and the outcomes will be with the third party working with the Partnership Board.


· Where Children's Centres are developed within Maintained Nursery Schools, those schools will be required to have regard to this model and to act in accordance with its principles.

3 A copy of the report considered by the Executive Lead Member for Children's Services, together with the approved working model for the governance of children's centres in Hampshire is available in the Members' Rooms.

4 The decisions support the provision of children's centres in the most disadvantaged parts of Hampshire, and are intended to enable families with young children to access high quality early years provision and other health and family support services. This supports the Council's Corporate Priorities.