Archived decisions

COUNCIL MEETING, 15 MAY 2008

REPORT OF THE

EXECUTIVE LEAD MEMBER FOR

CHILDREN'S SERVICES (EDUCATION)

AND EXECUTIVE MEMBER FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES

NEW SERVICE DELIVERY MODEL FOR SERVICES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE IN HAMPSHIRE

1 In 2006, the Government confirmed that the funding for Connexions Services would in future be directed through Local Authorities to support the development of Integrated Youth Support Services. The original rationale for such integration was set out in "Youth Matters and Youth Matters Next Steps". It was for all agencies and services working with young people - including the Local Learning Skills Council and Primary Care Trusts - to integrate their work around the needs of all young people in order to deliver:-

· Improved Information, Advice and Guidance to help young people make positive choices about learning, raise their aspirations and equip them to make safe and informed choices in relation to learning and sexual health and substance misuse.


· Improved opportunities for young people, particularly the most disadvantaged, to develop their social and emotional skills through positive activities and informal learning.


· Better ways to identify vulnerable young people early and provide the right support to assist them to turn their lives around, stopping their problems from becoming more serious.


· Ways to enable all young people, but particularly the most disadvantaged, to have a real influence over provision and be actively involved in delivery - for example involvement in Youth Opportunity Grants.

2 On 21 June 2007, the Executive Lead Member for Children's Services (Education) determined that the functions currently delivered by South Central Connexions and Children's Services Youth Teams should, with effect from 1 April 2008, be incorporated into the Children's Services Department in line with the Change for Children Programme and the core principles of the department. For this to happen on 11 October 2007, the Executive Lead Member approved a detailed report along with thirteen recommendations. The report and recommendations have provided the mechanism for planning and implementing the new service delivery model for services for young people in Hampshire. The three keys stages to implementation are:-

Stage 1 - January to March 2008 : completion of tasks by Task and Finish Groups working to a newly created "Services for Young People Project Board", e.g. setting up all employees on Hantsnet with access to ICT, securing accommodation, and human resource measures.

Stage 2 - April - September 2008 : detailing all service areas, appointing into the new structure; working with parties to integrate changes.

Stage 3 - September 2008 onwards : workforce location changes to take place and changed service delivery model commences

3 The new model has been widely discussed with a range of partners including : schools, county and area based forums, colleges, training provides, Hampshire Action Teams, District Council Chief Officers and Elected Members, Hampshire Council for Voluntary Youth Services, Connexions and Children's Services employees. Responses to the proposals have largely been positive. From 1 April 2008, the Connexions staff have under TUPE been transferred to the County Council. These staff will continue to deliver services to the existing pattern until the new structure has been fully implemented. Effective communications with those Children's Services staff involved and with former Connexions staff are an important element to the success of the change and a series of regular web and e-bulletins are being shared widely among staff along with other progress update sessions. A communications campaign is also being organised to ensure young people themselves are aware of the position.

4 The Department for Children, Schools and Families having withheld the County Council's Connexions Grant Allocation for 2008/09 to 2010/11 due to complex pensions and leasehold negotiations, finally confirmed, at the end of March 2008, payment of the full amount for the three year period. Finalisation of the detail of budgets for 2008/09 is now underway. The Executive Lead Member has been kept closely informed of developments and is to receive a further progress report at his decision day meeting in July 2008. Copies of the most recent progress report on this item is available in the Members' Rooms. It includes the service delivery model presented to the "Services for Young People Project Board'" in January 2008 and covers such things as planning for implementing the thirteen recommendations approved by the Executive Lead Member on 11 October 2007; the workforce configuration and deployment; service delivery and budget preparation etc.

5 The decisions will maximise the life chances of all young people in Hampshire, including those most vulnerable. This supports the Council's Corporate Priorities.

SCHOOL ADMISSION ARRANGEMENTS FOR 2009/10

1 The School Admissions Code (2007) imposed changes on admissions for September 2008. For Hampshire, the equal preference allocation applied to admissions for this date, has reduced the proportion of successful first preference applications from about 95% to approximately 93%, during the three main admission rounds; Primary (4 year olds starting school for the first time), Infant to Junior Transfer and Primary to Secondary Transfer. The new system allows parents to express a genuine first preference without the fear of losing other, lower preferences. The proportion of families being offered a place at one of their preferred schools continues to be high at 98% or so. However, a significant rise in the number of appeals lodged by parents is expected as a result of the introduction of the equal preference system. On 17 January 2008, taking first effect for admission decisions made after 1 March 2008, a new Statutory Admission Appeals Code and Regulations came into force. This has placed significant pressure on the timetable for hearing school admission appeals that arise from applications during the main admissions round.

2 The new regulations require all admission authorities to have had to determine their school admission arrangements for 2009/10 by 15 April 2008 and to have notified other admission authorities of this within fourteen days. To meet this requirement, Hampshire carried out its annual consultation on its own proposed admission arrangements first informally during the Autumn term 2007 and again during the statutory consultation period between January and March 2008. The results of the informal consultation and the statutory responses have been considered in the normal way by the Admissions Forum. The County Council has a statutory duty to "have regard" to the recommendations of this Forum. The Executive Lead Member for Children's Services (Education) has considered a detailed report on this item which has included the recommendations of the Admissions Forum. The new school admission arrangements for 2009/10 have been adopted by the Executive Lead Member along with the other required related schemes and policies. As in previous years, the Director of Children's Services has been authorised to undertake, if necessary, certain arrangements in appropriate cases. A copy of the report on this matter is available in the Members' Rooms.

3 These decisions frame parents' opportunity to express a preference for a school place as well as enabling children to attend a preferred school and so have a sound start to their schooling. This supports the Council's Corporate Priorities.

SCHOOL TERM AND HOLIDAY DATES 2009/10

1 The Executive Lead Member for Children's Services (Education) has considered the proposed pattern of school term and holiday dates for 2009/10 after full consultations with teachers' professional associations both at local and at national level. All Hampshire schools and colleges have also had the opportunity to comment on the proposed dates and the positions in neighbouring local authorities were taken into account.

2 The school term and holiday dates for 2009/10 adopted by the Executive Lead Member are set out in the appendix to this item. They adhere to the recommendations made by the Local Government Association and retain the 195 day model as preferred by Hampshire schools. This model allows each school to identify five out of the 195 days scheduled for use for the purposes of staff training.

3 The above decision helps schools and families to plan learning more effectively. Also, by achieving agreement on dates across the County, it enables schools and their communities to work together in and out of school hours. The supports the Council's Corporate Priorities.

HAMPSHIRE'S COMPREHENSIVE CAMHS COMMISSIONING CHILDREN'S TRUST

1 In April 2004, the County Council and the seven Primary Care Trusts in Hampshire established phase 1 of Hampshire's Pathfinder Children's Trust for Commissioning Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). The parties proposed the creation of a CAMHS Commissioning Children's Trust. The reasons for this were to develop and improve services and outcomes for families, through improved commissioning arrangements and joint investment, to ensure a strategic approach to planning and development through shared working and learning; pooling of funds to enable partners to work together to commission service and reduce associated costs; to ensure greater equity and consistency of services for CAMHS users across Hampshire; to help shape the future of children's services and to secure additional funding for this area of work.

2 The CAMHS Trust has been successful in delivering on the above intentions and the current partners, the County Council's Children's Services Department and Hampshire Primary Care Trust, wish to move the CAMHS Trust onto phase 2 of its operations. This will require a Section 75 agreement to be drawn up. Such an agreement is required to enable local authorities and health authorities to discharge their functions through a pooled budget. As well as creating a joint pooled budget, the intention is to establish a CAMHS Trust Board of lead officers from each of the partner agencies, which will have delegated responsibility for services developed through the use of the pooled budget.

3 The phase 2 CAMHS Trust will have a strategic commissioning function and is to continue the joint commissioning of provision for CAMHS. It will cover the County of Hampshire, creating a planning structure for Commissioning of CAMHS Services for children and young people up to 18 years of age with mental health needs. Hampshire Commissioners and providers of CAMHS Services have agreed a joint CAMHS Strategy setting out the objectives for the development of the service over the next three years. The intention is for the CAMHS Commissioning Group to work in partnership with the CAMHS Strategy Group and Local Implementation Group to undertake an analysis of need in respect of this service. This work is also intended to identify priority areas for spend and service development based on local and County needs.

4 The commissioned services funded through the pooled budget will be agreed by the partners, who will identify the appropriate partner to enter into contractual arrangements with providers. The commissioning structure is to continue to be supported by a small infrastructure of staff who will undertake communications, finance, data analysis and learning and development functions, working on behalf of the partners. The infrastructure is to be funded from within the pooled budget which from April 2008 amounts to £2,577,000. The Executive Member for Children and Families has approved the move to phase 2 of this successful initiative by way of a Section 75 agreement which establishes a pooled fund to be used for commissioning CAMHS Services in Hampshire. Also, the Executive Member has agreed to delegate to the Director of Children's Services responsibility for services developed through the use of the pooled budget and for the Director or his nominated officer, to be a member of the CAMHS Partnership Board and to vote on behalf of the County Council on decisions made by the Board. A copy of the report on this smatter is available in the Members' Rooms.

5 The decisions will enhance outcomes, access and reliability of provision across the continuum of need, for children and young people up to 18 years of age with mental health needs. This supports the Council's Corporate Priorities.

FEES AND ALLOWANCES IN RESPECT OF CHILDREN SUPPORTED IN ADOPTION, RESIDENCE AND SPECIAL GUARDIANSHIP ARRANGEMENTS, KINSHIP PLACEMENTS, FOSTER CARE AND FAMILY LINK FOR 2008/09

1 The Executive Member for Children and Families has considered a report for increasing the County Council's fees and allowances payable in respect of children who cannot be cared for by their parents and who need to be cared for away from home, and in respect of disabled children who are supported to remain at home with regular respite care provided by others. This follows an investment of £1.4 million into Hampshire's Fostering Service based on a business case and implementation plan which the Cabinet and the County Council have approved.

2 The fees and allowances payable to carers are carefully constructed to ensure that children are not disadvantaged in achieving the best placement, because of financial inequalities. The primary consideration can therefore be the best legal arrangement with the carer who can offer security and good outcomes for the child. The allowances recognise the additional requirements and demands placed on foster carers. The Executive Member has given approval to the increased allowance levels proposed for Ham Foster Carers for 2008/09, recognising that they now match the higher Fostering Network Recommended Rates for fostering allowances as opposed to National Minimum Rates. A copy of the report on this item which sets out in detail the changes to the relevant allowances, fees and associated expenses is available in the Members' Rooms.

4 The decision will enable some of our most vulnerable children to lead positive lives, cared for by a stable and permanent family so that they can achieve their maximum potential. This supports the Council's Corporate Priorities.

DAVID KIRK PATRICIA BANKS

Executive Lead Member Executive Lead Member

for Children's Services (Education) Children and Families

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