Archived decisions

COUNCIL MEETING, 2 APRIL 2009

REPORT OF THE

EXECUTIVE LEAD MEMBER FOR

CHILDREN'S SERVICES (EDUCATION)

PART 1

CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE'S PLAN 2009 - 12

1. Part 1, Chapter 4 of the County Council's Constitution sets out the range of documents which form the County Council's policy framework, all of which need to be formally adopted by the County Council. One of those is the Children and Young People's Plan (CYPP), and approval is sought from the County Council to the new plan, covering the period 2009-2012.

2. The publication of the CYPP every three years, is a statutory requirement under the Children and Young People's Plan (England) Regulations 2005. The CYPP sets out Hampshire County Council's and partners' strategy for the services for children and young people aged 0-19 years, young people aged 20 years and over leaving care and young people up to the age of 25 years with learning difficulties.

3. It is the key strategic plan for Hampshire's Children's Trust, establishing priorities for the delivery of services to children and young people and families. Its main focus is on improving the lives of the County's children and young people across the five Every Child Matters outcomes by tackling barriers to learning, improving health and breaking cycles of disadvantage.

4. Consultation on the development of the new CYPP took place between September 2008 and January 2009. The overall feedback was very positive with 89% agreeing with its six new overarching priorities. These involve reducing the incidence and impact of poverty on the achievement and life chances of children and young people; securing children and young people's physical, spiritual, social, emotional and mental health, promoting healthy lifestyles and reducing inequalities; providing opportunities to learn that raise children and young people's aspirations, encourage excellence and enable them to achieve beyond their expectations; ensuring that children and young people are safe and feel safe, enabling them to build resilience and personal confidence; providing vocational, leisure and recreational activities that provide positive opportunities to experience success and build resilience and removing barriers to access, participation and achievement and not tolerating discrimination and abuse.

5. The Executive Lead Member for Children's Services (Education) has considered a report by the Director of Children's Services on this item which included a summary of the responses to the proposed new plan and recommends that it now be approved by the County Council. A copy of the final document appears separately with the County Council's papers.

6. This report arises from consideration of the report by the Executive Lead Member on 12 March 2009 which is on Hantsweb at /decisions/decisions-docs/090312-excsed-R0305100019

RECOMMENDATION

That approval is given to the Children and Young People's Plan 2009 - 2012 and to its publication on 3 April 2009.

COUNCIL MEETING, 2 APRIL 2009

REPORT OF THE

EXECUTIVE LEAD MEMBER FOR

CHILDREN'S SERVICES (EDUCATION)

AND EXECUTIVE MEMBER FOR

CHILDREN AND FAMILIES

SCHOOL TERM AND HOLIDAY DATES 2010/11

1. Unlike in previous years, Hampshire County Council and Hampshire Teachers' professional associations, represented by the Conditions of Service Working Party (CoSWoP) have felt unable to emulate the pattern of term and holiday dates recommended by the Local Government Association for 2010/11.

2. The LGA Standing Committee on the school year has recommended a schedule of term and holiday dates which is contrary to one of the main principles agreed between the County Council and CoSWoP, namely the provision of two full weeks holiday at Christmas. The CoSWoP and the County Council have been keen to agree dates on which to consult schools that follow the nationally approved pattern. However, as the LGA 2010/11 proposal did not have the agreement of one of the main teacher professional associations, it was considered appropriate to propose an alternative schedule.

3. The key features of the models are:

· The LGA model proposes a 12 day Christmas break starting on 23 December. The last school date in the summer term is 22 July.

· The HCC/CoSWoP model proposes two full weeks Christmas break beginning 18 December. The last school day in the summer term is 27 July.

· Both proposals start the spring term on 4 January and retain the 195 day model as preferred by Hampshire schools. This allows each school to identify five out of the 195 days scheduled to use for the purposes of staff training.

4. The two proposed patterns of term and holiday dates 2010/11 were sent to schools on 9 September 2008. They were invited to comment and to identify their preferred model. Out of 530 schools, 234 responded to the consultation and 176 of these (76%) were in favour of the HCC/CoSWoP model. Neighbouring authorities are also consulting on their school year and are aware of the Hampshire consultation process.

5. The Executive Lead Member for Children's Services (Education) has considered the summary of the consultation responses and has adopted the HCC/CoSWoP pattern of school term and holiday dates for 2010/11. They are set out in the appendix to this item.

6. This report arises from consideration of the report by the Executive Lead Member on 12 March 2009 which is on Hantsweb at /decisions/ decisions-docs/090312-excsed-R0305100236

HAMPSHIRE YOUNG CARER'S STRATEGY 2009 - 2012

1. On 18 September 2008, the Council received a report by the Executive Member for Children and Families about the draft Hampshire Young Carer's Strategy and related Action Plan. Following consultation with appropriate agencies and young people and their families between November 2008 and February 2009, the Strategy has subsequently been revised. This item has been discussed by the Children and Young People Select Committee and their comments will be actioned by the Director of Children's Services. The proposed final version has been reported back and approved by the Executive Lead Member on behalf of the Executive Member for Children and Families.

2. Its implementation over the next three years will be a significant task which will require joint working and partnership between both statutory and voluntary organisations. Young carers are vulnerable children and young people and there is an expectation nationally and locally that the needs of these `vulnerable' young people will be acknowledged and addressed. The Hampshire Young Carers Strategy clearly sets out the vision, goals and actions required to do this.

3. Five specific areas of work with associated tasks and accountable agencies have been identified. These are as follows:-

· Promoting a positive culture

· Identification of young carers

· Using a whole family, interagency approach to assessments and Services

Delivery

· Supporting young carers and their families to reduce the number of young

people where caring is impacting on their well being

· Raising awareness about young carers, their families and their issues.

4. Within Hampshire County Council it is identified in the action plan that a joint

working protocol needs to be developed between Adult and Children's Services as this is likely to have a direct impact on helping to achieve the vision of the strategy. Since the publication of the previous Young Carers Strategy there has been further government guidance and legislation and these have been reflected in this new document. The need for improving services and increasing accessibility to support was highlighted by the Joint Area Review undertaken in 2006 and it is pleasing to note that all 11 district council areas in Hampshire have an identified Young Carers project or co-ordinator. The strategic development work will continue to be undertaken by The Children's Society on a contracted basis until March 2010 at which point a tender will be awarded for on-going strategic work.

5. This report arises from consideration of the report by the Executive Lead Member

on 12 March 2009 which is on Hantsweb at /decisions/decisions-docs/090312-xmchfa-R0305101622

It includes the final version of the Hampshire Young Carers Strategy 2009-2012.

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE OF THE FOSTERING SERVICE

1. National Minimum Standards for Fostering Services require that the registered provider (in the case of a local authority, the Executive Member) formally approves the Statement of Purpose of the Fostering Service, and reviews, updates and modifies it where necessary, at least annually.

2. The Executive Lead Member on behalf of the Executive Member for Children and Families has approved the latest Statement of Purpose of the Fostering Service. The key parts of the document that have been revised since it was last presented are highlighted below:-

· The Fostering Service benefits from having staff with a range of appropriate qualifications relevant to the work they are undertaking in the service. This is now reflected in the Statement of Purpose.

· There has been a gradual increase in the number of foster carers approved over the last year, with 520 sets of carers now fostering for Hampshire. Of the 520 carers, 155 are family and friend's carers who are registered to care for specific children known, or related to them.

· There has been a substantial increase in the number of children placed with Hampshire's foster carers from 544 to 629 since the publication of the last Statement of Purpose.

· Fostering allowances are now based on The Fostering Network Recommended Rates rather than the national minimum rates.

· Hampshire Fostering Service operates a skill fee scheme designed to attract and retain foster carers by recognising their skills and competencies.

3. The Fostering Service in Hampshire prides itself on the level of consultation that

takes place with key stakeholders. Liaison with the Hampshire Fostering Network for example, referred to in the Statement of Purpose, is regular and ongoing to ensure that any developments take foster carer's views into account. General comments and other feedback are welcome as they assist the Children's Services department in building good practice and developing the service.

4. This report arises from consideration of the report by the Executive Lead Member

on 12 March 2009 which is on Hantsweb at /decisions/ decisions-docs/090312-xmchfa- R0305101 633

DAVID KIRK PATRICIA BANKS

Executive Lead Member for Executive Member for

Children's Services (Education) Children and Families

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