LGA Governance


Agenda and minutes

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Beecham Room, 7th Floor, 18 Smith Square, London, SW1P 3HZ. View directions

Contact: Amber Chandler  020 7664 3242/ Email: amber.chandler@local.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Declarations of Interest

Minutes:

The Chair welcomed all members to the Children and Young People Board meeting. Apologies were noted and are listed in Appendix A.

 

A declaration of interest was raised by Vice Chair Cllr Roy Perry in relation to item 5: Update from the LGA's Asylum, Refugee and Migration Taskforce, in which Cllr Perry stated that his daughter, Rt Hon Caroline Nokes MP who, at the time of this Board meeting, was the Minister of State for Immigration.

 

2.

ISOS early help research: presentation of final report ahead of 19 March launch pdf icon PDF 529 KB

Minutes:

The Chair welcomed Isos Director, Natalie Parish, to the meeting. Natalie provided the Board with a summary on the findings of the high needs funding research which was commissioned by the Local Government Association in July 2018.

 

Natalie explained that the Isos Partnership was commissioned to undertake research to explore the enablers and barriers to developing and sustaining an effective local early help offer and was asked to look at three areas: reviewing the existing material and research in terms of what works in Early Help; understanding in practical terms the activities and actions that contribute to the development and sustainability of an effective and partnership-based early help offer; and supporting local areas through an action-research based approach to develop their own early help offers and to contribute to the wider system knowledge of effective early help. Natalie outlined a local ‘early help offer’ was defined as:


E
ach local area had taken their own distinctive approach to developing their early help offer. However, there were some clear similarities between the eight areas in terms of organisation and principles.”

 

Natalie outlined that the findings showed that each of the local areas had taken their own distinctive approach to developing their early help offer in their own unique ways, but despite differences there were clear similarities in organisation and principles between the eight areas, with differences mainly being in the bulk of the activity taking place. These similarities were:

 

(organisation):

 

·         Community based support networks

·         Partners as lead professionals

·         Central key working service

(principles)

 

·         The earliness of early help

·         Working with families, rather than individuals

·         Building resilience

·         An integrated – joined up offer

 

Natalie outlined the lifecycle and evolution of early help, and that the findings showed that local authorities were at different phases in this cycle. A number of the authorities were at the third phase of development ‘consolidation and integration’ and therefore were looking at improving consistency through better integration across a wider range of partners, and realign skills and targets, in order to enter the fourth phase ‘achieving a ‘multiplier effect’.

 

Natalie concluded her presentation by explaining that there is a strong logical and principled case for continuing to invest in early help so that it does become ‘everyone’s business’. But to achieve this in the current climate local areas will need to strike the right balance between the following criteria:

 

1.    Investing to achieve long-term impact or shorter term gains?

2.    Predicting need set against responding to demand

3.    Universal, additional or intensive support?

4.    Wider or deeper integration?

 

 

The following discussion took place with members:

 

·         Members asked for further details of the local authorities which were identified as having best practice. Natalie identified the eight councils used in the research: Barking and Dagenham, Greenwich, Kent, Lincolnshire, Oldham, Southend, West Sussex and Wigan.. Natalie told members that the final report will include vignettes and descriptions of these council’s early help offers.

·         In response to another question, Natalie clarified that Ofsted was not a defining criteria for councils  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

3.

CAMHS future work programme pdf icon PDF 171 KB

Minutes:

The Chair welcomed Abigail Gallop, Senior Advisor to the Board.

 

Abigail introduced the report that set out:

·         Proposals for the children and young people’s mental health work programme for the LGA

·         A proposals for gathering evidence and commissioning a piece of work to identify issues and areas of good practice

·         Proposal for a joint steering group made up of members across the Children and Young People Board, The Community Wellbeing Board and the Safer and Stronger Communities Board

 

The Board was asked for comments and feedback on:

 

·         Whether there should be anything added or removed from the proposed aims and objectives, and to agree them.

·         Comments on the funding picture within councils on children and young people’s mental health to inform the development of this piece of research.

·         Comments on the identification of issues and good practice, and is asked if there are any other key lines of enquiry or questions

 

Members provided the following feedback:

 

·         Members confirmed their support for establishing a joint steering group on CAMHS to take the work forwards.

·         Local authorities need to ensure that there is a focus on children and that government departments need to engage with each other on this to make progress.

·         On behalf of the Board, the LGA should enquire into the factors that are resulting in children’s mental health not being prioritised or getting the support they need.

·         On behalf of this Board, the LGA should investigate data to see if there is a correlation between cuts in early help offers as a result of funding constraints and an increase in children accessing CAMHS and other Adult Social Care services.

·         One member raised that in their authority, mental health funding goes through the CCG which is a challenge to get that money directed to more holistic and preventative services.

·         It was acknowledged that there was little support for children who were in the interim period of CAMHS on long waiting lists with no access to services while in this period.

·         The impacts of delays in mental health treatment is having a detrimental effect on children’s education, and this is not being addressed. This often results in long-term impacts on individual’s schooling.

·         It was acknowledged that CAMHS is a last resort service, and that there should be more emphasis on earlier interventions.

·         In reference to point 21 which refers to the approach to identify issues and good practice, the report needs to consider the delivery and accessibility in CAMHS, in particular the services offered to those who do not meet NHS thresholds for treatment.

·         Concerns over the quality of CAMHS was raised and what structures are in place to monitor and scrutinise these services.

·         Members raised the point that councils have to take responsibility for supporting children and young people in the whole, but have no influence or authority about how CAMHS funding is invested. 

·         The programme needs to reflect clear asks from this board, with key points including county lines, increase in street crime and domestic violence.

·         The cross-cutting issues  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

4.

Update from Children's Social Care Taskforce (Verbal Update)

Minutes:

In the absence of Cllr Dick Madden, Cllr Ford was invited to the Board to provide members with an update on the work of the Children’s Social Care Taskforce to date. Cllr Ford outlined the new evidence on the funding crisis and need for additional investment that has come to light.

 

 

The following points were raised by members:

 

·         One member highlighted that it was noticeable that charities are stepping in to help fund youth services and youth clubs in their local area, but in higher deprivation areas they do not have access to these resources.

·         It was also highlighted that the Board have concerns over £10 million to be spent on the National Citizen Service (NCS) brand refresh.

The Chair thanked Cllr Ford for the update.

 

Decision:

 

Members noted the verbal update.

 

5.

Update from the LGA's Asylum, Refugee and Migration Taskforce pdf icon PDF 93 KB

Minutes:

Cllr Gillian Ford updated members on the progress of the work from the LGA Asylum, Refugee and Migration Task Group.

 

Cllr Ford informed members on the outcome of the Taskforce meeting with the Minister for Immigration last Wednesday 6 March that focussed on concerns delivering better engagement with, and funding for councils as part of the new contracts for accommodation and advice for asylum seeking adults and families. It was acknowledged at the meeting councils need support in this area.

 

It was also mentioned that there will be a review over concerns of accessibility, age assessments, and a review of relevant Home Office programmes.

 

Members will receive a full briefing and information to support councils between this and the next Board.

 

Decision:

 

Members noted the update.

 

Action:

 

A further update will be provided at the next Children and Young People Board meeting.

 

6.

Note of the Previous Meeting pdf icon PDF 259 KB

Minutes:

Members noted the previous minutes from the last Board meeting 16 January 2019.

Members agreed the minutes.

 

7.

Understanding the Middle Tier: Comparative Costs of Academy and LA-maintained Sectors

Minutes:

 

The Chair welcomed Professor Peter Earley (PE) and Jonathan Crossley-Holland (JCH) from Sara Bubb Associates to the Board to present their research to date.

 

The Board discussed initial findings of the research, which will be published in due course.

 

Decision:

 

Members noted the presentation.