Agenda item

To consider the report of the Director of Children’s Services which provides the context for Session 1 of the Scrutiny Board’s inquiry into Children’s Centres.

The Director of Children’s Services submitted a report which presented information as part of Session 1 of the Board’s inquiry into Children’s Centres.

The following information was appended to the report:

-  Early Start Service – One Minute Guide (February 2016) Improvement Cycle

-  Details of Children’s Centres by cluster, ward, phase and governance lead

-  City Wide Early Start Dashboard

-  Inspection example – outstanding, good, requires improvement

-  Leeds Best Start Plan 2015-2019: A Preventative Programme from Conception to Age 2

-  A Life Ready for Learning 2015-2069: A Preventative Programme from 2 to Age 5

-  All Parliamentary Group on Children’s Centres: Family Hubs – The Future of Children’s Centres (July 2016)

-  Economic Modelling in support of Children's Centre Business Case for Leeds.

The following were in attendance:

-  Councillor Lisa Mulherin, Executive Board Member (Children and Families)

-  Councillor Jane Dowson, Deputy Executive Board Member (Children and Families)

-  Sue Rumbold, Chief Officer (Partnership Development and Business Support)

-  Andrea Richardson, Head of Services (Learning for Life)

-  Amanda Ashe, Children’s Centres and Early Help Lead

-  Sharon Yellin, Consultant in Public Health

-  Janice Burberry, Health Improvement Manager, Public Health

-  Debra Gill, Service Manager for Health Visiting, Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust.

The Board received a presentation ‘Best Start in Life for all Children: Leeds Children Centres’.

The key areas of discussion were:

·  An update on commissioning arrangements, particularly the importance of an integrated approach, the role of the CCG and work with GP partners.

·  Clarification sought about co-ordination of services, particularly in ensuring that there were no gaps in provision or overlap.  The Board was advised that co-ordination of services was one of the key principles of the ‘Best Start’ Strategy.

·  Confirmation that core services were being delivered across all children centres in Leeds (56 in total, 25 provided by schools), although there had been some changes to management and governance arrangements. The Board was advised about investment in children centres through the Schools’ Forum for 2017.

·  An acknowledgement of gaps in provision regarding speech and language therapy.  The Board supported the potential development of a new pathway in relation to this area of work.

·  Development of the Family Learning Programme with Leeds City College.

·  The importance of sharing good practice across children centres.  The Board was advised about performance management and monitoring processes in place.

·  The powers of intervention regarding children centres that underperformed.

·  An update on maternal mental health.  The Board was advised that maternal mental health was one of the key priorities of the NHS maternity strategy.

·  Concern about the increase of foetal alcoholism and an increased awareness of this issue in training of practitioners.

·  Clarification regarding recruitment, development and support programmes to minimise staff sickness and long term absenteeism.

·  The role of school clusters and the school nursing team in relation to family support and transition from early years.

·  The needs of schools and the perceived differences in quality regarding services accessed by schools across Leeds.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the issues raised as part of the Board’s inquiry into Children’s Centres, be noted.

(b)  That the Board writes a letter to frontline staff across Leeds’ children centres acknowledging their hard work and valuable contribution.

(Mrs S Hutchinson left the meeting at 11.30am at the conclusion of this item.)