Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Head of Service - Early Intervention & Prevention.

Jonathan Potter, Principal Manager – Cheshire East Family Service, attended to provide a report to update the Committee on the steps taken to implement the recommendations of the Family Support Services Task and Finish Review which suggested a move towards an early intervention model. He explained that whilst it was still early days regarding the introduction of an early help offer, there were signs that positive progress was being achieved. Indeed, feedback had been received from families who were reporting that their issues were being addressed earlier and that they were seeing a more joined up offer from agencies.

Having said this, Jonathan Potter also drew attention to a number of issues which needed further development. These were outlined as follows:

1)    Securing Good Ofsted inspection outcomes for Cheshire East’s Children Centres

2)    Developing the CEFS workforce to work at an early intervention level.

3)    Training the workforce

4)    Building strong partnerships.

Regarding this latter point, it was commented that it would be a challenge for the service to build strong partnerships and that communication would be key for achieving this. It was suggested that the service build a relationship with a local university so that any background information or research could be collated by a research student. Jonathan Potter acknowledged that this could be beneficial and stated that he would look into it further.

Reference was made to a finding in the Task Group report which stated that family centres were not getting the relevant information quickly enough from the various agencies. It was queried whether this had improved. Cath Knowles confirmed that improved systems were now in place and that data was coming through in a much more timely fashion.

It was queried whether the Council’s Children Centres carried out any outreach work. Jonathan Potter confirmed that they did and that relationships with health visitors were particularly a strength in this respect.

It was suggested that the annual Children in Need report be distributed to the Committee for information.

As a final point, it was suggested that Councillors could be informed of the Children Centres in their respective wards and that perhaps they could be invited to visit. Jonathan Potter agreed that this was a good idea and that he would contact Councillors with information on the centres on a ward basis.

RESOLVED –

a)    That the report be received.

b)    That the annual Children in Need report be distributed to the Committee.

c)    That Councillors be provided with information regarding the Children Centres aligned to their respective wards.