Agenda item

To consider a report of the Strategic Director People on the issues and recommendations arising from the recent visit of the National Support Team  in relation to Teenage Pregnancy in Cheshire East.

The Committee considered a report of the Strategic Director People on issues that had arisen from the National Support Team’s visit to Cheshire East which had arisen due to sustained underperformance in the reduction of teenage pregnancy rates across Cheshire. 

Lorraine Butcher, Head of Services for Children and Families, explained to the Committee that the Government’s Teenage Pregnancy Reduction Strategy 1998 had set a target for Local Authorities to reduce by half the numbers of conceptions among under 18 year olds by 2010.  In Cheshire the rate had not reduced by a sufficient amount.  Under 18 conceptions were focused in small geographical areas with the pattern of conception being significantly greater than would be expected in these areas indicating that deprivation was only one of a number of responsible factors.  Such “hot spot” areas had historically received prevention services but rates had remained steady or increased.  Some areas had shown high levels of single or repeat terminations and there was concern for vulnerable groups such as care leavers. 

The National Support Team had produced a formal report after the visit with the key recommendations being:

      An Executive Board to be developed and chaired by the Directors from the Council and the Primary Care Trust to lead, drive forward and performance manage the teenage pregnancy prevention strategy;

      A Senior Strategic post be recruited to the Council to lead on teenage pregnancy prevention – this was funded by Government grant;

      As part of the Children’s Trust arrangements, data should be disseminated in an accessible and relevant format by all and between all partners, to better inform planning, targeting and performance management of the strategy;

      The Council and PCT communications leads to be responsible for the urgent development of a Teenage Pregnancy Communication Strategy and Action Plan;

      There should be an explicit and detailed young people’s Sexual Health Needs Assessment to inform the design and delivery of young people’s contraception and sexual health services as part of a strategic commissioning plan;

      There should be a radical overhaul of current Contraceptive and Sexual Health (CASH) provision to ensure it meets young people’s needs.

During discussion of the report the following issues were raised:

      It was difficult to assess the success of work aimed at reducing Teenage Pregnancy rates as the figures were always about 15 months late;

      Was the rate of Chlamydia high in Cheshire East?  In response it was explained that rates locally were not known but nationally rates were high;

      How much detail was known – was it possible to identify specific schools with higher than average rates?  In response, Members were advised that the Council was aware of particular hotspot schools;

      What age was considered appropriate for pupils to receive lessons in sexual health?  In response the Committee was informed that there was some evidence to suggest that it was effective to begin such lessons in Primary School;

      It was important to consider the impact of alcohol;

      Whether there was a link between housing needs and teenage pregnancy due to a lack of hostel type accommodation for young women;

      Some young women made an active choice to get pregnant and it was important to consider aspirations and what choices young women felt were available to them.

RESOLVED:  That the recommendations of the National Support Team be supported and Cheshire East Council work with the Primary Care Trust and other partners to finalise Action and Delivery Plans in line with the timescales outlined in the report.