Agenda item
Plan for Children and Families in Brent
The purpose of this report is to set out a three year partnership Plan for Children and Families in Brent (PCFB) for the attention of the Children & Families Overview and Scrutiny Committee. The Plan builds on the achievements of the previous Children and Young People’s Plan (2010-12) and brings together in a single document our vision and key priorities for improving outcomes for children and families in Brent. The PCFB strengthens the coordination and integration of a range of strategic plans (set out in Appendix C) and is underpinned by a performance management framework, which will help to monitor and drive forward improvements. Report will be presented by Anna Janes
Minutes:
Anna Janes, Head of Children & Families Policy and Performance explained that the purpose of the report was to set out a three year partnership Plan for Children and Families in Brent (PCFB). The Plan built on the achievements of the previous Children and Young People’s Plan (2010-12) and brought together in a single document Brent’s vision and key priorities for improving outcomes for children and families. It was highlighted that although the coalition government had revoked the legislation requiring the production of a plan however it was felt to be an essential strategic plan and demonstrated commitment to the children of Brent for the next three years. It was explained that the plan took a holistic approach which integrated the family and consisted of the following three priorities:
1. Ensure that children and young people in our borough are healthy and safe
2. Narrow the gap between those children who do well and those who need extra support to thrive, so the aspirations of every Brent child are realised. Also to ensure that there are sufficient school places to meet the continuing increase in demand
3. To fully integrate services to develop resilient families
Promotion work with partners had been undertaken including posters and a briefing pack to ensure all partners were working towards priorities. It was noted that the Child Poverty Strategy Action Plan, which linked to the Children and Families Plan would be launched in January 2013. Given that the PCFB was a 3 year plan, the Brent Children’s Partnership (BCP) Executive had agreed that the partnership would focus on two outcomes within the first year; children and young people being safe, protected from harm and neglect, and living free of poverty.
Anna Janes informed the Committee that the BCP executive had met to discuss issues surrounding the welfare cuts and how the impact on families could be reduced. It was noted that 1500 vacancies were reported across Brent job centres and courses such as CV writing were being offered to help parents back into work. Advice was also being offered to families to address the impact of the cuts and how they could be exempt from the benefit changes to avoid poverty being cast upon their family.
During discussion, it was highlighted that although initiatives were being undertaken to get parents into work, it was felt that the biggest barrier was the cost of child care. It was further noted that there were few jobs that offered suitable ‘school hours’ for parents with children attending school. It was explained that although a fund existed to provide 15 hours of free child care a week for children 2 - 3 years of age, it was felt that ways to make child care realistic needed to be explored. Sara Williams, Assistant Director Early Help and Education informed the Committee of the numerous breakfast and after school clubs in many schools across Brent. She continued to highlight that should a school feel that a pupil/family would benefit from a before or after school facility being available, then the pupil premium could be used.
Concern was expressed that the plan cited how Brent currently functioned and lacked inspiration during difficult times. Anna Janes explained that the policy looked at the family as a whole whilst working alongside the working with families’ initiative as well as working with partners to align resources. It was further explained that monitoring of outcomes would be qualitative across partners and the impact of services would be measured against the feedback received from users which would further be used to develop the service. The monitoring across partners would be used to review the policy after each year so that the document remained flexible and reflective of its purpose. It was noted that feedback on monitoring could be reported back to the Committee. The Committee noted the qualitative outcomes and felt that the action plan could have flowed through the report more, with greater radical initiatives.
The Committee noted the detailed outcome structure, timescales and how these would be achieved and queried the commitment of partners, and whether any obstacles had been identified. Anna Janes informed the Committee that two outcomes had been agreed as a focus with partners to ensure full commitment to achieving the outcomes and a lead officer during the away day had been assigned for each outcome.
The Lead Member for Children and Families explained that the plan was meant to be used as a dynamic tool to engage and work with families as a whole through enhanced partnership working to deliver services in a coordinated manner. It was further clarified that the report differed from most policies as partners had fed into the document and reported on outcomes collectively, as well as the plan continuously developing and evolving to the needs of Brent.
The Committee noted that no financial implications had been identified and queried how a difference could be made in times where cuts were being introduced. The Lead Member Children and Families explained that working with partners would become an effective resource in itself. Anna Janes further clarified that by having connections and understanding what partners were doing, duplication of work could be avoided, allowing resources to be used effectively as well as being able to access greater funding streams through greater knowledge of grant information available to partners.
The Committee felt that it was important that the private and voluntary sectors were involved and were represented within the plan. Anna Janes explained that greater voluntary and private sector involvement was required and as connections were made, this would be reflected within the plan. It was felt that private sector involvement would be harder to achieve but would be valuable especially as there were larger companies within Brent.
Brent Youth Parliament informed the Committee of an initiative where a pool of young persons wishing to volunteer for work placements within schools had been created and it was agreed that they would discuss the matter further with the Lead Member for Children and Families.
Discussion took place around the second priority and in particular school places. It was noted that this priority would not result in overcrowding or a lowering of educational standards and that infant class size legislation would still be adhered to. It was felt that narrowing the gap of education standards and meeting the demand for school places did not necessarily correlate together and should be recognised separately. It was clarified that school places were not restricted to borough borders and although almost 6000 pupils outside of the borough attended Brent schools, it was noted that the number of children from Brent attending schools outside of the borough was higher. Discussion progressed to the SCN path finder and despite the delays, it was noted that the legislation enabling it was progressing however work would not take place to rush ahead in terms of budgets going to families.
Councillor Pavey queried the additional support that was to be made available to parents under outcome seven. It was noted that these would be in the form of classes and it was agreed that further information would be provided to Councillor Pavey.
RESOLVED:-
i.
Members
noted the content of the PCFB and that the
priorities and outcomes will be fully integrated in service area
plans and priorities
ii. That regular updates be provided to the Committee and in particular how the Council and partners were meeting targets and outcomes
Supporting documents:
- plan-for-children-and-families-in-brent-report, item 4. PDF 77 KB
- plan-for-children-and-families-in-brent-appendix, item 4. PDF 7 MB