Issue - meetings

This report follows the Executive decisions on 17 March 2016 which outlined the plans to create new Local Area Teams to work across the city to bring together a range of existing services to form a new set of preventative arrangements for families from pregnancy through to adult hood.  Work underway to establish the new structures, processes and the new ways of working that are required are reported.

Resolved:  (i)      That the following be agreed regarding children’s

                             centre services:

a.   All nine sites to be re-named and re-launched as a range of children and family centres that enable more flexible and responsive provision which aligns with local community activity and use.

b.   Three children and family centre resources to be maintained as designated “children’s centres” with the statutory responsibility for ensuring the delivery of integrated early childhood services across the city.  These centres will be the main bases for the Local Area Teams.

(ii)      That the following be agreed regarding the

          approach to the city Youth Order:

a.   A revised offer including information and advice services being drawn from the Local Area Teams to deliver city centre services alongside Adult Services and Community and Voluntary Sector partners, as outlined in paragraphs 54 and 61 of the report.

b.   To relocate the city centre offer from 29 Castlegate to Sycamore House to achieve this.

c.   To release 29 Castlegate for disposal as a surplus asset and to bring back a further report setting out the required funding for any works to Sycamore House and any other re-designated sites; this will in principle be funded from the capital receipt from Castlegate.

d.   Begin a process of engagement and commissioning of community partners to deliver the youth counselling offer.

Reason:     This will finalise the plans for the Local Area Teams,

allow the council to take forward agreed work to remodel early help arrangements and achieve the associated savings targets.

Members gave consideration to a report that followed the Executive decisions on 17 March 2016 which outlined the plans to create new Local Area Teams to work across the city to bring together a range of existing services to form a new set of preventative arrangements for families from pregnancy through to adulthood.   The report also detailed work underway to establish the new structures, processes and the new ways of working that were required.

Officers detailed the proposals, as outlined in the report, and stated that the arrangements would enable the centres to be used more flexibly. It was noted that Hob Moor, Clifton and Tang Hall would be the designated “children’s centres”.

Officers were questioned about the proposed arrangements in respect of Sycamore House.  Members commented that this must not be at the expense of the adult mental health offer.  Officers gave details of the engagement that was taking place with young people regarding this issue, including plans to establish a working group to ensure that their voice was heard.

Discussion took place regarding the defining of outcomes, as outlined in Annex A of the report.  Members noted there would be a set of measurable indicators within the outcomes framework, some of which would be mandatory and others which would be more locally responsive. 

Officers were questioned about the risks involved in the new operating model and the action that was being taken to mitigate the risks.

The Executive Member stated that he had visited many of the children’s centres and Sycamore House and, whilst some individual concerns had been raised, he had been pleased to note that there had been a great deal of understanding and commitment to the process.

Resolved¹:(i)      That the following be agreed regarding children’s

                             centre services:

a.   All nine sites to be re-named and re-launched as a range of children and family centres that enable more flexible and responsive provision which aligns with local community activity and use.

b.   Three children and family centre resources to be maintained as designated “children’s centres” with the statutory responsibility for ensuring the delivery of integrated early childhood services across the city.  These centres will be the main bases for the Local Area Teams.

(ii)      That the following be agreed regarding the

          approach to the city Youth Order:

a.   A revised offer including information and advice services being drawn from the Local Area Teams to deliver city centre services alongside Adult Services and Community and Voluntary Sector partners, as outlined in paragraphs 54 and 61 of the report.

b.   To relocate the city centre offer from 29 Castlegate to Sycamore House to achieve this.

c.   To release 29 Castlegate for disposal as a surplus asset and to bring back a further report setting out the required funding for any works to Sycamore House and any other re-designated sites; this will in principle be funded from the capital receipt from Castlegate.

d.   Begin a process of engagement and commissioning of community partners to deliver  ...  view the full minutes text for item 27