Agenda item

This report outlines proposals to establish new, integrated arrangements for customer access to services across Children’s Social Care and the YorOK partnership of providers, including local schools.  The new service has been provisionally titled the Advice, Assessment & Early Intervention (AA&EI) Service – more commonly referred to as the “new front door”.

RESOLVED:(i)         That the outline proposals set out in Annex 1 and Annex

2 of the report be endorsed as a basis for moving forward to final proposals by 31 January 2011.

(ii)That regular updates be presented to the Executive Member on the “new front door”, including the issues that had been raised in respect of the Education Welfare Service.

REASON:      These plans represent an effective and efficient way to improve the delivery of targeted and integrated services to some of York’s most vulnerable children and young people.

The Executive Member received a report that outlined proposals to establish new, integrated arrangements for customer access to services across Children’s Social Care and the YorOK partnership of providers, including local schools. The new service had been provisionally titled the Advice, Assessment & Early Intervention (AA&EI) Service.  Officers explained that the service had also been referred to as the “new front door”, although this title may change as the proposals developed.

Officers gave details of how the new arrangements were intended to provide a single point of contact for professionals and members of the public who had a concern about a child or young person, or who wished to seek advice or information about available services.  By bringing together the skills and expertise of the professionals working under the current arrangements, there would be greater opportunities for information sharing and early intervention.  This would maximise their impact on vulnerable children and young people. 

The written representation that had been received from UNISON, and the points made by the trade union representative were noted.  Officers stated that they acknowledged that the inclusion of the Education Welfare Service into the proposals had occurred relatively recently and that there remained more consultation to be carried out.

The Executive Member stated that the proposals to establish an Advice, Assessment and Early Intervention Service were a very important development which sought to strengthen and maximise every opportunity for intervening early and in a joined up way in the lives of children and young people in York.  It sought to address issues for those who may be vulnerable or at risk and it was pleasing to note that the principles underlying these developments were agreed.

The Executive Member acknowledged the skills and expertise of the Education Welfare Officers and their contribution to integrated working in York.  She stated that, at a time of considerable financial pressures, it was necessary to consider whether sustaining the service in a stand-alone way was either efficient or desirable.  It was important that the Education Welfare Service was part of the team of professionals involved in the New Front Door arrangements, as the work that they carried out was part of the whole offer.

Referring to the concerns that had been raised regarding the relatively late decision to directly include many of the roles and functions of the current Education Welfare Service in the new arrangements, the Executive Member stated that she understand that staff were worried about opportunities for consultation and that she had met with union representatives to discuss this in more detail. She was satisfied that, not withstanding the timescales, the opportunities for discussion and consultation had been significant and were ongoing.  The Executive Member encouraged the Education Welfare Officers to make their views know as part of the ongoing consultation. 

The Executive Member requested that regular updates be presented to her on the progress of the new Front Door arrangements and she stated that she would give careful consideration to any issues raised.

RESOLVED:(i)         That the outline proposals set out in Annex 1 and Annex

2 of the report be endorsed as a basis for moving forward to final proposals by 31 January 2011.

(ii)That regular updates be presented to the Executive Member on the “new front door”, including the issues that had been raised in respect of the Education Welfare Service¹.

REASON:      These plans represent an effective and efficient way to improve the delivery of targeted and integrated services to some of York’s most vulnerable children and young people.