PAPER B

 

CHILDREN AND YOUNG PERSON’S COMMITTEE – 24 SEPTEMBER 2003

 

THE INTENSIVE BEHAVIOURAL INTERVENTION TEAM

 

REPORT OF THE HEAD OF CHILDREN’S SERVICES

 

REASON FOR COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION

 

Request from Committee to provide further information on this new joint Health, Social Services and Education initiative.

 

ACTION REQUIRED BY THE COMMITTEE

 

For information only.

 

BACKGROUND

 

The overall aim of this three-year project is to produce better outcomes for children and their families by strengthening local partnership working by the integration of Health, Education and Social Care personnel within the Team.  The focus of the Team will be on the provision of intensive support and care to children and young people considered to be at significant risk of family or foster care breakdown, school exclusion and mental health disorders.  The Team will provide assessment, direct support and advice to the child and their family.

 

The aim is also to reduce the numbers of mainland placements and to work with the child or young person within their own family and community.

 

This project is consistent with the findings from the joint Best Value Review of children 2001, the National Standards Framework, emerging findings of the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service Team strategy and the Local Preventative Strategy, which all raise the need for more joint assessment and move integrated delivery of service to avoid delay and fragmentation of service provision.

 

SERVICE PROPOSALS

 

The Team will comprise of :

 

 

The operational management of the Team will be undertaken within Social Services with a quarterly reporting cycle to a Senior Management Board comprising of representatives from all three Agencies.

 

·         Recruitment and consultation with key stakeholders and service users is in progress.

·         Policies and procedures are being developed.

·         From September a programme of Team development and training will commence.

·         New premises care being actively pursued with a plan for the Team to move in by November 2003.


·         It is planned that the Team will become operational by January 2004, after a public launch at the end of the year.

·         Additional funding is being pursued to ensure there is an ongoing evaluation of the effectiveness of the service throughout the three-year project period.

·         This evaluation of the service and whether objectives have been met will determine the future development of the service beyond the three-year pilot period.

 

RELEVANT PLANS, POLICIES, STRATEGIES AND PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

 

·         Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services Strategy.

·         Local Preventative Strategy.

·         The Children’s Service Plan.

·         The Education Development Plan.

·         The Crime and Disorder Strategy.

·         Local Delivery Plan.

 

The Team will be making close links with all Teams and Services working with children and will accept referrals from all services.

 

The relevant performance indicators will include those associated with school exclusion rates, stability of placements data, numbers of Looked After Children outside the Local Authority area, final warnings and convictions data.

 

CONSULTATION PROCESS

 

Consultation with key services, stakeholders and service users is in progress and will determine the future development of the service.

 

FINANCIAL, LEGAL, CRIME & DISORDER IMPLICATIONS

 

Costs are associated with this Team are currently being funded from specific grants and base budget provision from Education and Social Services.  There are negotiations in progress from Health to contribute financially to the service.

 

The intention is that all of the costs will eventually be met from savings made by each Agency from the anticipated reduction in expensive mainland placements.

 

APPENDICES ATTACHED

 

None.

 

BACKGROUND PAPERS USED IN THE PREPARATION OF THIS REPORT

 

None.

 

Contact Point  :          

 

Mary Brimson  Telephone 525790     

E-Mail  [email protected]

 

Kath Smith Telephone 525790

E-Mail  [email protected]

 

JIMMY DOYLE

Head of Children’s Services