MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE CHILDRENS' COMMITTEE HELD AT COUNTY HALL, NEWPORT, ISLE OF WIGHT ON MONDAY, 5 NOVEMBER 2001 COMMENCING AT 10 AM

Present :

Mrs J L Wareham (Chairman), Mrs T M Butchers, Mr R G Mazillius, Mr A J Mellor, Mrs M J Miller, Mr D G Williams

Apologies :

Mr C R Hancock



8. MINUTES

RESOLVED :
THAT the minutes of the meeting held on 19 September 2001 be confirmed.

9. REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL SERVICES AND HOUSING

Area Child Protection Committee: Structure and Purpose
A key objective for all Social Service departments was to ensure that children were protected from significant harm. Their responsibilities towards children should be discharged through a wide range of social care and support. 'Working Together to Safeguard Children', published in 1999, set out Government guidance for interagency co-operation to protect and promote the welfare of children. Area Child Protection Committees (ACPCs) provided an interagency forum enabling representatives of each of the main agencies and professionals responsible for helping to protect children from abuse and neglect to meet together. Members received the report of the Director of Social Services and Housing setting out the specific responsibilities of ACPCs and the structure and membership of the ACPC on the Isle of Wight. In addition to the main committee, four working groups had been established to undertake specific detailed work covering publicity and training, policies and procedures, practice and prevention, serious cases. Members in discussion expressed an interest in attending meetings of the working groups to gain an insight of the work undertaken. The Head of Childrens' Services agreed to seek approval at the December meeting of the ACPC. It was also requested that reports providing details of the lessons from national, high profile cases to be presented to future meetings of the committee.
RESOLVED :
THAT the report be noted and for further reports on the work of the Area Child Protection Committee to be presented on a 6 monthly basis.

10. PRESENTATION

Members received a presentation by Miss H Monks on the results of the ERIC research survey of youth opinion which had been undertaken by the ConneXions Service. The survey had been conducted by 12 young persons during the first week of July, of over 1,000 adolescents aged between 11 and 19 years, on the Island. A copy of the questionnaire was circulated to members which requested views on a range of topics and questioned whether advice, support or information was easily accessible in a number of specific areas. Copies of the results of the survey would be available once analysis of the research had been completed.
The Head of Childrens' Services provided a brief outline on the role of the ConneXions Service, a Government initiative launched 3 years ago. Members were minded for an update report providing an overview of the service to be presented to a future meeting of the committee.
RESOLVED :
(i) THAT Miss Monks and staff at the ConneXions Service be thanked for the interesting presentation;
(ii) THAT a report providing an overview of the work of the ConneXions Service be presented to a future meeting of the Committee.

11. REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL SERVICES AND HOUSING

Raising Achievement of Children in Public Care
The report of the Director of Social Services and Housing was received apprising Members of the relevant issues relating to their responsibilities in respect of raising the achievement of children in public care. A number of Government initiatives to transform the quality of childrens' services contained broad policy themes conducive to young people in public care achieving measurable improvements. Local Authorities, as their corporate parent, had to be effective in ensuring that these young people had access to and benefited from the opportunities on offer. The Director referred to the Quality Protects programme which set out eleven key national objectives for improving childrens' services, in particular Objective 3.0 and 4.0 which focussed upon improving educational outcomes for children in need and children looked after.
Local Authority Circular (2000) 13 was published last year together with Joint DfEE/DOH guidance on the Education of Children and young people in public care which specified certain action Local Authorities should be complying with. The Director referred to his report which set out certain key messages contained within the guidance. At a local level an number of significant initiatives had been established to achieve those desired outcomes. It was suggested that further reports regarding progress on the work being undertaken be presented to the committee on a regular basis.
During the discussion members welcomed the suggestion to create an opportunity to meet with some young people in public care. It was agreed for arrangements to be made for the January meeting.
The Chairman invited Mrs P Simons of the RCC to provide an oral update on progress with the bid to the Childrens Fund. It was noted that the Isle of Wight Partnership had agreed to assist with the analysis of need and consultation process to underpin the proposal. Work was going well and in accordance with the planned timescale. Consultation with all the relevant key agencies and partner representatives was necessary to achieve a successful outcome.
RESOLVED :
THAT the guidance contained in the report be noted and for a further report regarding progress at a local level be received at a meeting scheduled for early next year.

12. DATE OF FUTURE MEETINGS

RESOLVED :
THAT it be agreed for arrangements to be made for meetings of the Childrens' Committee to take place during 2002 on
Thursday, 17 January 2002 commencing 4.30 pm
Thursday, 21 March 2002 commencing at 10.00 am

CHAIRMAN