Agenda and minutes

To appoint a Vice-Chair for the 2023/24 Municipal Year.

RESOLVED - That Councillor McLaren be appointed as Vice-Chair of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Board for the 2023/24 Municipal Year.

There were no apologies for absence.

To receive Declarations of Interest in any contract or matter to be discussed at the meeting.

There were no declarations of interest.

Urgent business, if any, introduced by the Chair.

There were no items of urgent business received.

To receive Questions from the Public, in accoirdance with the Council’s Constitution.

There were no public questions for the Board to consider.

To note the Board’s Terms of Reference.

Resolved  that the terms of reference be noted.

To receive a presentation by Mathew Bulmer, Director of Education, Early Years and Skills,on the Family Hubs Programme.

The Board received a presentation from Matt Bulmer, Director of Education, Early Years and Skills, regarding Family Hubs which are Single Access Points for Families.

Members received a video showing the opening of the Beever Hub, St.Marys being the first Family Hub to open in Oldham. The Hub offers support for parents and children between the ages of 0-25 years. Parents can find support in infant feeding, mental health, early learning opportunities, speech and language, midwifery, SEND, health visiting and youth services. Community support groups can also be signposted. Members were informed that as well as signposting for families appointments can be made via the Hub to any of the services where support is offered.

The Board was informed that the Hubs principles are

·         Access – a clear simple way to access support

·         Connections – professionals working together through co-location, data sharing and a common approach to their work

·         Relationships – the Hub prioritises strengthening relationships and builds on family strengths

The Board was advised that the Council had received Grant Funding of £3.6 million from the Department of Education which will fund six Family Hubs situated in the Oldham Districts. The additional five will be located in Stanley Road, Spring Meadows, Medlock Vale, Oldham Library and a Shaw Family Hub.

Members were informed that the buildings that are being utilised for the six  Family Hubs are as a result of combing Council assets to find appropriate  sites which do not require excessive expenditure to achieve the desired family Hub.

Also launched is the Virtual Digital Hub which offers the same support as walking into the Hub centre. This will drive participation and allows engagement with families and communities who are unable to attend the district Hubs.

Matt Bulmer informed Members that signage was important to give a clear indication of the Hub location.

Members noted that rural areas will be targeted via voluntary bodies and the media. Voluntary groups have expressed the need to meet and work together.

Matt Bulmer informed the Board that since the delivery plan had been approved in January this year it has taken six months achieve the Beever Hub launch which was a notable achievement.

As part of the use of voluntary groups, volunteers in Children’s Services to making they are representative of the communities.

It was emphasised that providing that the five Family Hubs achieve and deliver their aims, their will be expansion to other areas in Oldham.

Members requested that success rates be reported back to the Board later in the year.

RESOLVED that

(i)            Matt Bulmer be thanked for the very informative presentation; and

(ii)          An update report be submitted to the Board in nine months to show the success rates and progress of the Family Hubs in Oldham.

That, in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they contain exempt information under paragraph(s) 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act, and it would not, on balance, be in the public interest to disclose the reports.

Resolved:
That, in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following four items of business on the grounds that they contain exempt information, as defined under paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act, and it would not, on balance, be in the public interest to disclose the reports.

To receive a presentation from Mathew Bulmer,Director of Education, Early Years and Skills, on the Children’s Transformation Programme.

Councillor Ali, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills,  informed the Board that the Children’s Services Transformation Programme is a fundamental restructuring to meet demands. He made reference to significant challenges following the pandemic. Pressure in early years, early health, child protection and looked after children. It was recognised that there needed to be change to the way these pressures are managed and with these pressures and the need to provide the best possible children’s service, the Transformation Programme is being rolled out.

The Board received a presentation from Matt Bulmer, Director of Education, Early Years and Skills, regarding Children’s Services Transformation Programme Structure.

The Board were informed of the following Programme Structure which sits across all workstreams –

·         Quality support at the earliest point

·         Making Oldham a great place to work

·         A home for every child

·         Improving the Mental Wellbeing of Children and Young People in Oldham

·         Improving Speech, Language and Communication needs of Children and Young People in Oldham

Members were informed that since funding had been received in December 2022, the Project Timeline encompassed five stages –

·         Stage 1 and 2 focus on Placements, Workforce and Market Management

·         Stages 3 and 4 to focus on Prevention and Early Help and Health Integration

·         Stage 5 is the impact and outcomes stage

Gerard Jones, Managing Director of Children’s Services, drew attention to the areas in Children’s Services which is this Council’s responsibility but also to Mental Health (MH) where the NHS is commissioned for that service. He informed the Board that MH is an area where it is considered that working in partnership with the NHS would drive the improvements that the Council wants to achieve in that area. He emphasised that each of the areas in the structure is requiring a different way of working to achieve positive outcomes.

Discussion ensued regarding children’s service demands, delivering a service to meet those demands which is interlinked with staffing to provide the best possible Children’s Service for Oldham.

The Chair suggested that to enable Members and officers to have additional time outside this meeting for detailed discussion around the themes of the Programme Structure, it would be beneficial to set up a workshop for Members to further interigate elements of the programme. Subsequent to the Workshop meeting, if necessary, a task and finish group be set up.

RESOLVED that

(i)  a workshop be arranged to enable Board members to have detailed discussion on themes of the Children’s Services Transformation Structure Programme and if necessary, elements of the Programme being identified to be considered by a Task and Finish group; and

(ii)  a report be submitted in 12 months on the progress of the Children’s Services Transformation Programme.

(iii) the meeting revert to open session.

To consider the draft Work Programme for the 2023/24 year. To follow.

The Board considered the Children and Young People Work Programme for 2023/24.

Members were informed that previously the work programme had been splintered over the various Scrutiny Committees so that there was a need refine a programme so that the programme aligns with the terms of reference for the Board.

The Chairman also emphasised that the programme needed to be reviewed and he and the Vice-Chairman would forward a refined version to Board Members prior to the next meeting. Members were requested to inform him of any additional matters to be added to the work programme.

Resolved - that a revised Work Programme be submitted to the next Board meeting.

Consideration was given to the Key Decision Document covering Decisions taken from 23 June 2023.

Resolved that the Key Decision Document covering decisions taken from 23 June 2023 be noted.