Agenda item

Update on Family Centres

To consider a report of the Executive Director Core Services and the Executive Director People in respect of an update on Family Centres in Barnsley.

Minutes:

The following witnesses were invited to the meeting:-

Rachel Dickinson, Executive Director, People, BMBC

Margaret Libreri, Service Director, Education, Early Start and Sufficiency, People, BMBC

Nina Sleight, Head of Early Start, Prevention and Sufficiency, People, BMBC

Claire Gilmore, Early Start & Families Strategy and Service Manager, People, BMBC

Laura Hammerton, Family Centre Development Manager, People, BMBC

Councillor Margaret Bruff, Cabinet Spokesperson for People (Safeguarding)

Councillor Tim Cheetham, Cabinet Spokesperson for People (Achieving Potential)

 

The Head of Early Start, Prevention and Sufficiency spoke to the report, previously circulated, which reminded Members of the restructuring undertaken and the implementation of early help for families through the Family Centres.  The report provided an update following the consideration of the subject by the committee in January, 2017.

 

Highlighted were the significant numbers accessing the service, with the greatest number of families having children in the 5-9 age group. From inception to September 2017 there had been 1,598 referrals to the Early Help Panel.  Work had taken place with Children’s Social Care to strengthen the Step Down arrangements, and weekly professional early help and social care consultation meetings were now taking place offering support and guidance to early help practitioners.

 

Members heard how clear governance arrangements were in place, which included Family Centre Advisory Boards aligned to Area Councils, and a borough-wide Early Help Steering Group for Children and Families, with reporting to the Children and Young People’s Trust and Barnsley Safeguarding Children’s Board.   Members also noted that a robust performance management framework was in place which provided a strategic overview of the impact being made, and that a multi-agency workforce development programme had been implemented.

 

In summary Members were told that progress had been made, but that there were still areas which required improvement.  Questions were invited and the discussion included the following amongst other things:-

·         Questions were raised whether WIFI would be provided in all Family Centres, and it was noted that work is currently ongoing to roll out the corporate network to make this so.  This was to be completed by the end of the financial year.

·         Members challenged why some centres were operating under their capacity, and what was being done to address this.  It was noted that since the launch of Family Centres there had been a communications plan to publicise the offer, and each centre worked to promote themselves locally. There were high registration rates, with numbers increasing monthly, but promotion of the service remained high on the agenda to ensure families who required the service were engaged.  If any particular concerns were raised, then further ‘deep dive’ investigation would be undertaken to try to understand the issue and rectify this.

·         Concerns were raised around the Star system, and how this was time consuming, and whether there was capacity to undertake this assessment with families.  In response it was felt that, although time consuming, this was an essential part of the process in gaining the right support. Both families and officers generally thought it beneficial.  Efforts were being made to encourage partner organisations to use the system, or embed the principles in their working.

·         Members raised questions about the distribution of facilities, and were assured that careful analysis was undertaken to map facilities to the needs of the area. Members were reminded that the same service was provided wherever the service was accessed be it a hub or via outreach provision.  Again Members pressed the need to ensure families were aware of the offer, when this would be provided, and at what location. Members requested that they be sent information regarding the ‘offer’ in their local area so they could promote this in their communities.

·         Concerns were raised regarding the Step Down Process being implemented too early, and Members heard how an action plan had been develop to ensure Step Down processes were adhered to and used appropriately.

·         Members questioned the disproportionate figures relating to the South & Penistone area, when compared to others.  It was noted that this covered two Area Councils, which could account for higher figures.  It was suggested that this could also be attributed to the popularity of provision located at Kirk Balk school, and that lessons could be learned from this in order to increase numbers engaging in other areas.

·         It was acknowledged that the Family Centre model had been arrived at through restructuring, and the Council withdrawing from providing childcare in areas which were already served by other providers.  In light of the financial savings made, members praised the positive impact the service was having in engaging with families and providing support where required.  This was most obviously seen in the rises in numbers of families with children aged 5-11 engaged, which would have previously not been able to access support through the previous model of Children’s Centres focused around pre-school ages.

 

RESOLVED:-

(i)                    That the report be noted;

(ii)                  That witnesses be thanked for their contribution; and

(iii)                 That Members be sent information regarding the Family Centre ‘offer’ in their local area so they could promote this in their communities.

Supporting documents:

 

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