Agenda item

The Cabinet considered the Worcestershire Children and Young People Plan (CYPP). The details were set out in the report.

In the ensuing debate, the following principal points were raised:

a)    The Cabinet Member for Children and Families introduced the report. He commented that the Council's performance had not been good historically and must improve and learn from best practice. The Council should build on its strengths, prioritise partnership working to improve outcomes and focus on added value. The Council had a vision for what it expected for every child. The vision was split into four key areas as set out in the report and it was those elements that needed to be developed and scrutinised. If the plan was not making a difference to children's lives then it was not working. The Council needed to be brave and make positive decisions and act differently. The Council would listen to the views of young people and families because it was their voice that underpinned everything;

b)    The CYPP was at the heart of everything that the Council did. The Council could not work in isolation. It was about partnership working with partners across all sectors. The vision and ultimate outcomes were right for the children in Worcestershire – it was just a case of ensuring that the action plan was put into effect;

c)    Engagement trees had been set up in all the Council's libraries and had been well-received. A successful workshop had been held at Wood Green Church with partner organisations. At this meeting a pledge was made that recognised the role of partners in the CYPP. Partners also agreed to look at ways to incorporate the actions within it in their own strategic plans;

d)    It was crucial that Cabinet received updates on the progress of the CYPP on a regular basis;

e)    The Chairman of the Children and Families Overview and Scrutiny Panel commented that the Corporate Parenting Board had expressed concern about the responsibility of housing providers for the provision of housing for young people in the county. The Council needed to do more work to engage registered social landlords to support the most vulnerable care leavers. A meeting with the relevant senior housing officers should be arranged to address this issue. The Leader welcomed this suggestion; and

f)     The Cabinet Member for Children and Families confirmed that a protocol for housing young people was being developed but more needed to be done. It was patronising to suggest that young people commented in a "more simplistic fashion". Their views were more sophisticated and deserved to be listened to.

RESOLVED: that

a)    the views of children, young people, parents/carers and practitioners and Scrutiny be noted as summarised in the report;

b)    COUNCIL BE RECOMMENDED to adopt the new Children and Young People's Plan (CYPP)  2017-2021, set out at Appendix 1 to the report as approved by the Health and Wellbeing Board, as part of the Council's Policy framework for a whole-system response to improving outcomes for children, young people and their families;

c)    the Director of Children, Families and Communities be authorised to work with all agencies and organisations to draw up an action plan to put the CYPP into effect; and

d)    the important link between the CYPP and the Safeguarding Service Improvement Plan be noted as outlined in paragraph 22 and the Director of Children, Families and Communities be authorised to engage appropriate improvement partners.