|
If these buttons don't work, try |
SOCIAL SERVICES NORTH WEST
MEETING ON 16 JUNE AT ST HELENS
REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL SERVICES,TRAFFORD,
JOINT LEAD ON CHILDREN'S SERVICES
QUALITY PROTECTS - REGIONAL ACTION IN THE NORTHWEST
1. Matter for Consideration:
Regional action relating to Quality Protects.
2. Introduction:
Members will be aware that Quality Protects is an issue that has been given a very close watching brief and oversight
in the region and this report is the latest update.
3. Information:
3.1 At officer level, a Regional Working Group has been in existence for some time, chaired by the Director of
Social Services for St. Helens and with representation from SSI, the childcare voluntary sector in the NorthWest,
the NHS regional office and the DfEE.
3.2 The broad remit of the group is to:
1. Scope the potential for regional collaboration with the QP plans.
2. Assist to maintain the momentum for progress on these in the North West by identifying and assisting to remove hazards, and seeking and promoting good practice and innovative projects.
3.3 The Working Group has now produced a work plan, a copy of which is attached, which outlines the main areas
of regional activity.
3.4 Members will appreciate that, whilst wishing to positively influence the progress of Quality Protects in the
region, it is important to recognise that:
1. Responsibilities for the implementation of individual programmes rests with each Local Authority, and
2. Any regional activity should bring added value to existing local initiatives, rather than duplicate existing effort.
3.5 There is clearly scope for a regional approach to bring 'added value' to local implementation of Quality Protects, for example:
· Recruitment of foster carers - all management action plans expressed the intention to increase recruitment in what is felt to be an already saturated pool.
· Collaboration to avoid "leap-frogging" or unhealthy competition in terms of payments to foster carers is clearly desirable. (NB Work on these two issues is currently being undertaken by the SSNW Foster Carers Working Group)
· Children's voice - a regional approach to strengthen and support the need for the voices of young people accommodated to play a meaningful, as opposed to a tokenistic part in shaping the agenda.
· Identifying specific projects where a regional or cross-boundary approach is unavoidable, e.g.
· Commissioning of external placements
· Work to improve the availability and quality of children's adolescent mental health services
· Exploration to see whether the region could benefit from one set of commonly agreed child protection procedres for every ACPC.
· Specific projects looking at developing respite care for disabled children, of which there are severe shortages in the region.
4. Recommendations:
4.1 Members are asked to consider the above work plan given the absolute prominence and priority that the Government
have now given to the role of Elected Members as corporate parents.
4.2 Members are asked for comments about any other issues they would wish to see addressed.
|
Clicking on these links will help you to use SSNWeb, |