Issue - meetings

This report provides local Members with an update on the new model that Surrey County Council and partners have been developing for Early Help for the county overall and how this is progressing locally in Runnymede.

The Runnymede Joint Committee agreed to:

(i) Provide feedback on the latest Early Help developments in Runnymede, including proposed Early Help priorities for the work including re-commissioning and the location of Local Family Partnerships. 

(ii) Endorse the Joint Committee representatives to the local Early Help Advisory Board, for the remainder of 2017/18 and 2018/19

Declarations of Interest: None

Officers attending: Tim Kitchen, Service Manager (Runnymede), Surrey Family Services

Petitions, Public Questions, Statements: None.

Member Discussion – key points:

The Service Manager (Runnymede) presented his report. There was a discussion about the list of priorities that had been included and whether they were all genuinely achievable. In particular, it was suggested that Priority 1 should include a reference to mental health services for children and young people and CAMHS, and it was felt that in relation to Priority 5 more contraception services and access to sexual health advice were needed. It was explained that the borough’s Local Family Partnerships focussed to a greater or lesser degree on whichever of the six priorities were most appropriate in their area.

The Service Manager stated that a new sexual health clinic would be running in a local youth centre every other week in addition to a more general weekly drop-in that will offer early intervention advice and parenting support on mental health issues. Work is also being done with schools through the TaMHS scheme, which provides mental health support for teachers and trainers, and with educational psychologists. The Early Help group was working with GPs to ensure they are aware of the Local Family Partnerships, and the need to make information on help with alcohol and drug dependency more readily available to the public was highlighted.

The Service Manager concluded that the Advisory Board was making good progress and was actively engaged with officers from the Borough. He was happy to be invited back to present an update at a future meeting.

The Chairman drew members’ attention to the consultation on Children’s Centres that will be open in September and encouraged everyone to participate.

Resolved:

The Runnymede Joint Committee agreed to:

(i) Provide feedback on the latest Early Help developments in Runnymede, including proposed Early Help priorities for the work including re-commissioning and the location of Local Family Partnerships. 

(ii) Endorse the Joint Committee representatives to the local Early Help Advisory Board, for the remainder of 2017/18 and 2018/19