Agenda item

Surrey County Council has been working together with partners across the county and in Guildford to transform the system of early help that supports children, young people and families who are in need. We need to do this to both improve outcomes for local families and also address more effectively a number of the demand pressures we are facing across the public sector in Surrey.

To achieve this we are bringing together all partners who care about children and young people in local communities to provide the best possible support, through new Local Family Partnerships (LFPs). 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 Guildford.

The Local Committee (Guildford):

(i)     Provided feedback on the latest early help developments in Guildford, including proposed early help priorities for re-commissioning and the location of Local Family Partnerships

(ii)   Endorsed the Local Committee representatives County Councillor Angela Goodwin and Borough Councillor David Wright to the local Early Help Advisory Board, for the remainder of 2017/18 and 2018/19

REASONS:

We want Local Members to be informed about the proposals that we have been developing in partnership for the early help system in Surrey. We believe these proposals will help us realise better outcomes for children and young people within the early help resources we have available. We also know however that early help is most effective when it is planned and delivered locally, so we are seeking the advice of the Local Committee to inform our identified local priorities.

Declarations of Interest: None

Officers attending: Families Services Manager

Petitions, Public Questions, Statements: None

Surrey County Council has been working together with partners across the county and in Guildford to transform the system of early help that supports children, young people and families who are in need. This has been taking place to both improve outcomes for local families and also address more effectively a number of the demand pressures being faced across the public sector in Surrey.

 To achieve this all partners who care about children and young people in local communities are being brought together to provide the best possible support, through new Local Family Partnerships (LFPs). The report provided local Members with an update on the new model that Surrey County Council and partners had been developing for early help for the county overall and how this has been progressing locally in Guildford.

Member Discussion – key points:

1.    Members were informed that the team is concentrating on working collaboratively with partners to support children and have services available locally. The officer confirmed that the needs analysis completed has directed the priorities for Early Help, Members asked if there were the resources to support the priorities.  The officer responded that the resources were in place however a different way of working with partners was needed.

2.    Cllrs commented that some of the clusters of areas didn’t seem to sit well together; the officer responded that they will be having a further look at the geography. Members asked what reassurance can be given to Children’s Centres that they aren’t going to face reductions or closures. Members were updated that there are ongoing discussions around Children’s Centres unfortunately the Family Support Manager was not involved in that work so was unable to comment further.

3.    The question was raised whether an individual would be accountable for services, Members were informed that there would be collective responsibility from all partners on the Early Help board.  Since November three meetings of the Early Help Board had occurred and they had designed an Early Help Plan for Guildford and were starting to identify where there are gaps in services and taking actions.

Resolutions:

The Local Committee (Guildford):

(i)     Provided feedback on the latest early help developments in Guildford, including proposed early help priorities for re-commissioning and the location of Local Family Partnerships

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

REASONS:

To inform Local Members about the proposals that have been developed in partnership for the early help system in Surrey. The belief was that these proposals would help realise better outcomes for children and young people within the early help resources that are available. However early help is most effective when it is planned and delivered locally, so the advice of the Local Committee was sought to inform the identified local priorities.

(The Local Committee representatives to the local Early Help Advisory Board for the remainder of 2017/18 and 2018/19 endorsed by the Committee were County Councillor Angela Goodwin and Borough Councillor David Wright).