Agenda item

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 Tandridge.

(Report and 2 annexes attached)

The Local Committee (Tandridge) is agreed to:

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

(ii)           Endorse MRS ROSE THORN and MR CHRIS BOTTEN to the local Early Help Advisory Board, for the remainder of 2017/18 and 2018/19

Reason for recommendation

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

Officer attending: Jan Smith, Family Services Manager

Petition, Public Questions, Statements: None

The Family Services Manager highlighted key areas of the report.  He advised there had been some changes to the timeframes since the report was published.  This included a change to the Early Help commissioning process will be held at the same time as the Children’s Centre consultation which will be June – September 2018.  The report for approval will go to Cabinet in November for the new contracts to start in September 2019. 

The Early Help Advisory Board has met three times this year, and the decision has been taken in the group to have two separate meetings focusing on the north of the M25 and the south of M25 rather than whole District meetings, this is to ensure resources are being used effectively.

Members discussion – key points

1)    It was asked if there was a similar ‘Early Help’ intervention for adults.  The Family Services Manager advised that there is no similar service for adults. 

2)    A question was raised regarding the current waiting times for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).  It was advised although not in the remit of Early Help the current waiting times are 1 week for the acute need up to 5 months.  The family support services are currently looking at helping provide support to those dealing with an autistic spectrum disorder. 

3)    Mrs Rose Thorn said that as Chairman of the Early Help Advisory Board she see’s first-hand the support that is available and the difference that it can make to a young person’s life.  The Family Services Manager advised that he would like to introduce a mentoring programme in Tandridge in the future and would be looking at ways to implement this locally.

4)    Members raised concerns that pupils in Tandridge had a lowest educational achievement level for key stage 5  compared with other Districts and Boroughs in Surrey.  The Family Support Manager advised that a contributing factor in this is the rural nature of Tandridge and its services that are provided in the District as young people are not able to access the services due to location and travel availability.  Tandridge has the same level of at risk young people as in Reigate and Banstead however not the same support services as Reigate and Banstead which puts Tandridge at a disadvantage.

5)    The Family Services Manager stated that he would like to come back to the Committee on a regular basis to inform the Committee on the work of his team and for the opportunity for Members to feed into the work of the Early Help Advisory Board.

The Local Committee (Tandridge) is agreed to:

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

(ii)           Endorse MRS ROSE THORN and MR CHRIS BOTTEN to the local Early Help Advisory Board, for the remainder of 2017/18 and 2018/19

Reason for recommendation

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.