Integrated governance through Children's Trust arrangements and joint planning and development of services

Clear decision-making arrangements, terms of reference and a memorandum of understanding are in place for the Children's Trust.  The Children's Trust arrangements are built on strong partnerships, where partners respect each other and share a joint vision and shared priorities, outlined in the Children and Young People's Plan and Local Area Agreement.

The Children’s Trust within Swindon has three elements.

1. Executive Management Group
2. Children and Young People’s Partnership Board (stakeholder/reference group)
3. Children’s Trust Performance Group

Children and Young People's Partnership Board

With the following functions:

• Improve outcomes for children,young people and families through the development and implementation of the Children and Young People's Plan and the Local Area Agreement based on the National Indicator Set and Vital Signs and on a thorough analysis of need and the performance of services;
• Develop commissioning strategies and plans to improve outcomes for all children and young people and ensure the contribution of all agencies to achieving agreed outcomes;
• To charge the Children's Joint Commissioning Board (CJCB) in developing commissioning activities around a range of 'service/delivery gaps' where applicable;
• To endorse key early interventions and practices/processes, such as the Common Assessment Process (CAF),Lead Professional, Contact Point and Parenting Strategy, in order to deliver services to children and young people within our communities by all partners;
• Give policy advice to the Council in relation to Children's Services and to be accountable to Swindon Local Area Agreement Partnership Board on behalf of all partners;
• To ensure that appropriate challenge is embedded within the C&YPSPB concerning (by exception), the performance of high level targets and indicators, such as the C&YP Plan and the LAA priorities;
• To charge the Children's Trust Performance Review Group to provide a more detailed focus of the performance of a range of service areas, with any areas of continual and / or potential high level concern needing to be referred to the C&YPSBPB;
• To endorse and embed a Chidlren's Workforce Strategy that relates to all partners and service areas;
• Ensure participation by chidlren, young people, parents and carers toimprove services and inform priorities;
• Receive reports from the Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB);

The Children & Young People’s Partnership Board will also be informed by a number of stakeholder groups of children and young people (Youth Forum), parents and carers and the Children and Young People’s Strategic Partnership, which will continue to run partnership meetings three times a year.  The meetings of the Children and Young People’s Strategic Partnership will be open to all agencies with an interest in Children’s Services. The purpose of the partnership meetings will be to disseminate information, identify local issues and share good practice..

Children's Trust Joint Commissioning Board

• The Children’s Trust Joint Commissioning Board (CTJCB) is responsible for the delivery of the National Health Services Act 2006 Section 75 Agreements and the implementation of commissioning strategies to improve outcomes for children and young people;
• The Board brings together elected Members and executive and non-executive members of Swindon Primary Care Trust, the voluntary sector and Wiltshire Constabulary
• The development of pooled budgets will be taken forward by the Children’s Joint Commissioning Board.

The Children’s Joint Commissioning Board will be supporting the Children & Young People’s Partnership Board in the development of appropriate joint commissioning activities, which support the drive towards a more integrated children’s service, with early intervention seen as a key driver for change.

Children’s Trust Performance Group

The purpose of the group is to provide a monthly focus by senior managers for the performance management of joint commissioning arrangements and national Health Services Act 2006 section 75 Agreements, delivery of the Local Area Agreement and Children & Young People's Plan for children aged 0 – 19 in Swindon.

The children’s trust arrangements are supported by a number of working groups, which are responsible for the delivery of parts of the Children & Young People’s Plan.  All planning and joint commissioning will be co-ordinated by the Children’s Trust Performance Group:

• Every Child Matters Task Group co-ordinating the development of polices and strategies and implementation of integrated services, integrated processes, participation and the National Service Framework for children, Young Peopl and Maternity Services;
• Joint Commissioning of Specialist Services through the Disabled Children and Young People's Partnership Board, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, Substance Misuse Services and Out of Borough Placements;
• Specific strategy groups, such as the 14-19 Strategy Group, Teenage Pregnancy Strategy Board

Local Safeguarding Children Board

The Local Safeguarding Children Board is independent of the Children’s Trust Executive Management Group and will take reports on policy and practice issues to the Children’s Trust Executive Management Group or to Swindon Borough Council. The role of the Local Safeguarding Children Board is to:

• Co-ordinate local work to safeguard and promote the welfare of children;
• Ensure the effectiveness of local services
• Holds everyone working with children, young people and families to account for safeguarding and scrutinises the work of the Director of Children Services and lead member for Children.

For further information about any of these groups, please contact:

Sue Wald, Director Strategy & Commissioning swald@swindon.gov.uk or

Lynn McDermott, Planning, Development & Commissioning Manager lmcdermott@swindon.gov.uk

Children's Trust Performance Group - (90Kb PDF File)