Agenda item

An update from Director Social Work and Practice.  (Copy attached.)

There had been circulated copies of the CYPP Update August 2023 for which Stuart Easingwood gave a brief verbal follow up.  The Network Chairs had now been appointed as follows: A Good Childhood – Justin Sinclair (SBC); Whole Family Support Network – Alison Downie (NHS Borders); Supporting the Workforce – Sarah Axford (Children 1^st); and Planning and Building Capacity – Inspector Robbie Noble (Police Scotland).  Monthly meetings from early September 2023 were scheduled and a new Chair was to be appointed.   On the matter of the Scottish Borders Summer 2023 Programme, it was reported that a range of programmes and approaches were being delivered through: third sector youth work summer programme; Jedburgh and Duns Swimming pools; Abbotsford Witch Corner; Live Borders; the provision of small grants to support summer activities; participatory budgeting approaches for people who are homeless; kinship carers; care experienced young people; children and young people in conflict with the law; and unaccompanied asylum-seeking young people.  Funding of £254,320 had been agreed in June 2023 by the CYPPP with an additional Scottish Government funding of £86,853 awarded in July 2023.  The short timescale between the agreed funding and the start of the school holidays limited the scope of provision and was a barrier to effective communication to parents and carers.  A programme evaluation was due following its conclusion and was to include examples of the extent to which poverty was impacting families.  Feedback indicated a need for year-round provision to better support families. To date there remained £130,657.75 in uncommitted funding which the CYPPP had agreed to earmark for developing programmes of support during other holiday periods and/or year-round support to targeted families. 

9.2     With regards to the Children and Young People’s Participation and Engagement Strategy, it was reported that in June 2023 the CYPPP Board approved the creation of a short life working group to co-produce a multi-agency strategy with a group of children and young people with a view to its launch in Spring 2024.  Work was also ongoing to create a commissioning specification for an Independent Advocacy Service for children and young people aged 5 to 26.

9.3     With regards to the Commissioning Review and the Whole Family Wellbeing Fund, there had been set up a short-term task and finish group to develop a new commissioning strategy for the CYPPP which was to ensure a more streamlined approach to multi -agency spend.  The group was also to progress plans for the Scottish Government’s Whole Family Wellbeing Fund, established to enable a shift to investment in early intervention and prevention activities.  Funding had been committed for the next three years to work towards a target of at least 5% of community-based health and social care spend to be focussed on preventative whole family support measures by 2030.

9.4     Stuart Easingwood reported that SBC’s implementation of ‘The Promise’ had been identified as a good model of governance and accountability for delivery by the National Promise Leads Network.

9.5     In response to a question about supporting the mental health needs of young people in school, it was reported that there was to be a review of provision. Commissioned services and the services of NHS Borders were to form part of a multi-agency, holistic approach in schools and the wider community. This was to be Mr Easingwood’s final meeting as he was to leave his role at the end of the month.  Members and attendees thanked Mr Easingwood for his achievements and dedication over the years and wished him every success for the future.

DECISION

NOTED the report.