Item 11c - Nurtured DIG Update
West Dunbartonshire Council · 21 June 2022
Back to Community Planning West Dunbartonshire Management Board — 21 June 2022 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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Report by the Chief Education Officer Management Group: 21 June 2022 __________________________________________________________________ Subject: Nurtured DIG Update 1. Purpose 1.1 The purpose of this report is to: • update members on the work of the Nurtured Delivery and Improvement Group (DIG). 2. Recommendations 2.1 Community Planning West Dunbartonshire is asked to: • note progress and focus of work. 3. Background 3.1 Through multi-agency planning, the Nurtured DIG aims to ensure: • all West Dunbartonshire children have the best start in life and are ready to succeed; • families are supported in accessing education, learning and attainment opportunities and • ensure improved life chances for all children, young people and families. 3.2 The Nurtured DIG aims reflect the ambitions of the Council’s Integrated Children’s Services Plan (ICSP) 2021-23. (App.1) 3.3 In response to COVID19 partners have re-aligned priorities and support addressing challenges faced by children, young people and their families at this time. They are all now focussing on delivering core services in this period of recovery, informed by what is known about impact of the pandemic on our children and families. 3.4 Since March 2020 all Nurtured DIG engagement has been remote. This has proven effective and ensured the range of stakeholders has been able to attend. ITEM 11c
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3.5 Our Plan embeds the principles of Getting It Right for Every Child and ensures the United Nations Convention of Children's Rights is central to the development of our supports, services and engagement with all stakeholders. As identified in a previous Equalities Impact Assessment, this plan will have a positive impact of children and young people. 4. Main Issues 4.1 At time of writing, the Nurtured DIG Plan for session ’22-’23 is currently being reviewed. It will reflect next steps in progressing our ICSP and recent developments nationally and locally. The plan will focus on four main work streams: supporting mental health and wellbeing, the Getting It Right for Every Child refresh, the implementation of The Promise ’21-24 and the development of the Whole Family Wellbeing Fund plans. Members of the DIG will lead these work stream groups consisting of a range of partnership staff. 4.2 Extensive work has taken place relating to the recent inspection of children at risk of harm. An Oversight Group, chaired by Beth Culshaw, Chief Officer Health and Social Care Partnership, is focussed on implementing improvement plans to support the areas of development identified by the Care Inspectorate. Updates on progress and impact of the Action Plan will be reported at future meetings. 4.3 The Nurtured DIG will play a significant role in contributing to the required action and monitoring emanating from the inspection. A draft action plan has been devised and will involve input and support from a range of DIG members. A series of Improvement Planning Sessions with the Care Inspectorate are planned and will develop the skills, knowledge and understanding of DIG partners and service areas. 4.4 Work continues across all services and partners to improve our approaches to early identification of neglect. This ensures all vulnerable children remain a priority and that multi- agency meetings and care planning meetings are prioritised and informed by the Team Around The Child processes. All supervision sessions ensure standards of care are maintained. A cycle of multi-agency auditing is planned as part of the Joint Inspection Action Plan and will ensure robust Quality Assurance processes to inform improvement. 4.5 A priority of Children and Young People's Mental Health Community Supports and Services group is to establish a new service for young people experiencing emotional distress with the aim of "ask once get help fast". The new service 'West Dunbartonshire Distress Brief Intervention Associate Programme for young people aged 16yrs to 24yrs (26yrs for care experienced young people)' is specifically aimed at supporting young people who are experiencing 'emotional distress' and not requiring clinical interventions. Training of staff in two high schools has taken place and plans to expand this to the remaining three mainstream high school will happen before the end of the school year.
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4.6 The range of additional mental health and wellbeing supports noted in the February 2022 Partnership report continues to be developed and progressed. 4.7 Plans are underway to provide support to low income families over the summer holiday period. Alternative to free school meal funding payments will continue and a holiday food and childcare programme will be implemented. This will provide access to free childcare to enable families to continue working or remain in education or training. These plans align with the Child Poverty Action Plan and are targeted at six specific low income groups. A range of multi-agency partners will be involved in identifying families requiring support, supporting engagement and delivering sessions. 4.8 Phase 2 of CYP Community Mental Health Supports & Services Review is still being developed, exploring young people’s experiences of accessing mental health support, mental health information, and their understanding of the resources within the local area. The Health and Social Care Partnership Mental Health and Wellbeing in Primary Care Local Planning Group is finalising a Year One plan which will identify and help children, young people and their families with access and signposting to a range of mental health support pipelines. A development session planned for 19th May will inform the final version of this plan. 4.9 Plans to implement the national Trauma Training Plan are well underway. A newsletter has been established as a key means of raising awareness of Adverse Childhood Experiences and Trauma, communicating key messages, sharing good practice and learning opportunities and as a stimulus for action. There are currently 400 members of the Council workforce involved in this ‘community of practice’. Recent themes explored have been: bereavement and loss, healing through arts and the first 1001 days. Further viewing of the Resilience film is due to take place on 22nd June 2022.The purpose First 1001 Days. 4.10 There has continued to be a multi-agency focus, involving a range of partners and young people to review reporting formats for children's hearings. This work includes development of an assessment format in collaboration with panel members, Social Work, education, health and Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration. Parents, carers, children and young people are being consulted as an integral part of the process. This work will provide more relevant and inclusive reports to children's hearings where significant decisions in respect of the arrangements for the care of children and young people are agreed. 4.11 Educational Services are focussed on supporting the transition of our severe and complex learners to the next stages in their education and learning journey. An experienced panel of Education leaders from all service areas has been established which has identified the most appropriate setting to meet the needs of those who need the support of an enhanced setting. Transition planning with partners is in place to support those moving to adult services
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and beyond school. Approval has been given to expand the Additional Support Needs (ASN) learning estate to provide additional capacity in Kilpatrick School and to establish a new ASN school in the former Riverside Early Learning Centre. 4.12 Working 4U continues to address the underlying causes and symptoms of poverty. Activities centre on delivery of specialist services (Work, Learn, Money) with support for families, children and young people reflected in their contribution to the local child poverty action report. Recent key activities have included the development of youth outreach delivering diversionary activities and programmes for young people across the council. 4.13 A range of partners from Educational Services, Working 4U, Y-Sort-it and local organisations are embedding our new Engaging Learners Pathway. This aims to support those young people most at risk of dis-engaging with mainstream secondary education with a view to improving outcomes for them. The Youth Connections element of the pathway which is led by the Youth Alliance, focuses on three key areas of a young person’s life: • School life – Increased learning opportunities and attainment; • Home life – Work, Learn, Money support offered to family members through Working4U’s Family Opportunity Hubs; and • Community life – Support to access community based provision. To date, 33 young people have been referred onto the programme. • 16 Young People have been referred by the Education Interrupted Learners, of which 10 are participating in a group work programme. • 17 disengaged Young people have been referred and are all currently participating in one to one mentoring. 5. People Implications 5.1 There are no people implications as a result of this report. However, it is essential that partners re-align resource allocation and priorities to meet the needs of children, young people and families at this time. 6. Financial Implications 6.1 There are no direct financial implications for Community Planning West Dunbartonshire resulting from this report. All activities related to the implementation of these interventions are contained within service Budgets. 7. Risk Analysis 7.1 If the Council is unable to ensure positive outcomes for children, we will not be meeting their needs (Children and Young People Act 2014) (Equalities Act 2010).
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7.2 If the Council is unable to meet the needs of children, young people and families this could result in reputational damage. 8. Equalities Impact Assessment (EIA) 8.1 The revised supports and guidance enhance the quality of the service provided to all children, young people and families, therefore it can be seen to have a positive impact in terms of the equalities. 9. Consultation 9.1 Legal Services and the Section 95 Officer have been consulted in relation to the content of this report. 10. Strategic Assessment 10.1 This report reflects the Council’s aspiration to reduce inequalities for the people of West Dunbartonshire. Person to Contact: Claire Cusick Senior Education Officer Appendix Appendix 1 – WDC Integrated Children’s Services Plan 2021-23 Background Papers: CPD Nurtured DIG Report February 2022 Wards Affected: All