Item 9c - Nurtured DIG Update
West Dunbartonshire Council · 18 May 2023
Back to Community Planning West Dunbartonshire Management Board — 18 May 2023 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
Page 1
Management Board Meeting Development and Improvement Groups (DIGs): Highlights and Issues Report FOR INFORMATION ONLY x FOR DECISION Name of DIG Nurtured Date of report 18th May 2023 Name and email of lead contact L Mason Chief Education Officer 1 Highlights of activity and progress since last meeting • The Nurtured DIG continues to play a significant role in contributing to the required action and monitoring emanating from the Joint Inspection of children at risk of harm. Following the final discussion and letter of feedback from the Care Inspectorate, a range of identified actions will be taken forward; monitored and reported on via the range of N.DIG workstreams. In addition a continuing programme of professional learning will be implemented, led by a range of WDC and HSCP staff; focussing on developing our shared vision and means of ensuring quality of service delivery. • A calendar of Quality Improvement and Self-Evaluation has been produced and is being implemented, which will lead all Nurtured DIG partners in evaluating How Good Is Our Family Support. This process supports partners over a three year cycle, to consider the four themes of family support and outcomes of this will inform developments and improvements to service delivery. In addition and reflecting the need for improved and increased opportunities for multi-agency training and planning, a series of staff briefings and Even Better If (EBI) sessions will be implemented focussing on themes and needs emerging. • 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 all mainstream high schools has taken place and Managers leading on this have collaborated with the wider health Page 1 of 4
Page 2
improvement team to ensure clarity in where this support ‘sits’ within the broader range of mental health and wellbeing supports of the CPP. Feedback on training and the supports offered has been very positive. • An Officer has been appointed to support the involvement and engagement and UNCRC delivery and professional learning across the Partnership, funded by the Whole Family Wellbeing Fund. • The range of additional mental health and wellbeing supports noted in the February 2022 Partnership report continues to be developed and progressed. • Phase 2 of CYP Community Mental Health Supports & Services Review is being finalised, ensuring a robust model of collating and signposting young people, parents and staff to the most appropriate mental health support, mental health information, and assisting with their understanding of the resources within the local area. • 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. • Partners continue to support our most complex children and young people in preparation for transition to Early Learning, School or destinations beyond school. Transition policies have been reviewed and revised to ensure consistent and equitable experiences. These also reflect of the views of parents, children and young people. Final plans are being made following Joint Review Panels to ensure those needing the support of specialist settings have been allocated and informed. The expansion of the ASN learning estate has facilitated this. • It is apparent from parental feedback, professional dialogue and transition planning that there continues to be a challenge in ensuring a range of sustained and positive destinations for young people with additional support needs and in particular for those who have severe and complex needs. Whilst it is recognised this is a national challenge, it is noted WDC has an increasing trajectory of children and young people who have additional support needs. It is apparent the post school supports at a community level, for sustained positive destinations, social interaction and activity do not meet the demand of numbers needing support or the expectations of the young person or the team around them. An action of the new ICS Plan 2023-2026 will focus on this challenge and the ways in which the Partnership can work together and with a range of partners to improve this. 2 • Outline of any issues/risks and how these are being managed • The challenge of conflicting priorities faced by partners in supporting the range of Action Plans currently being undertaken e.g. the CI Action Plan, Page 2 of 4
Page 3
NDIG Plan, Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy and Child Protection Action Plan. This is being addressed by having clarity in workstreams for the NDIG and representatives from services leading and developing these. • The Integrated Children’s Services Plan 2023-2026 which is due for submission shortly is an opportunity to ensure the focus of the NDIG is revised, relevant and clearly articulated by all partners in our new plan. • • All partners identify the current financial position will create challenges in resource availability. This is an opportunity for partners to capitalise on joint working approaches, minimising duplication and resource allocation. 3 Outline of the main outputs expected before next meeting • Contributions to ensuring remaining actions from the CI inspection are adequately recognised and included in new Delivery and NDIG plans. • Self-Evaluation activity – Whole Family Quarter four focus. • GIRFEC Refresh Professional Learning Programme produced and started • The Promise – Continue to deliver programme of professional learning to the range of Council staff and partners • MHW- Delivery of stigma reduction programme for Care Experienced young people. • Revision of Equality Impact Assessments to ensure due cognisance of UNCRC. 4 What are your requirements of partners in the Community Planning Management Board to achieve the outcomes of the DIG? Note progress made; • Support expectations that all NDIG partners participate in self-evaluation activities leading to improvement in service delivery and outcomes for children, young people and families; • Support expectations that all NDIG partners participate in ICSP ‘’21-’23 reporting and ICSP ’23-’26 planning; • Engage in planning to improve transition experiences of young people with support needs leaving school. 5 Please outline any good news story you wish to share Young people from the Vale of Leven Academy Language and Communication Base have been benefitting from undertaking Equine Therapy in collaboration with a local stable. They report improved mental health and wellbeing and staff report improved readiness to learn as a result. Pupil Equity Funding supports this intervention. Page 3 of 4
Page 4
Page 4 of 4