Item 11 - Nurture DIG Update report Apr 2024
West Dunbartonshire Council · 16 May 2024
Back to Community Planning West Dunbartonshire Management Board — 16 May 2024 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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Management Board Meeting Development and Improvement Groups (DIGs): Highlights and Issues Report FOR INFORMATION ONLY X FOR DECISION Name of DIG Nurture Date of report 19th April 2024 Name and email of lead contact Lesley.James@West-Dunbarton.gov.uk 1 Highlights of activity and progress since last meeting The Nurture DIG Partnership implementation group focuses on the delivery and implementation of the Statutory Integrated Children’s Services Plan (ICSP) for West Dunbartonshire. This 2023-26 Plan was submitted to Scottish Government on the 27th of July 23 and is attached. A development session of the Nurture DIG was held on1st March 2024, and was well attended by all relevant partners. A ‘world café style event took place with each of the workstreams within Children’s services planning providing and overview of the work that is taking place. This included; Children’s Mental Health and Wellbeing • GIRFEC • Children’s Rights/ UNCRC • Family Wellbeing. • The Promise Group • Child Poverty Each of the subgroup chairs presented an overview of their activity and gave those in attendance the opportunity to learn about the work that is taken place across the partnership. An overview of community planning arrangements, as well as a focus on our local data in relation to current measurable outcomes was included. The session considered more broadly the use of data in order to demonstrate impact and an overview of Pentana and how the work could be reported going forward was considered. Closer alignment with Child Protection Committee (CPC) is required to ensure a joined-up approach across children’s services strategic planning is in place. West Dunbartonshire is currently recruiting for a new independent Chair for the CPC The lead officer for Child Protection was in attendance and to ensure links are ITEM 11
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established to ensure that strategically the continuum of needs form early intervention to children at risk of harm is understood. Feedback form the event has been considered and it is clear there is an appetite for a further development session to broaden third sector representation and focus in more detail our current plan and the impact measures within it. Oversight of Integrated Children Services funding form SG is required to understand how this is aligned to agreed planning priorities and actions to ensure there is shared oversight of the budget aligned to service delivery is progressing. 2 Outline of any issues/risks and how these are being managed Dates for partners to meet as a Nurture DIG have being set for 2024. A further development day is being finalised movement of chair responsibilities has seen a change in the senior officer to report to Scottish government and provide the annual report and return. This is a gap in advance of planned recruitment of a GIRFEC Integrated |children’s services planning lead. The development of a child poverty strategy requires further consideration aligned to a wider poverty strategy as a key priority across all implementation groupings. 3 Outline of the main outputs expected before next meeting Partnership reporting on activities is in place. The partnership needs to evidence impact and a review of associated measures. Ongoing work to develop the family Hub offer is taking place as is sector leading work in relation to Brothers and sisters reporting and auditing activity through the work of the Promise. Children and Families social work services have launched a 5 year strategy and associated financial planning to support shifting the balance of care with planned disinvestments and investment form external care providers to increased intensive support for families in line with the Promise underpinning approach. 4 What are your requirements of partners in the Community Planning Management Board to achieve the outcomes of the DIG? A commitment to prioritise the work of integrated children’s services planning and to develop clear measure aligned to the Integrated children’s service plan will be progressed to ensure the impact of our collective activity is understood. 5 Please outline any good news story you wish to share The family well- being hubs are open 3 days per week and services are being developed utilising this approach. The ambition is to develop a range of multi-
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agency services that families most need to access early help and support. A full evaluation is aligned to implementation. Services for children on the edges of care have been strengthened with Includem being commissioned from Whole Family wellbeing funding, and having now recruited a staff team a are fully operational in supporting young people aged 12+ to remain at home. Ther service is accessible 7 days, has a support line and works intensively with young people and their carers to keep children out of care. Again, an evaluation of the impact of the service is in place and will be reported on a 6 monthly basis. The Promise has been successful in a bid and awarded 160K in October 2023 to develop a participation and engagement worker and data insights lead to support West Dunbartonshire to keep the Promise. Our Promise keeper has recently reported to the national Promise team with a comprehensive update (Appendix 1) and presented to the Promise National conference in February 2024 regarding the excellent work being progressed in West Dunbartonshire.