Agenda item

9.1

The Executive Director, Children, Young People and Families submitted a report requesting permission to consult on a proposal to re-organise children’s centres into an integrated locality model across 7 areas.  The report set out in principle, proposals to redesign children’s centres; developing a new delivery model based on family centres for 0 -19 year olds (0-25 years old if the young person has a disability) located in the 20% most deprived areas of the City within 7 locality areas, with services being available across Sheffield from link and outreach sites including community venues and in the home.

9.2

RESOLVED: That Cabinet gives permission to consult on the proposal outlined in the report to redesign Children’s Centres; developing a new delivery model based on 0-19 Family Centres (0-25 years old if the young person has a disability) located in the 20% most deprived areas of the City within 7 locality areas, with services being available across Sheffield from link and outreach sites including community venues and in the home.

9.3

Reasons for Decision

9.3.1

There is a statutory duty on the local authority to provide early childhood services and children’s centres, and a statutory duty to consult in relation to changes affecting those children’s centres as detailed in paragraph 4.3.1 of the Executive Director’s report.

The Munro review of child protection calls for local authorities to take a greater focus on preventative services, providing Early Help to children and families and summarises three key messages:

• Preventative services will do more to reduce abuse and neglect than reactive services
• Coordination of services is important to maximise efficiency and with preventative services
• There needs to be good mechanisms for helping people identify those children and young people who are suffering or likely to suffer harm from abuse or neglect and who need a referral to children’s social care

Munro, (2011), The Munro Review of Child Protection: final report, DFE

       The All Party Parliamentary Group on Sure Start Children’s Centres 2015 pre-election report states that ‘One of the greatest strengths of Children’s Centres has always been their capacity to join up a wide range of services around a child to provide a true “holistic” model of support’.

       The report continues to state that ‘the ultimate aim should be to position children’s centres at the heart of service provision in their communities, to enable them to provide the sort of holistic offer we know to be valued and effective’.

       The Centre for Social Justice argued that ‘children’s centres should become “Family Hubs” which enable parents to access all family related support including universal support and specialist help to meet their most pressing needs’.

Councils should ensure that Children’s Centres form part of their wider early help strategy and provide differentiated support to children and families according to their needs by:

• Offering access to integrated information and support to all prospective parents, new parents and parents of children.
• Encouraging and providing access to early help and targeted support for children and families who experience factors which place them at risk of poor outcomes
• Helping families to access appropriate wider and specialist support to meet their needs. 

There is a need to align to the early help model when redesigning children’s centres. Family centres will be a gateway to services for all families in their local community, recognising that targeted interventions and outreach services are vital in supporting the families who need it the most.

9.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

9.4.1

The alternative approach would be for the Council to continue to deliver Children’s Centre Services from 16 standalone centres. This approach does not align to the principles set out in the early help model, the Best Start ‘A Great Start in Life’ strategy, the SEND reform and Working Together to Safeguard Children which are underpinned by delivery of services based in localities where services work together to achieve improved outcomes for families as close to their homes and communities as possible.

Fundamental to the proposal is a whole household approach, by not extending the age range of services and developing Family Centres with link and outreach sites, the alternative would be to continue to deliver services to families pre-birth to five years old. This would not support the provision of integrated early help for families, would not align to the early help services for families aged five to eleven years or to the targeted youth support service, leading to more negative outcomes for both children and families. 

9.5

Any Interest Declared or Dispensation Granted

None

9.6

Reason for Exemption if Public/Press Excluded During Consideration

None

9.7

Respective Director Responsible for Implementation

Jayne Ludlam, Executive Director, Children, Young People and Families

9.8

Relevant Scrutiny and Policy Development Committee If Decision Called In

Children, Young People and Family Support

9.1

The Executive Director, Children, Young People and Families submitted a report requesting permission to consult on a proposal to re-organise children’s centres into an integrated locality model across 7 areas.  The report set out in principle, proposals to redesign children’s centres; developing a new delivery model based on family centres for 0 -19 year olds (0-25 years old if the young person has a disability) located in the 20% most deprived areas of the City within 7 locality areas, with services being available across Sheffield from link and outreach sites including community venues and in the home.

9.2

RESOLVED: That Cabinet gives permission to consult on the proposal outlined in the report to redesign Children’s Centres; developing a new delivery model based on 0-19 Family Centres (0-25 years old if the young person has a disability) located in the 20% most deprived areas of the City within 7 locality areas, with services being available across Sheffield from link and outreach sites including community venues and in the home.

9.3

Reasons for Decision

9.3.1

There is a statutory duty on the local authority to provide early childhood services and children’s centres, and a statutory duty to consult in relation to changes affecting those children’s centres, as detailed in paragraph 4.3.1 of the Executive Director’s report.

The Munro review of child protection calls for local authorities to take a greater focus on preventative services, providing Early Help to children and families and summarises three key messages:

• Preventative services will do more to reduce abuse and neglect than reactive services
• Coordination of services is important to maximise efficiency and with preventative services
• There needs to be good mechanisms for helping people identify those children and young people who are suffering or likely to suffer harm from abuse or neglect and who need a referral to children’s social care

Munro, (2011), The Munro Review of Child Protection: final report, DFE

       The All Party Parliamentary Group on Sure Start Children’s Centres 2015 pre-election report states that ‘One of the greatest strengths of Children’s Centres has always been their capacity to join up a wide range of services around a child to provide a true “holistic” model of support’.

       The report continues to state that ‘the ultimate aim should be to position children’s centres at the heart of service provision in their communities, to enable them to provide the sort of holistic offer we know to be valued and effective’.

       The Centre for Social Justice argued that ‘children’s centres should become “Family Hubs” which enable parents to access all family related support including universal support and specialist help to meet their most pressing needs’.

Councils should ensure that Children’s Centres form part of their wider early help strategy and provide differentiated support to children and families according to their needs by:

• Offering access to integrated information and support to all prospective parents, new parents and parents of children.
• Encouraging and providing access to early help and targeted support for children and families who experience factors which place them at risk of poor outcomes
• Helping families to access appropriate wider and specialist support to meet their needs. 

There is a need to align to the early help model when redesigning children’s centres. Family centres will be a gateway to services for all families in their local community, recognising that targeted interventions and outreach services are vital in supporting the families who need it the most.

9.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

9.4.1

The alternative approach would be for the Council to continue to deliver Children’s Centre Services from 16 standalone centres. This approach does not align to the principles set out in the early help model, the Best Start ‘A Great Start in Life’ strategy, the SEND reform and Working Together to Safeguard Children which are underpinned by delivery of services based in localities where services work together to achieve improved outcomes for families as close to their homes and communities as possible.

Fundamental to the proposal is a whole household approach, by not extending the age range of services and developing Family Centres with link and outreach sites, the alternative would be to continue to deliver services to families pre-birth to five years old. This would not support the provision of integrated early help for families, would not align to the early help services for families aged five to eleven years or to the targeted youth support service, leading to more negative outcomes for both children and families.