Edinburgh Network of Voluntary Organisations
for Children, Young People and Families
Network Meeting Minutes
Date
Time
Place
9 February 2012
1.00 – 3.00pm
EVOC, 14 Ashley Place, Edinburgh EH6 5PX
Present (for the GIRFEC Discussion & Network Meeting)
Joan Fraser (Chair)
Rhona Hunter
Marilyn Keilloh
Viki Phillipps
Kate Polson
Paula Swanston
Susan Heron
Sandy Corlett
Steve Gowenlock
Trishna Singh
Margo Mackenzie
Marilyn Nicholl (left at 2.00pm)
Ian Brooke (mins)
The Yard
Circle
Stepping Stones (NE)
Amber, Cyrenians
Rock Trust
Home Link Family Support
Venchie
Children 1st
MCFB
Sikh Sanjog
Homelink W/SW
EVOC
EVOC
Present (for the Network Meeting only)
Alison Reid
Sharon Munro
Fiona Hird
CLAN Childlaw
Barnardo’s
FABB
Apologies
Sharon Guest
Mary Alexander
Sam Anderson
Barnado’s
Caledonia Youth
The Junction
Network Discussion: GIRFEC
The discussion period of the meeting started with a review of the City’s Children’s Services Management
Groups (CSMGs), their role and a structure diagram – which is now available on EVOC’s website.
Each of the CSMGs has at least one representative from a local Voluntary Sector organisation who attends
the meetings. CSMG Reps complete a feedback pro forma after each meeting and this are placed on the
EVOC website for information. A list of the named representatives for each CSMG is also on the website
and other information is being added..
There were two reports from CSMG meetings and Joan asked the relevant representatives to highlight key
points from their feedback:
Sandy Corlett (CSMG South Edinburgh)
Report submitted and available on the website. Issues raised at the last meeting had been:
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Early Years Fund: £9m over 3 years for 0-8 yr olds from CEC. NHS Lothian to contribute as well as a
small amount to be provided by Scottish Government. Clarity needed about total funding and the
purpose and priorities. There is to be a core group overseeing 4 work streams. Joan confirmed that
she and David Wilson had been asked to join the Core Group and that there will be a Voluntary
Sector representatives on each of the four workstream groups.
OFSTED Report “Children on the Edge (of being looked-after)”. A copy will be placed on the EVOC
website
Action: EVOC
Marilyn Keilloh (CSMG NW Edinburgh [Forth])
Report submitted. Going to attend Voluntary Sector Forum in the area for feedback and further
information
Marilyn’s Nichol (GIRFEC implementation for the Voluntary Sector Lead)
Written Report (available on EVOC website)
Discussion points
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Who do the CSMG Reps actually “represent”? Marilyn suggested that the new Milo
database/mapping exercise being undertaken by EVOC at the moment which is a powerful
database bringing together lots of information about the sector in Edinburgh will help with this.
Linking in with local voluntary sector forums important: to listen to what is going on/views etc.
Structure: lack of understanding about how the Children’s Partnership CSMGs are linked. Joan
explained the reporting arrangements for CSMGs to feed in to the CP
Better understanding needed of the strategic objectives EVOC will ensure that they are included in
the Children’s Partnership section of the EVOC website. Each of the CSMGs are reviewing their
progress against these strategic objectives. One by one at each meeting.
Action: EVOC
Important to note that GIRFEC should be seen as an approach to all aspects of service provision to
CYP and Families – not a stand-alone project. Sandy gave example of problems at local level,
indicating more training/awareness needed.
MN to email round a GIRFEC Edinburgh leaflet for comment (concern about literacy of some
parents)
Action MN/EVOC
UNCRC – legislation going through Parliament. MN attended a conference which discussed this.
Other work on children’s’ rights ongoing.
GIRFEC December Update: on EVOC website
Network Meeting
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2.1
Minutes of Network 12.1.12
The minutes were accepted as an accurate record.
2.2
Matters Arising
 Presentation: Welfare Reform PowerPoint slides – will be available on the EVOC website
Action: EVOC
 SDG: Now two city wide CSMGs – one for disability and one for SEBD. voluntary sector
representation to be firmed up
Action: EVOC
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Remind Sharon Guest about feedback from Child Protection Committee and training sub group
Action: EVOC
Dianne will speak to Sam Anderson about the consultation on EADP Priorities
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3
3.1
Action: EVOC
Child Protection discussion postponed until May. Previous work has been carried out:
o Barnardo’s research by Debbie Noble and Sharon Guest
o Tim’s research with sister CVSs
Ian to co-ordinate info/research into a paper for the May meeting. Sean Byrne to attend
meeting in May.
Action: EVOC
Network Development
The Children’s Partnership is the overarching meeting for strategy in Edinburgh and has five
voluntary sector representatives, and all have got different interests and expertise, Sam Anderson
has filled the recent vacancy for a rep. The five representatives are:
David Wilson, Children 1st
Sam Anderson, The Junction
Theresa Allison, North Edinburgh Childcare
Joan Fraser, The Yard
Kate Polson, The Rock Trust
Sharon Munro stated that colleagues in Glasgow reporting that demands on the Voluntary Sector
for representation is getting hard to meet
Kate Polson described how the Network meetings pull everything together and that they are useful
and informative for those wanting to know what is happening across strategic partnerships in the
city.
As an aside there followed a short discussion making the point that with all the demands on staff
time to attend meetings with and for partners, SLA’s for voluntary organisations should include
time and resource to allow staff to participate in partnership working
3.2
Upcoming vacancies
The following vacancies would be advertised soon:
Rep on Child Protection Committee
Rep on Play Strategy Group.
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4.1
Partnership Working
Children’s Partnership
Report tabled by Kate Polson. Key points are
 Befriending: evidence based commissioning
 ‘Corporate Parenting Leadership Group’ – this is a big Council push across the organisation
– but there’s been no voluntary sector involvement – one to watch.
 Corporate Parenting Action Plan to be published on 8 March by CEC
Action: EVOC
4.2
Chief Officers Group
Report tabled by Joan Fraser
 Discussion about youth justice and the need for much more joined up approaches to
problematic young people. Further work to be done on this. There was a wider question
about why youth Justice voluntary sector organisations/services are not involved?
 The City’s draft Single Outcome Agreement (SOA) has changed – 1 outcome for Children,
with Integrated Services Plan underneath.
4.3
Healthy Lifestyles Advisory Group
Mary Alexander’s Report – recommend reading SALSUS Study
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4.4
Commissioning Checkpoint Group
Discussion about individual service plans, of which there are eleven. Issues raised were:
 What happens if a young person fits into 3 or 4 plans – far too many
 How do the plans interface with each other?
 Is funding for services split in this way? Reporting too?
 Also a wider issue of these plans interfacing with other departmental plans across statutory
services
 Timeline – waiting on confirmation
 Explore sharing minutes of the Group and Joan to feedback
Action: Joan/ EVOC
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Voluntary Sector News
 ‘Making it Work’ – money for Edinburgh (£1m over 3/4 years ) targeted at loan parents
whose youngest child is starting school, to give them skills to restart work. Consortium
proposal: CCP/EVOC – ideas to Ella/Joan
Action: Joan/ EVOC
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Council funding paper for 3rd sector now published on the City of Edinburgh Council
website
Date of Next Meeting
8th March 2012, 1pm – Discussion Theme: Youth and Philanthropy Charity and investment in
schools.
Themes for future Network Discussions
5th April – GIRFEC
3rd May – Child Protection
7th June – GIRFEC &Commissioning Plans Consultation
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EVOC will publish on the website, the papers for the Commissioning Plan consultations and ask for
written feedback, with the June meeting being held as an event to discuss these important issues.
The aim will be to present the full Network response to CEC by the end of June.
AOB
None
IAN BROOKE/DIANNE MORRISON
FEB 2012
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