MINUTES OF CHILDREN ENGLAND – NORTH EAST
HELD ON 29 JANUARY 2010
Present:
Margaret Bell
Sian Bufton
Nina Cara-Colllins
Jeremy Cripps
Amanda Gee
Jackie McHanwell
Fran Johnson
Gill Middleton
Vicky Odams
Carol Southam
DFW Adoption
Barnardo’s
Shelter Children’s Services
Children North East (Chair)
Homestart
GONE
Children’s Society
Children England
Children England
Northumberland Voices
Apologies:
Sue Atkinson-Millmoor
Val Carr
Jonathan Ewen
Carol Nevison
Roget Olley
Maureen Pearson
Isobel Porter
Bob Todd
Action for Children
NCMA
Barnardo’s
Child Poverty Coalition
Father’s Plus
Parentline Plus
NSPCC
NDNA
Minutes of Previous Meetings
Minutes 17 July 2009
1.
Role of Vice Chair
Val suggested it would be useful to have two people in the role of Vice Chair and
asked any members to let Jonathan know if they were interested in pursuing this.
29 January – Jeremy advised he would become Vice Chair if the group agreed. The group
supported Jeremy to become Vice Chair.
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Minutes 22 September 2009
1.
Newcastle University Business Voucher Scheme – Mike Martin
29 January - Mike is still working on this but unfortunately the timescale has been
moved back.
Minutes 4 December 2009
Action:
Pam to confirm who in GONE has responsibility for the
Children and Learners Strategic Officer posts.
29 January – Jackie McHanwell will be the initial contact for the group in
relation to CLSAs and will signpost to the relevant individuals.
Action:
Jeremy to feedback this development (CWDC pilot) to the
group.
29 January – Jeremy to feedback at March meeting.
Invite David Marsh to attend the group to feed back.
29 January – David to be invited to meeting in March.
Minutes 29 January 2010
1.
Shelter – Nina Cara-Collins, Regional Children’s Co-ordinator (North
East/Yorkshire & Humberside)
Nina gave a presentation on the Shelter’s aims and objectives and the work
Shelter are involved with at the present. (Presentation attached)
In relation to the delivery of services i.e. children missing from education, if
anyone has any suggestions how this can be rolled out please contact Nina.
Nina_Cara-Collins@shelter.org.uk
Nina advised that Shelter is looking for ongoing funding for their advice line for
another two years. They are also in the process of trying to reach smaller
organisations.
The discussion turned to whether there is a national indicator around
homelessness. Apparently, there is no indicator at the present time but the
hope is that this will be created in the future.
Nina would like the opportunity for Shelter to promote their work or to
facilitate conferences/joint working etc around homelessness issues.
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Action:
Nina will find out if the helpline can be accessed by
members of Children England.
Nina to e-mail Gill for information/contacts of smaller
organisations.
2.
Third Sector Regional Action Plan
Gill advised that Liz Greer, Consultant, undertook research that influenced the
Third Sector Regional Action Plan which covers six particular areas. Gill will
forward paper to group.
The plan is very generic and regional and highlights the priorities of the regional
infrastructure consortium, and there has been consultation with Government
Office in producing this.
Gill reminded the group she is the Children England representative on the
Regional Infrastructure Group.
Action:
3.
Gill to forward paper to Lesley to send to group – any
comments to be sent to Lesley to forward to Gill.
Regional Development Manager – Update
Gill undertakes the RDM post three days per week and works one day per week
on Safer Network which is the national safeguarding unit for the Third Sector.
Gill has been in post three months and is a member of Regional Infrastructure
Consortium; Equalities Coalition; Regional Procurement Group; PSA13 group;
WSPP – discussing and writing joint workforce strategy – no confirmation yet re
WSPP funding.
Attended further key meetings:
LSCB business managers meeting – further meeting to discuss joint work plan –
invited to South Tyneside Safeguarding forum.
Child Poverty conference – Middlesbrough
Forming consortia – Middlesbrough & QA & contracts
Achieving efficiencies through joined up commissioning. This was a DCSF funded
and jointly organise with SOPO (Society of procurement officers). All but two
authorities were represented. Main messages – collaboration is key in making
efficiency savings, money is getting tighter. Education is one of preserved areas.
Safeguarding was raised constantly as a real challenge as demand has risen in all
areas (by 50% in some) yet spending cuts are being enforced. £2.5 billion is spent
nationally with 3rd parties – but very poor information on what & who. The term
category management was presented by the RIEP who advised that many LA’s
were considering this approach. Personalisation was also raised a lot and our LA
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colleagues seemed very concerned about what they regarding as the ‘loss of
power’. There was some support for inviting providers in to write specifications!
There are plans to include children’s services and social care on the NEPO (NE
portal).
Plans
Deliver 3 x Love your tender sessions
Events around 3rd sector needs led commissioning (work plan being worked up)
GONE – field forces meeting
Information share
3rd sector action plan
Third Sector Action Plan (requested by Jeremy) – recently produced,
disseminated by VONNE. The back ground and research which has led to this
plan was set out in ‘Real help for communities: Volunteers, Charities and Social
Enterprises.’ Ruahine Training & consultancy – Liz Greer. Built on national
action plan from OTS ‘Real help for Communities, volunteers and Social
Enterprises’ – identified need for regional action to support the sector. Six key
areas:
Sustainability of National 3rd sector recession support
Regional compact
3rd sector representation
Good commissioning & procurement
Equalities
Volunteering
The NE action plan will be endorsed by the signatories of the regional compact.
Save the children
The NE office in Newcastle will close and they will withdraw from their
‘Protection’ work with refugee and asylum seeking children and young people.
As a result Brighter Futures is funded by the Big Lottery and run by Save the
Children only until 31st January 2010. Save the Children have therefore had
to stop working with our Brighter Futures Tees Valley group on the 15th
December 2009. North of England Refugee Service (NERS) has agreed to
continue Brighter Futures in the Tees Valley from January 2010.
Child Poverty: A Challenge for the UK and A Challenge for the North
East
Seminar THURSDAY 13 MAY 2010
In St Peter’s Campus, Prospect Building, Lecture Theatre 009
From 5.00 pm to 6.30 pm (refreshments at 4.30 pm in ground floor cafeteria)
The seminar will be delivered by Mr. Martin Nary, Chief Executive of Barnardo’s.
To book please contact freda.brown@sunderland.ac.uk
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Children’s Say
The Children’s Say has received news that Gateshead Council will no longer be
funding the project.
‘After 8 years of many exciting pieces of work and some fantastic achievements
I’m sure you will agree this is sad news, but we have been assured by Gateshead
Council that they are committed to the participation of children and young
people and that this work can, and will continue in other ways’.
The project will close on 31st March 2010.
Safe Network
270 “Are they safe” toolkits distributed across NE
6 x Safe Network events over next few weeks (V&B & SN)
Presenting at Middlesbrough/Redcar & Cleveland event in March & South
Tyneside.
Nationally
Draft standards been circulated across networks – mainly via VCS resp on
LSCB’s. Round table events to be organised for March and final standards
available in early spring.
BME facilitator event held in Newcastle – commit to disseminate in one session.
Resource nearly ready for launch.
Imminent launch of the BME resource.
The Educare Safer Recruitment Educare Pack is being updated to include a
module on VBS. Production of a resource pack for LSCBs on best practice for
engaging with the VCS (perhaps get feedback when you talk in regions on this
idea)
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4.
Website support and guidance – 51,500 visits at end of Q3
Registrations 534 despite technical issues
SN packs distributed 6,750
Educare training registrations received through SN 3,557
Feedback from Regional Groups
Jeremy advised that the children’s centre Children North East runs may be taken
back in house and is trying to find out more about this. It was agreed it is in the
interests of the group to understand the transparency of such decisions by any
LA.
The group asked Vicky if Children England had a view on this. Vicky to take this
back to CE.
Fran brought to the attention of the group that the Youth Justice work which
Children’s Society are involved with has been taken back in house.
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In relation to new work, it appears that SERCO are encouraging the voluntary
sector to look outside the sector and identify good practice around
commissioning. It appears some organisations do manage to do this but we can
learn from each other.
It was suggested that voluntary organisations should work together and build
banks of both sessional workers/part time workers who can be called upon
when agencies develop new work.
Action:
5.
Update from Children England – Vicky Odams
Action:
6.
Vicky to seek information from Children England re
Children’s Centres/LAs.
Vicky to forward information to Lesley to circulate.
Any Other Business
The following individuals will attend future meetings:
March
Mark Davis, Middlesbrough Voluntary Development Agency
Yvonne Collins, Young Minds
Emily Whitaker, Children England – Personalisation
May
Ivan Wintringham, CWDC
7.
Next Meeting
The next Children England – North East meeting will be held on 26 March 10.00
– 12.30 at Barnardo’s, Orchard House, Buston Terrace, Jesmond.
Please note this meeting with finish at 12.30 to allow time for the
presentation from Emily Whitaker on “Personalisation”.
If Jonathan is not available at next meeting, Jeremy has kindly offered to chair.
Jeremy Cripps
Vice Chair
Children England NE Region
02.02.2010
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