National Service Framework (NSF) for Children, Young People and
Maternity Services in Wales
Implementation Working Group Meeting held on 13 March 2006, Temple of
Peace , Cathays Park, Cardiff
Present
Steve Thomas Joint Chair, Director, Welsh Local Government Association
Dr Huw Jenkins Director of Healthcare Services for Children & Young People,
Keith Ingham
Irene Allen
Chris Burdett
Jane Ludlow
WAG
Head of Children’s Health & Social Care Directorate, WAG
Head of Children’s Health Policy Branch, WAG
Children’s Strategy Division, WAG
Office of the Chief Medical Officer, WAG
Andrea Thomas Office of the Chief Nursing Officer, WAG
Dr Sarah Aitken Consultant in Public Health Medicine,National Public Health
Service
Joanne Absalom Chief Executive, Blaenau Gwent Local Health Board
Charlotte Drury Framework Co-ordinator,Caerphilly County Borough Council
Karron Williams Children’s Framework Team, WAG
Richard Williams CAMHS Special Adviser, Welsh Assembly Government
Hugh Ross
Ann Noyes
Claire Bond
Chief Executive, Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust
Children’s Health Policy Branch, WAG
Children’s Health Policy Branch, WAG
Welcome
Steve Thomas welcomed members to the second meeting of the Implementation
Working Group. A warm welcome was extended to new members of the group
Professor Richard Williams, CAMHS Special Adviser to the Assembly, Andrea
Thomas, Office of the Chief Nursing Officer, Hugh Ross, Chief Executive, Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust and Charlotte Drury, Children and Young People’s
Framework Partnership Co-ordinator, Caerphilly County Borough Council.
Apologies for Absence
Apologies were received from Ann Lloyd, David Salter (represented by Jane
Ludlow), David Middleton (represented by Karron Williams), Sally Ellis and
Catriona Williams.
Targets Update
Saff Target 2005/06
Irene Allen informed the group of the progress made regarding the NSF target,
2 nd quarter figures via the balanced scorecard system illustrated 90% of the

Trusts and LHB’s were at amber or green. It was agreed to circulate 3 rd quarter figures to members.
ACTION: IRENE ALLEN
Saff Target 2006/07
The 2006/07 Saff Target has been set as the following: ‘The completion of the
Self Assessment Audit Tool (SAAT) across all of the key actions contained in the
National Service Framework (NSF) for Children, Young People and Maternity
Services in Wales and the production of a 2 year local priorities and implementation plan. Target date March 31 st 2007.
Self Assessment Audit Tool
The paper tabled at the meeting ‘overall median of all Partnerships in Wales’ indicated a high level of organisations scoring a 6.0 (green), with the average scoring above 4.0 (amber), a positive result with no organisation scoring red.
Charlotte Drury informed the group that the completion of the SAAT was discussed at a recent meeting of the All Wales Children and Young People’s
Framework Partnerships Co-ordinators. She stated that there may be an inconsistency in approach as different partnerships are adopting different approaches, some are adopting a more corporate approach, largely dependent on Local Authority structures. This has illustrated the need for clear advice and guidance and reinforces the importance of having the NSF Support Post in place as soon as possible.
Huw Jenkins suggested that a de-briefing session for Framework Partnerships be arranged for the end of the year.
ACTION: IRENE ALLEN AND CHARLOTTE DRURY
Performance Measurement Indicators
Karron Williams informed the group that the children’s and young people’s reference group has been established to support the strengthening of the partnership working and plan rationalisation. It will contribute to the development of joint working in planning, monitoring and delivering the services for children and young people.
The current arrangements require separate plans to be submitted for the children’s framework, the children’s plan (0-10’s) and the young people’s plan.
The Children Act 2004 gives scope to replace these with a single plan.
The reference group aims to contribute to the programme for the improvement and development of a wider measures framework. Its aim is to agree a selection of current indicators based on the seven core aims that enable the Assembly to measure improvement in outcomes for children and young people in Wales and me asure progress in implementing children’s rights.

An initial meeting was held on 28 February to establish membership, purpose and to develop a work programme.
NSF Support Post
A two-year support post, hosted within WLGA is to be advertised within the next two weeks. The post is to be funded in year one by the WLGA with discussions for the funding of year two ongoing. It is intended that a bid be made to the
Making the Connections Fund. It was agreed to copy the job description to IWG members once the post has been advertised.
ACTION: IRENE ALLEN
It was also agreed that a steering group, membership to include; Irene Allen -
WAG, Sarah Aitken – NPHS, Beverlea Frowen – WLGA and Joanne Absalom,
Blaneau Gwent LHB is convened to give direction and advice to the support post in it’s infancy.
ACTION: IRENE ALLEN, SARAH AITKEN AND JOANNE ABSALOM
Update and Background Paper on ‘NSF England Mapping Exercise
A paper was tabled informing the group of a mapping exercise of children’s health and maternity s ervices undertaken in England in response to their Children’s
NSF - nothing similar required in Wales.
Paediatric Workforce
– Update
Huw Jenkins briefed the group on the background leading up to the Children’s
Workforce Workshop in July 2005. Participants were asked to define the children’s health services they were aiming for in 10 years time and to set the course of travel required to achieve and co-ordinate the various central and regional initiatives.
The workshop recommended that at a strategic level in order to co-ordinate workforce planning for children and young people that a children’s workforce group be established. A conference for front line professionals involved in delivering Children and Young People’s healthcare will be held in the autumn of
2006.
The group was informed that discussions were currently ongoing with Ian Stead,
HR Director, NHS Wales and the National Leadership and Innovation Agency for
Healthcare (NLIAH) regarding a future conference.
The group’s discussion highlighted the lack of strategic planning for children’s services across health and social care.

Communication Issues
Strategy
The group agreed that the membership of the Implementation Working Group and minutes of the meeting are posted to the NSF website.
ACTION: IRENE ALLEN
It was also agreed that the NSF Support Person develops a communication strategy for the IWG. In order to raise the profile of the post amongst organisations it was suggested to timetable a series of networking visits to forthcoming meetings – IWG members to forward details of meetings to Irene
Allen that will be of interest.
ACTION: IWG MEMBERS
Children’s NSF - Final Document
The group was informed that the final printed document would be distributed at the end of the month, with a joint covering letter from Ann Lloyd and Steve
Thomas.
Contact a Family
– Parent Guide
The group were informed that a leaflet aimed at parents, carers and young people was being developed by Contact a Family Wales and the Welsh
Assembly. The leaflet will be distributed to GP Surgeries, Pharmacies, Hospitals,
Baby Clinics and Children’s Centres – it was also suggested circulating to Local
Authority Children’s Information Services.
It was suggested that we also engage colleagues in Youth and Pupil Participation
Division – Participation Project Team.
Future Agenda Issues
– Discussion
Prior to each meeting it was agreed to circulate the agenda amongst IWG members inviting them to add items for discussion.
ACTION: IRENE ALLEN
Date of next meeting
It was agreed to hold the next meeting in June. The group also agreed that having a sequence of meeting dates would be useful.