Agenda item

a.    Early Help update (Karen Frost) – report to follow

b.    CAF Annual Report 2015-16 (Debbie Greatrex)

c.    EI Hub Annual Report 2015-16 (Debbie Greatrex)

Early Help Update

Karen Frost presented the Overview and Update of Bracknell Forest Early Help Services report.

Karen explained that through a strategic review of the service, the Prevention and Early Intervention team had been reformed. The report set out the number of services being provided within the service. Existing teams had integrated to work more closely together to increase frontline delivery and reduce management levels.  Karen commented that the changes had resulted in a more focussed and targeted service, and had made it easier to identify and respond to gaps in provision.

Karen commented that Children’s Centres were still working for the 0-5 age range, but had also increased their intervention with schools and the PVI sector. Health visitors were co-located. The Child Development Centre had been established as a continuum for the Children’s Centres and effectively supports multi-professional working with children with disabilities.

Describing the work of the Family Intervention Team (FIT), Karen commented that outreach workers had become more integrated, supervision had been improved and the Signs of Safety methodology had been implemented across the service. The relationship and interface between FIT and Children’s Social Care colleagues had been clarified. The Youth Services team had become a targeted service to work particularly with the more vulnerable young people.

Karen reported that a Looked After Child had  worked with her as part of  Youth Takeover Day, and that the young person had given important insight into the successes and areas for improvement in the Early Help service. The young person was keen to work together to further develop the service.

Arising from discussion, it was commented that:

• Since the Early Help service had reconfigured, primary schools had found that there had been less engagement with schools. Karen responded that all Family Support workers based in schools came under the Early Help network, and that the service would become more involved in a school if a problem arose. This will require monitoring and the LSCB will be informed of progress (Action: Karen Frost)
• Public Health commented that they had found the integrated service particularly useful, as it crossed over between Adult and Children’s services.
• It was noted that a key element of work in Tier 2 involved the Hub.

Early Intervention Hub Annual Report 2015-16

Debbie Greatrex presented the Early Intervention Hub’s Annual Report for 2015-16.

32% of Hub users had been stepped down from Children’s Social Care, and there had been fewer Tier 2 cases in the reporting period than previously. Work had been underway to monitor and review the CAFs, and this had resulted in 79% of the Hub users coming through CAFs.

21% of children in the Hub had been identified to have come into contact with Domestic Abuse. Debbie reported concerns over the lack of provision for children with additional emotional needs as a result of Domestic Abuse, following news that the PICADA programme was to no longer be commissioned although the Safe Project was proving similar services. The Board recognised that the DA Executive were looking at next steps following the decision on  PICADA, and that the LISG would be assessing the response.

101 families had been referred to the Family Intervention Team (FIT) which was the highest ever received by the service. The DAAT and Housing services were now part of the EI Hub and the CAF template has been reviewed to include Signs of safety approaches.

There had been an increase of 6% of children with a diagnosis of ASD/ADHD, totalling 40% of children in the Hub. 8% of children in the Hub also had a diagnosis of other significant disabilities.

The number of CAF reviews had increased by 71% in the reporting period, with 454 reviews received. There had been good co-operation from schools, and Debbie commented on the work at Brakenhale where an Inclusion Support worker had been running support groups. This had reduced the number of unnecessary CAFs completed at the school, and had meant that all CAFs completed could be submitted before the family reached crisis point.

Arising from discussion, the following points were noted:

• The Lay member queried if ethnic minority data was captured and should be included in future reports (Action: Debbie Greatrix)
• The Chair recognised evidence of increasingly effective performance and stated that the planned audit activity in 16/17 would allow the opportunity to consider the quality and effectiveness of Early Help services provided
• Colleagues commented on the successful multi-agency collaboration work, and thanked Debbie for her report.