People Cabinet Member – Minutes – 20 February 2013

54        (54)  INCREASE IN INVESTMENT OF FREE EDUCATION FUNDING FOR 2 YEAR OLDS – The Director of People submitted a report inform the Cabinet Member about the progress in implementation of the 2 year old Education Funding in North Lincolnshire from September 2013, and also the increase in provision for and spending on 2 year olds in North Lincolnshire.

It was explained that under the Childcare Act 2006 the Local Authority was responsible for securing free early years provision for 2, 3 and 4 year old children.  Following the National Pilot of funding for 2 year olds in early education, North Lincolnshire Council was allocated Pilot Funding for 55 children to access a place in Daycare Provision for up to 10 hours per week from 2009.

The allocation of places was through a multi-agency panel, and placements were made in daycare settings judged by Ofsted as good or better. The placement coordination and ongoing dialogue with families was undertaken by Children’s Centre staff.  As from September 2013 funded places of up to 15 hours per week for 38 weeks per year, would be available to all 2 year olds who met the Free School Meals eligibility criteria and to those who were in the care of the Local Authority.

The additional places would be funded from the £1.5m extra Dedicated Schools Grant allocated to North Lincolnshire for 2013-14 and an additional £265k capital funding would be available to ensure that the right provision was in the right places.

Resolved – (a) That the progress being made to implement this new duty and understanding of how this opportunity could support the early development of young children and support their parents into training or employment opportunities be acknowledged.

55        (55)  EXPERT PATIENT PROGRAMME – The Director of People submitted a report to update the Cabinet Member with regards to the impact and outcomes of the Expert Patient Programme.

The Expert Patient Programme had been introduced to create a new generation of patients who were empowered to take action in partnership with health professionals caring for them, for example, to reduce pain, to improve the use of medication, and enhance their overall quality of life.  It was explained that patients would receive the support to help them take control of their own health and treatment, to make more appropriate use of health and social service, and become more empowered.

The Expert Patient Programme was a course available to individuals who were over 18 and lived with one or more long term health conditions.

Further details of the Expert Patient Programme and the scheduled courses were outlined within the report.

Resolved – That the outcomes and impact of the Expert Patient Programme be noted.

56        (56)  CREATE A SERVICE MANAGER FOR TROUBLED FAMILIES INITIATIVE – The Director of People submitted a report seeking approval to create a Child and Family Service Manager post to manage and supervise the multi-agency case management of all Troubled Families identified by and to be supported by the Troubled Families Initiative (TFI).

The TFI was a government priority where Local Authorities had been given additional finance to identify and work with children and families where there was worklessness, anti-social behaviour and non-school attendance. Government guidance was prescriptive in how these issues would be tackled and committed to breaking the cycle of these behaviours.

The report outlined that the post would be funded initially through the TFI and grant funding.

Resolved – That the creation of a Child and Family Support Service Manager post to manage the work with the identified families be approved.

 

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