Agenda item

[Kevin Pace, HeadStart Programme Manager, to present report]

Emma Cleary, HeadStart Programme Manager, introduced the report and advised the panel that this was an update on progress since a previous report was presented. The HeadStart Programme Manager advised the panel that the original Big Lottery budget of £8.8 million had been increased to £9.5 million to deliver a range of programmes aimed at building emotional resilience in children and young people. The HeadStart Programme Manager commented on the importance of the building mental health resilience in young people at an early age. The programme will be based on four geographical areas in Wolverhampton and the work is expected to start in September 2017. To support the work of the programme detailed monitoring and evaluation will be done to consider the links between education and health.

The HeadStart Programme Manager advised the panel that baseline assessment work will be done and there will be interim reviews to assess progress against outcome measures and the impact of different programmes. In addition, there will be a series of progress review meetings, both formal and informal, with representatives of Big Lottery Fund.

The panel welcomed the plans and requested that evaluation findings from the programme be reported to a future meeting.

The panel discussed the current provision locally available to children and young people locally needing Tier 4 provision. The panel expressed concern about the reduction nationally in the number of secure beds. Emma Bennett, Service Director, Children and Young People, updated the panel on current availability of secure beds locally and advised the issue is monitored by the Children’s Trust Board.

The Service Director advised the panel that were no children from Wolverhampton in Tier 4 secure and non-secure Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS),provision and alternative accommodation – for example, specialist provision at Penn Hospital that will support young people if this is considered to be appropiate. 

In addition, there is new provision, Section 136 Assessment Suite, available in police stations for young people, which opened earlier in the year.

The HeadStart Programme Manager advised the panel that national evaluation of the impact of the programme is being led by University of Manchester, who will be conducting baseline assessment work involving two different cohorts of young people; in order to provide evidence about the impact of the programmes and also to measure changes in mental health of the young people involved.

The HeadStart Programme Manager advised the panel that the research will involve the analysis of qualitative      and quantitative data about the impact of the programme. The HeadStart Programme Manager advised the panel that young people will be involved in the design the evaluation tools for the programme.

The Service Director advised the panel that the Children’s Trust Board will be monitoring the performance of the HeadStart programme.

The panel welcomed the report and the opportunities presented by the funding to work with young people at an early age and provide support where needed.

Isobel Ricketts, Wolverhampton Youth Council, welcomed the extra resources that will be provided by the HeadStart programme and was very supportive of the programme.

The panel commented on the focus on specific areas and suggested how learning can be shared with other schools that could potentially benefit a wider range of young people. The HeadStart Programme Manager advised the panel of the funding criteria issued by Big Lottery to work in only the agreed geographical areas. The panel were reassured that there is a clear expectation from Big Lottery that learning will be shared with other schools across the city

The HeadStart Programme Manager added that there is an existing support programme available to schools in the city and  other resources were also available as part of traded services offer.

The panel welcomed the report and agreed to receive a report on progress of the programme in 12 months.

Resolved:

            The panel to receive a report on progress against outcomes detailed in the HeadStart programme in March 2018.