Agenda item

[To receive the updated Children, Young people and Families Plan, including the Co-production Charter and Youth Engagement Strategy.]

Emma Bennett, Director of Children’s Services presented the Growing Well: Children and Families Together Board Contribution to the Delivery of the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy (JHWBS) 2018 - 2023. The report provided an overview of the activity undertaken by the Children and Families Together Board to provide assurance to the Health and Wellbeing Together membership that the ‘Growing Well’ priority areas identified as of strategic importance were being appropriately addressed.

It was outlined that the Children and Families Together Board, formerly known as the Children’s Trust Board, sat underneath Health and Wellbeing Together as a sub-board to drive forward priorities underneath the ‘Growing Well’ theme of the JHWBS.

It was noted that the Children, Young People and Families Plan had been refreshed and signed off by Children and Families Together Board.

Key priorities were identified as: mental health and wellbeing, work around the prevention of the risk of obesity, reducing the number of families using bed and breakfasts as temporary accommodation, reducing school exclusions and promoting inclusion.

It was reported that, during the Children and Families Together Strategy Day held in May 2019, there had been commitment from partners to work towards co-production. A Co-production Charter had been devised which had been co-developed with children, young people and their families, the Council and its partners to pledge to work with residents to decide together how Council services should be delivered.

The Youth Engagement Strategy also known as #YES had served as a good example of co-production as an extensive consultation had taken place with young people and their families.

An update was provided in respect of the transition of the combined safeguarding boards to Wolverhampton Safeguarding Together, chaired by Sally Roberts, Chief Nurse and Director of Quality at Wolverhampton CCG. Assurance was offered to Health and Wellbeing Together members that this transition was progressing well with no significant risks identified.

The report and the work that had gone into the Youth Engagement Strategy and Co-production Charter was commended and it was agreed that children and young people were a priority for the City.

It had been highlighted that feedback from the Youth Engagement Strategy consultation conveyed the strong message that young people and their families preferred activities they could participate in independently or as a family.

It was noted that the holiday scheme had been very well received and it had been reported by West Midlands Police that crime had reduced by 48% during the period in which the scheme ran.

The Co-production Charter was particularly commended by partners as it was noted that engagement and maintaining engagement was a difficult 

process to undertake.

As ward Councillors for Bilston, Councillor Linda Leach and Councillor Philip Page commended and offered their support to the holiday scheme and reported that it had not only been well attended in their ward area but had received very positive feedback.

It was noted that, in addition to the consultation for the Co-Production Charter, decision-making on the funding had been shared with young people and their families to agree where the funding could be allocated.

Resolved:

1. That Health and Wellbeing Together agree to endorse the City Co-production Charter for children and young people
2. That members of Health and Wellbeing Together agree to promote the Co-production Charter in their respective organisations
3. That Health and Wellbeing Together agree to support a launch event on 27 January 2020 for the Co-production Charter and Youth Engagement Strategy, #YES
4. That the refreshed Children, Young People and Families Plan (2015 – 2025) be noted.
5. That the outcome and recommendations of the Youth Engagement Strategy, #YES, be noted.