Full Article - Published: 09/10/2009Written By: 01/01/1970

The key areas for improving children’s outcomes over the next two years have been grouped into six thematic areas, each of which has a Partnership Group responsible for drawing up an action plan so that progress can be effectively monitored.

The Partnership Groups are made up of key stakeholders across all partners but with a clear focus on their speciality areas of work.

The Family and Parenting Support Partnership is chaired by Liz Bailey, Head of Children's Services NHS Medway Community Health Care.  Among the areas of work covered are maternity, early years and the Children’s Centre Programme, the common assessment framework and extended services relating to primary schools.

The delivery of evidence based parenting programmes was agreed as the first area of work for the partnership

A needs analysis and review of parenting programmes in Medway was completed in June and recommendations from the review are being carried forward.  A copy of the review can be downloaded from www.medwaychildrenstrust.co.uk.

Funding has also been secured to further roll out Solihull Approach training to all children’s services practitioners.  For more about Solihull see
http://www.solihull.nhs.uk/About-us

Early intervention and preventative services, to meet or narrow gaps, including those identified as a result of CAF. Two pilots supporting early intervention and prevention have been commissioned:

•    Family CAF supports a family assessment process through the appointment of a Support Worker
•    Supporting Parents with Learning Disabilities: A small-dedicated team, staffed by a qualified social worker and three Family Support Workers, (one of these posts being made up of Parent Support, previously known as Kinship Support) assess and work with the parents of highly vulnerable young children.

The integrated Youth Support (IYS) Partnership is chaired by Juliet Sevior, Assistant Director Inclusion, Medway Council.  IYS involves a range of organisations working in partnership to support young people through their teenage years and into adult hood.   Among the areas of work covered are: Education, employment and training; sexual health and relationships; things to do and places to go; extended services relating to secondary schools; housing and homelessness; young carers and youth offending.

The priority areas identified for this first year are:
•    those young people ‘not in education, employment or training’ (NEETs);
•    teenage pregnancy;
•    homelessness.

Connexions services in Medway lead on the reduction of NEETs.  A strategy to reduce the number of NEETs has recently been approved.   The current economic climate brings added pressure to the NEET issue and a bespoke piece of work is being developed to help with this current trend.

In line with the Teenage Pregnancy Action Plan ‘Diva’ have been commissioned by Medway Council and NHS Medway to deliver social marketing activities across two key areas:
•    to increase the number of sexually active 15-24 year olds being screened for Chlamydia;
•    to develop an intervention to support a reduction in teenage pregnancy through the promotion of local services and encouraging uptake of contraception.

A Temporary Accommodation Strategy is being developed and will deal with homelessness issues across all ages including those for young people.  A needs analysis on rough sleepers and sofa surfers will also be undertaken in November.

Dates for the diary

Next year‘s lecture line up:

Christine Davies, who led the national narrowing the gap programme, talking about what works to improve life chances for our most vulnerable children, in the context of improving outcomes for all. Christine will be coming to Medway on 23 February 2010. The venue will be confirmed nearer the time, however, if you’d like to book your ticket in advance, please contact Becky on 01634 334411 or

.

Our 2012 countdown continues with Colin Jackson, one of the most successful athletes of all time, holding the world hurdling record for almost 13 years, giving our summer lecture on Tuesday 15 June 2010.  More details to follow.

We’re always keen to have recommendations for good and simulating speakers – if you know of someone, please contact Julie on

or 01634 331114.