Agenda item

(To receive a report from Paula Whitehead, Manager, Team Around the Child, which provides the Schools Forum with an update on Team Around the Child (TAC) in Lincolnshire and to obtain approval for the continuation of the funding arrangements)

The Forum gave consideration to a report from the Manager, Team Around the Child, which provided an update on Team Around the Child in Lincolnshire, in particular the use of Schools Forum funding; and sought to obtain approval for continuation of the existing funding arrangements.

In guiding the Forum through the report, particular reference was made to multi agency approach to provide Early Help for the young people in Lincolnshire.

The report highlighted that there was an increase in the number of initiations, and open TACs in Lincolnshire.  Full details on the Early Help consultant Activity from April to July 2014 were contained in the report, which clearly indicated that there was an increase in activity.  In addition the consultants had continued to provide briefing sessions on a single and multi-agency basis, and had also attended Health Team and Schools Cluster meeting on request.

The feedback received from the support provided had been very positive. A snapshot of opinions received following the first four months of the service were detailed in the report presented, but overall, 72% had been positive and 22% had not used the service yet.  It was however highlighted that the take up of the offer of Administrative support had been very low.  Only 27 requests had been received and dealt with, and these were all requesting invites to be posted out for initial TAC's.

The report detailed the original funding breakdown for the developments.  It was noted that the project timescales had been met, and as a result the funding would be used by the year end according to the profile.  As a result of the actual usage of the service, and the feedback received, a suggested funding profile was detailed in the report on page 62 to take to service forward.

In conclusion, although the team had only been in place for six months, feedback and evidence had suggested that the team was providing the support that schools and academies required from Early Help Consultants. As a result additional capacity was required in this area and a request was made for the funding to be realigned to enable the number of consultants to double, two per locality and that the that the funding was provided on a permanent basis; and that regular updates were received by the Schools Forum on the impact and needs of the team.

Some concern was expressed as to the wording of the fourth bullet point at the top of page 60, as it implied that the LA was failing 75% of children.  Clarification was given that this was a meant as a positive statement which identified that the service was improving as a result of the work of the team.

Work was also ongoing with regard to the provision of health visitors and school nurses and that provision would be commissioned in April 2015.

Some concern was expressed as to the costs and what part of the educational budget the funding would be taken from.  Officers explained that the funding would come from the Higher Needs block in the DSG.

RESOLVED

1.    That the update report be accepted.

2.    That agreement be given to the continued funding of the team on a permanent basis.

3.    That the revised allocation of funding to better meet the need, as detailed below be agreed.