A report sharing the draft One Reading Children and Young People’s Partnership Early Help Strategy 2021-2023 and providing an opportunity for comment prior to finalisation of the Strategy.

The Executive Director of Children’s Services – Education, Early Help and Social Care, BFfC, submitted a report sharing the draft One Reading Children and Young People’s Partnership Early Help Strategy 2021-2023.  A copy of the draft BFfC One Reading Early Help Partnership Strategy 2021/23 was appended to the report.  The Committee was invited to comment on the Strategy prior to its finalisation.Anna Batty, Strategic Lead for Partnership and Prevention, BFfC, and Kirsten Carr, Strategic Lead, Early Help, BFfC, attended the meeting and gave a presentation on the Strategy.

The report explained that the One Reading CYP Partnership had been formed in 2019 with a vision for all sectors working together towards a shared goal of improving life quality for children, young people and families, underpinned by a shared accountability for early intervention and prevention.  A key role for its Board was to oversee the implementation and review of the Partnership Early Help Strategy.  The aims were to:

·         Improve outcomes for children, young people and families;

·         Reduce demand on high cost services;

·         Build resilient communities and a thriving voluntary sector.

Local data and collective understanding of the current and emerging needs had informed priority areas, these were as follows:

·         Children under 5 years old;

·         Young people – adolescent risk;

·         Consistent approaches to emotional wellbeing and mental health.

The report explained that the One Reading Partnership Consensus outlined a set of agreed principles and shared commitment to a trauma-informed approach underpinning the work of the partnership.  Established workstreams would deliver plans to improve outcomes for each priority areas knowledge, integrated working and workforce development.  Impact would be measured through agreed performance indicators that would be linked to each priority area.  The Strategy interlinked with Strategies across the Borough and wider geographical footprints and the Board would ensure that its plans aligned where needed.

The Committee discussed the report and it was agreed that a progress report should be submitted to the October meeting.

Resolved –

(1)     That the One Reading Children and Young People’s Partnership Early Help Strategy be noted and endorsed;

(2)     That a progress report be submitted to the meeting on 20 October 2021.