1 CCEN Seminar- Children and Young People Overview of the topics 16/02/10 Children’s Trust Partnership Board Children & Young People's Plan VCS representatives

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CCEN Seminar- Children and Young People

Overview of the topics 16/02/10

Children’s Trust Partnership Board

Children & Young People's Plan

VCS representatives on Partnership Boards and Sub Boards

Role of CFN

Challenges of VCS reps

Measuring success and impact

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The Third Sector is key to delivering the ambitions to strengthen local accountability, shape better places and design and deliver services which meet the needs and aspirations of those who use them. The Government wants the best local partnership working with the third sector to be the rule not the exception, particularly through Local Strategic Partnerships (LSPs)”

Principles of representation

Dept of Communities and Local Government

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Children’s Trust Partnership Board • The Children’s Partnership Board is a body made up of statutory and voluntary

community groups

Membership includes: • Camden Council• Metropolitan Police• Learning Skills Council• Connexions• NHS• Schools• VCS• Colleges• Job Centre Plus• GP rep• Housing & Adult Social Care• Culture & Environment

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Inter- Agency Governance and VCS involvement

• Camden has got a very strong governance arrangements• Multi-agency working groups which have responsibility of delivering the ECM

agenda Locally • There is a very strong partnership with VCS in all levels

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Children and Young People's Plan

• Children and Young People's Plan 2009-2012 sets out strategic Plan for children’s services and delivers the Every Child Matters (ECM) agenda in Camden , as required by Children Act 2004

• The Children and Young People's is divided into five key outcomes areas with key priorities for each: Being Healthy, Staying Safe , Making a Positive contribution, Enjoining and Achieving and Achieving Economic Wellbeing and Quality of life.

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VCS Representation on Children’s Trusts

• To strengthen the engagement of the VCS in the delivery of children’s services • To increase the capacity of the VCS to engage in Children's Trusts at all levels• To increase confidence and skills of VCS ensuring that VCS children’s services

compete with other providers on a level playing field.• Encourage collaboration and co-operation across the VCS and with strategic

partners.

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What do we mean by ‘representation’?

RepresentationRefers to the process where one person or

group of people is acting, speaking or being present

on behalf of another person or group of people.

RepresenteeThe person or body on whose behalf this is

done.

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VCS representatives

• Children’s Trust Partnership Board (CTPB) & Sub Boards• Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) and Sub Boards• Multi-agency Joint Planning and Commissioning Sub Board• Work Force Strategy• Parenting Strategy Group • Integrated Working (IW)• IYS Commissioning Group

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VCS reps recruitment processAll the VCS are recruited through Children and Families Network by the following

Process:

First round Expression of Interest

Second round Election through Children and families Network members

Third round Short listing

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Principles for Voluntary Sector representatives

• To promote co-ownership of plans and services by users and communities, including advocating realistic timescales and processes to enable wider involvement.

• To ensure the views of the local voluntary sector have been consulted through its relevant network bodies (e.g. Children & Families Network).

• To promote the development and use of the expertise and experience of the Voluntary & Community Sector as service providers.

• To advocate for fairness and equality of opportunity in the commissioning process.

• To report to and be accountable to the voluntary sector through the relevant network body.

• To declare any organisational or personal interest when acting as a sector representative

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Support of VCS reps

• VCS reps are supported through the Joint Advisory group meetings of CFN• Reimbursement facilities for the VCS reps• Training • induction

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C&F NETWORKC&F NETWORK

C&FN DEVELOPMENTWORKER

C&FN DEVELOPMENTWORKER

ADVISORY GROUPADVISORY GROUP

VAC

Presentation on the service planning groups

Presentation on the service planning groups

Service users

Children and Families Network Structure (CFN)

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Role of CFN• Coordination of the VCS reps e.g.( arranging meetings, correspondences, circulation

of info , producing notes of the meetings)• Recruitment of the reps• Facilitating induction meetings with the chairs of sub boards• Facilitating information sharing between the reps • Liaising with CSF link officer

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Challenges of VCS reps

1) Conflicting interests –

The golden rules:• Before each activity involving representation, consciously remind yourself which “hat”

you have on and leave other hats outside.• Where you note a conflict of interest, tell others at the meeting about this, and take

their advice about how to proceed.• If appropriate, take yourself out of the meeting while the issue which sparked your

conflict of interest is discussed.• If necessary, resign from one or other of your commissions

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Challenges of VCS reps( continuation)

2) Strategic Ability• VCS need to demonstrate their strategic abilities through the way they communicate

e.g. feeding back to CFN meetings, taking VCS view back to boards3) Role & ResponsibilitiesVCS reps need to be aware of their role and responsibilities4) Smaller Groups• Hard to engage• Lack of involvement and not showing up to the partnership meetings • It harms the credibility of the sector • Tighter recruitment process create danger of excluding groups5) Attending Meetings• VCS reps who cannot attend meetings should always try and arrange for some-one

else to deputise. At the same time colleague from from the Council etc should understand that VCS have pressures on their time too

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Selection/election?

Worksheet

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Measuring success and impact

How could we evidence/demonstrate theimpact of our role as a representative? What difference have we made? Good practice from CFN• Workshop• Minutes from meetings etc• Evidence of positive outcomes for both the VCS and statutory sectors.

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Mohamed Hussein

Children and Families Network

Development Worker

Voluntary Action Camden

Tel 0207 284 6572

Email: [email protected]

Documents

1 CCEN Seminar- Children and Young People Overview of the topics 16/02/10 Children’s Trust Partnership Board Children & Young People's Plan VCS representatives