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Getting It Right For

East Lothian’s Children and Young People

East Lothian Integrated Children’s Services Plan

2013 – 17 (June Draft v3)

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1. INTRODUCTION Welcome to the East Lothian's Integrated Children's Services Plan 2013 -2017. This plan outlines East Lothian Partnership's commitment to improving the lives of children, young people and their families in East Lothian. East Lothian is a fantastic place to grow up in with a beautiful coast and countryside, attractive towns and good quality schools and services that provide children with the best start in life. For too many of our children, however, we know that they will need additional help to ensure that they achieve their full potential. This plan recognises that no service alone can meet a child's every need and that services have to work together to ensure that children will be kept safe, grow up healthy and achieve in life. This plan builds on the high quality partnership working currently taking place across East Lothian and outlines how services including East Lothian Council, NHS Lothian, Police Scotland and those in the voluntary sector will work in partnership over the next 3 years to improve outcomes for our young generation. It also outlines our commitment to working together with children, young people and their families to finding solutions to the challenges we face. It will drive the agenda for the GIRFECYP Group which is responsible for the strategic direction and outcomes for children, young people and families in East Lothian. We know that we have written this plan during a time of great change. Over the coming year we will see the introduction of the proposals currently contained in the Children and Young People's Bill which will place a greater duty on our services to meet children's needs, during a time that budgets are becoming tighter. This is even more reason that we must work together so that we make best use of the resources we have. It is also the reason why we expect this plan to be a living document that will grow and adapt over the next 3 years as we implement the changes and monitor the impact within our communities. Councillor Willie Innes Chair of the East Lothian Partnership

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OUR VISION FOR EAST LOTHIAN IS THAT:

We will work together with children, young people and their families, delivering well-integrated, seamless services which result in positive outcomes for children and young people

East Lothian’s Integrated Children’s Services Plan is driven by a common commitment across partners to improve how we work with families, children and young people to achieve the best outcomes. By setting our plan within the Getting it Right for Every Child (GIRFEC) framework, we ensure that we take a strategic and co-ordinated approach towards achieving these outcomes. The plan covers children and young people from birth – 18years old (and beyond for some young people for whom we have statutory responsibilities and address issues of transition).

We are committed to developing a coherent “line of sight” from the Single Outcome Agreement through the Community Planning Process, the Integrated Children’s Services Plan, including the plans of the GIRFEC sub-groups, and on through to those specific agency, service and business unit plans which act as a framework for strategic partnership working

WHO’S WHO? (See Appendix 1)

The East Lothian Partnership (ELP) brings together organisations from the public, community, enterprising third and private sectors. The aim of the Partnership is to collaboratively deliver the best possible services which make a real difference in people’s lives and opportunities, and to set out the shared vision and strategy for East Lothian through the strategic plan, currently the Single Outcome Agreement (SOA), and monitor progress on the SOA by receiving reports on performance and significant issues from relevant partnership bodies and scrutinising performance at the highest level.

The Resilient People Strategic Partnership Board is made up of elected members with responsibility for Education and Children and Adult Wellbeing, a Lothian NHS Board Non-Executive member, the Community Healthcare Partnership (CHCP) Jointly Accountable Manager, NHS Lothian Child Health Commissioner, ELC Chief Officers from the Department of Services for People and independent sector representative(s). The Resilient People Strategic Partnership Board will monitor and oversee the Integrated Children’s Services Plan.

The GIRFECYP Group is composed of senior leaders within each agency and the elected administration. It is responsible for the strategic direction and outcomes for children, young people and families in East Lothian. It is currently chaired by the Deputy Chief Executive with responsibility for Services for People. The GIRFECYP Group is committed to aligning resources to provide effective services and positive outcomes for children, young people and their families. It delegates operational responsibility to individual services and inter-agency groups who will implement Getting It Right for Every Child (GIRFEC) and translate the strategic goals into

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meaningful, easily understandable and outcome focused plans. The ICSP will drive the agenda for this group.

INTER-AGENCY GROUPS

The following inter-agency Theme Groups address specific matters:

1. Support from the Start Planning Board (which incorporates the Parenting Strategy Group and Early Years). This group is working to develop an Early Years and Early Intervention Strategy built on the work of the Support from the Start (SFTS) Plan, the Early Years Collaborative, the National Parenting Strategy, and the Early Years Framework.

2. 16+ - More Choices, More Chances Strategy Group and East Lothian Works Planning Board. (This group is a central point of contact for employment, training, business start-up, business growth and recruitment for individuals and businesses. Its key strategic objective is to increase the proportion of East Lothian residents working in and contributing to East Lothian’s economy. )

3. Corporate Parenting – the Looked After Children Planning Group. This group takes forward the corporate parenting policy and action plans

4. The East and Midlothian Child Protection Committee (EMCPC) is the key group dealing with child protection work in East Lothian and Midlothian. It includes representatives from both areas who have a role in delivering services for children and young people

5. Additional Support Needs/ Disability Group. Children’s Services agencies are represented at this sub-group, which co-ordinates relevant interagency developments

These Theme Groups will be responsible for prioritising and delivering on specific key actions from this plan. These groups may be amended as we further reflect upon their effectiveness and coverage of key issues.

CROSS-CUTTING/SUPPORT GROUPS

The following support groups cut across all themes and services with a view to improving the delivery of our services to children.

1. Training - Each of the Inter-Agency Groups highlight training needs related to the particular area they are focussed on. A GIRFEC Practice Development Group has been established to co-ordinate and respond to the range of training needs.

2. Communication and Service User Involvement A Participation Steering Group has been established to ensure that all the Inter-Agency

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Groups are supported in including the views and participation of children, young people and their families.

East Lothian’s Partnership Board has demonstrated its commitment to the participation of children and young people by signing up to the Participation Strategy 2011 - 2013.

http://www.eastlothian.gov.uk/downloads/file/4536/children_and_young_peoples_participation_strategy

This strategy outlines how agencies can engage in the process of participation and adopt the vision, values, principles and standards that will allow for a consistent approach to participative working. Participation lead officers and members of the participation steering group are currently reviewing the Participation Strategy Action Plan and developing a new participation Strategy and Action plan for 2013- 17. The Multi-Agency Participation Steering Group brings together all the strands of consultation, involvement and advocacy work with children, young people and their families that are currently being carried out by community planning partners and which have contributed to the identification of the priority areas for integrated children’s services planning. Parents involved in the Family Led Information Point (FLIP) and Looked After Children (LAC) attending “The Group” are being consulted on the ICSP itself.

3. Quality Improvement . The Quality Improvement Group will oversee quality assurance, and, in particular, contribute to, monitor and implement GIRFEC and Child Protection through the Integrated Children’s Services Plan and the Inter-agency Child Protection Improvement Plan. This Group reports to the Joint Child Protection Committee and the GIRFECYP Group.

This approach links the discrete contribution of each individual agency and service with more over-arching actions which require inter-agency working. This method of working ensures that children and young people achieve the well-being indicators: safe, healthy, achieving, nurtured, active, respected, responsible and included

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2. CONTEXT - WHAT UNDERPINS OUR PRACTICE?

There is currently a great focus on improving outcomes for children and young people. This section outlines the national drivers that underpin this plan and the opportunities that they bring.

We also face some significant challenges. The number of children requiring our intervention or support is increasing at a time when public sector finances are being squeezed. This means that within East Lothian, we need to focus on prevention and early intervention; think more creatively as to how we deliver services and work collaboratively to ensure that we make best use of the resources available to us.

Context and Drivers

2.1 National Context and Drivers

‘Getting It Right For Every Child’ builds on the foundation laid by ‘For Scotland’s Children’ (2001) and underpins our practice. We are working together to achieve a positive shift in cultures, systems and practice to embed a ‘getting it right for every child’ approach into everything we do.

GIRFEC Core Components:

• A focus on improving outcomes for children, young people and their families based on a shared understanding of well-being.

• An integral role for children, young people and families and those with a relevant interest in reaching the decisions that affect children’s lives as part of assessment, planning and intervention.

• Maximising the skilled workforce within universal services to address concerns at the earliest point and, where necessary, involve others.

• A common approach to gaining consent and sharing information where appropriate.

• A coordinated and unified approach to identifying concerns, assessing needs, agreeing actions and reviewing outcomes based on indicators of well-being.

• Streamlined planning, assessment and decision making processes that lead to the right help at the right time for the child.

• Consistent high standards of co-operation, joint working and communication, across Scotland, where more than one agency needs to be involved.

• A confident and competent workforce in the statutory universal and targeted services as well as the independent sector.

• A lead professional to co-ordinate and monitor multi-agency activity where necessary.

• The capacity to share demographic, assessment, planning and outcome information electronically within and across agency boundaries through the national eCare programme where appropriate.

Research and recent policy puts an emphasis on early intervention. The Early Years Framework has built on the Early Years Strategy and is now being taken forward through the Early Years Collaborative which aims to accelerate the conversion of the high level principles set out in GIRFEC and the Early Years Framework into

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practical action which will deliver tangible improvement in outcomes and reduce inequalities for Scotland’s vulnerable children. East Lothian and Midlothian are taking a joint approach to this.

The Children and Young People Bill promotes the rights of children and young people and aims to improve the way services work to support children, young people and families, through the implementation of GIRFEC. In particular it will: • Ensure that all children and young people from birth to 18 years old have access

to a Named Person; • Put in place a single planning process to support those children who require it; • Place a definition of wellbeing in legislation; and • Place duties on public bodies to coordinate the planning, design and delivery of

services for children and young people with a focus on improving wellbeing outcomes, and report collectively on how they are improving those outcomes.

It also aims to strengthen the role of early years support in children’s and families’ lives through increasing the amount and flexibility of free early learning and childcare from 475 hours a year to a minimum of 600 hours for 3 and 4 year olds, and 2 year olds who are, or have been at any time since turning 2, looked after or subject to a kinship care order. To ensure better permanence planning for looked after children, the Bill will: • Provide for a clear definition of corporate parenting, and define the bodies to

which it will apply; • Place a duty on local authorities to assess a care leaver’s request for assistance

up to and including the age of 25; • Provide for additional support to be given to kinship carers in relation to their

parenting role through the kinship care order and provide families in distress with access to appropriate family counselling; and

• Put Scotland’s Adoption Register on a statutory footing.

The Social Care (Self-directed Support) (Scotland) Act 2013 gives people a range of options for how their social care is delivered, beyond just direct payments, empowering people to decide how much ongoing control and responsibility they want over their own support arrangements. The Act (due to be implemented in early 2014) will give local authorities additional duties: • To offer the choices and act on the person’s choice • To explain the nature and effect of options and to signpost people to information

and support • To promote the availability of the SDS

The Scottish Government intends to legislate to require Health Boards and Local Authorities to integrate health and social care services for all adults, believing that integration of service planning and delivery is the most effective way to support person-centred care. They have stated that local partners (Health Boards and Local Authorities) are best placed to decide whether children's services should fall within the scope of these new arrangements, but intend to legislate so that, in future, the Scottish Government can extend the range of areas of service provision that must be included in the integrated arrangement. In East Lothian the current proposals relate only to health and social care services for all adults.

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The Children’s Hearings (Scotland) Act 2011 is a large piece of legislation, which brings almost all of the legislation relevant to children’s hearings into one place – it replaces large sections of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995. There will now be a National Convenor, a National Children’s Panel and a new national body, the Children’s Hearings Scotland (CHS), which will support the national convener to provide national standards. However, the overarching principles stay the same, the fundamental role of the children’s panel does not change and the justification for imposing compulsory measures remains the same; child is need of: Guidance, Treatment, Control or Protection.

The National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland is a national framework for agencies and practitioners at local level to understand and agree processes for working together to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. It sets out expectations for strategic planning of services to protect children and young people and highlights key responsibilities for services and organisations, both individual and shared. It also includes guidance for practitioners on specific areas of practice and key issues in child protection including Child Trafficking and Internet Safety. The Edinburgh and Lothians Child Protection Procedures have timescales which challenge our ability to provide full and inclusive assessments in partnership with colleagues and families which are fundamental to our current implementation of Signs of Safety in East Lothian. This is a way of working in high-risk, child protection cases in a solution-focused, safety oriented way, according to clear underpinning practice principles and elements. The central idea is that safety for children in high-risk cases is best built through partnership with families and collaboration between agencies, and that we need to focus on signs of safety – which every family has some of – and family and community knowledge and expertise. The ASL Act (2004) (amended 2009) and the Education Scotland (2000) Act introduced a new framework for supporting children and young people and their families in school education and replaced the term ‘special educational needs’ with ‘additional support needs’, which applies to children and young people whom, for whatever reason, require additional support, long or short term. The Act promotes collaborative working among all professionals supporting children and young people. A major thrust of the ASL Act is to ensure coordinated multi agency support for those with significant and enduring needs.

The Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) is based on 4 capacities: • Successful learners • Confident individuals • Responsible citizens • Effective contributors

The Local Authority through the development of a Curriculum For Excellence strives to ensure that all children and young people have a progressive, broad and coherent curriculum from 3- 18. The curriculum in all our schools has a clear rationale and is based on shared values, learner entitlements and develops the four capacities. It will support the development of pupils’ knowledge and understanding, skills and abilities by offering experiences which offer application, depth and challenge within their learning. The secondary schools are well prepared for the introduction of the new national qualifications in 2014.

Looked After Children - the role of Councils as corporate parents was central to the conclusions and recommendations of Extraordinary Lives (2005) which was based

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on listening to the views of young people who had been looked after, along with those of staff, and foster carers and kinship carers. These themes were developed in Looked after children and young people: we can and must do better (2007), and in the guidance for councils and community planning partnerships, These Are our Bairns (2008), on improving opportunities for looked after children. A Refreshed Framework for Maternity Care in Scotland (2011) is the foundation for how the NHS addresses all care from conception, throughout pregnancy and during the postnatal phase. The Maternal and Infant Nutrition Framework for Action aims to improve maternal and infant nutrition in Scotland and is aimed at a wide variety of organisations, with a role in improving maternal and infant nutrition in Scotland. A New Look at HALL 4: The Early Years: Good Health for Every Child (2011) is important as it re-introduces the 27-30 month review. These three documents are key as they support the work of the Early Years Collaborative in Scotland. The Police and Fire Reform Act 2012 has led to the formation of Police Scotland whose purpose is “To improve the safety and wellbeing of people, places and communities in Scotland” and whose focus is “Keeping people safe”.

Changes in the structure within the PPU, and the introduction of J division, which covers East, Mid, West Lothian and the Scottish Borders, will have a positive impact as the police now have additional units / resources which target sexual crime and domestic abuse. There continues to be a strong emphasis on child protection and “Keeping People Safe”.

Within J Division there are 2 Domestic Abuse Investigation Units (DAIUs), overseen by a Detective Inspector. Each Unit is made up of a Detective Sergeant, a risk assessor and 5 response officers who progress outstanding domestic incidents so that offenders are targeted and dealt with quickly and consistently and there is an improved service to the victims of domestic abuse. This in turn impacts on child protection with better outcomes for children and their families as a result of positive action by police.

To coincide with this officers throughout J Division are undertaking pro active Domestic Abuse bail checks. This has a positive impact on the victims of domestic abuse; gives the police an opportunity to monitor the safety and well being of children who may be caught up in domestic abuse and also helps ensure a safe and healthy pregnancy to pregnant mothers who are victims of domestic abuse

There are also 2 Divisional Rape Investigation Units (DRIUs) within J Division overseen by a Detective Inspector. Each unit consists of a Detective Sergeant and 8 Detective Constables. The DRIU are responsible for carrying out investigations into live and historical rapes and when appropriate other serious sexual crimes. The aim is that by providing a dedicated unit the response and resources deployed will achieve a better service to victims of this type of crime.

2.2 Local context and drivers This action plan should be seen in the context of a number of local strategies and policies. These include:

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• The East Lothian Council Plan 2012-2017: Working Together for a Better East Lothian: Growing our People: We will give our children the best start in life

• The draft NHS Lothian Children and Young People’s Strategy 2013 – 2020

• A Sense of Belonging – A joint strategy for improving the mental health and well-being of Lothian’s population, 2011-2016

• Inter-agency Child Protection Procedures, Edinburgh and the Lothians

• ELC’s Economic Development Strategy focuses on employability, Opportunities for All is an explicit commitment to offer all 16-19 year olds who are not already engaged a place of learning or training.

2.3 User Involvement and Consultation

East Lothian partners are committed to involving and consulting children, young people and families in the development, delivery and review of policies and services. Examples include:

The Education Service undertakes a Pupil evaluation survey on an annual basis. The Survey asks young people in Primary 6 and Secondary 2 for their view on a wide range of subjects, including community safety, participation, child protection and environmental issues. In 2112, 1,953 pupils completed the pupil survey out of a total of 1,933. The survey results are used to inform service planning by all community planning partners.

Children’s Wellbeing uses Viewpoint (Computer Assisted Interviewing Technology) as a tool to gain the views of children and young people. The questions are based on the SHANARI Wellbeing Indicators and completed questionnaires are used to inform their individual plans and reviews as well as multiagency service planning. During the period February 2012 to April 2013, young people from East Lothian gave their views to their reviews through the Viewpoint Information System.

Young people and their parents and carers are also supported to use a wide range of tools that support direct work and inform service planning. These tools include ‘Your Views’ SHANARI Wheel, Have your Say. The use of GIRFEC talking mats are going to be rolled out on a multi agency basis in June 2013.

• Who cares? (Scotland) provide an independent children’s rights and advocacy service to children and young people who are looked after as well as supporting young people to inform service planning. East Lothian is planning to set up a Young Person’s Champions Board that will allow for ongoing dialogue between young people and community planning lead officers.

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Listen More Assume Less is a six monthly multi agency report that covers the views of children and young people as well as actions that are been taken based on what young people tell us. http://www.eastlothian.gov.uk/site/scripts/documents_info.php?documentID=1174

Family Led Information Point (FLIP) is a forum for parents and carers who have a child/relative with additional support needs. FLIP meets once a month and has an active Facebook page where parents can access current information about support services both locally and nationally. FLIP parents have been involved in consultations about a range of services and policies in East Lothian including summer activities, GIRFEC implementation, and the implementation of Self Directed Support.

Young people have also been directly involved in the planning for and delivery of the corporate parenting strategy and action plan. Young people produced a video about their experience of care. A youth group for young people has been set up. Young people have also been able to access discounted access to leisure and sports activities in East Lothian. East Lothian Council also has a commitment to involve young people in the recruitment and selection of senior staff in East Lothian. Young people who are looked after as well as young people who have additional support needs have participated well in this process.

Parents and community members have the opportunity to be actively involved in decision making around services and developments for children early years through the six cluster-based Support from the Start area groups. Although a process that is only slightly over a year in duration so far a wide range of parent have become key members of the groups and that is evidenced in one being awarded the ‘East Lothian community activist of the year’ award

East Lothian partners will continue to build on the existing systems and processes that we have in place for involving and consulting young people through the work of the Communication and Service User Involvement Group.

2.4 Budget

This Plan is being written at a time of contracting budgets in many services which challenge our commitments to refocus spend from crisis management to early years and early intervention. Appendix 2 is an attempt to express the balance of spend between the stages from universal to crisis intervention. The Early Years Strategy encourages budget redistribution but apart from Pathways for Parents and some funding for Early Education the Change Fund is not providing new resources.

Referrals continue to rise. In the ten years since 2003, referrals to Children’s Wellbeing have increased from 1625 to 2961 (an 82% increase). The total number of looked after children has risen, as has the percentage accommodated away from home. The number of children in kincare has fallen, while the number in foster care has risen. The numbers in secure care have risen also - all with significant financial effect.

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In 2013/14, NHS Lothian have invested an additional £85,000 in East Lothian children’s universal health services, recognising the impact of an increasing birth-rate and the re-introduction of the 27-30 month review. 2.5 Population Increase

The General Register Office for Scotland’s 2010-based population projections state that East Lothian’s population will increase significantly over the next 10 years.

Between 2012 and 2022, East Lothian’s population will increase by 12% from 99,900 to 111,800. Scotland’s projected increase is 7%.

In East Lothian, as elsewhere in Scotland, demand for children’s services is increasing. 23.2% of the population are under the age of 19 which is a figure well above the national average. In the next ten years it is predicted there will be 3,628 more children and young people (0-18) in East Lothian. This total of 26,291 represents an increase of 13.8%.

2.6 Welfare Reform

The UK Government is planning to save up to £11billion annually from the benefit system through significant changes that will have major implications for those who rely on benefits and that will also significantly impact on the work of the East Lothian Partnership. The key reforms that will impact most are:

• Restrictions in the amount of Housing Benefit that can be claimed • Integration of Housing Benefit into a new Universal Credit • Replacement of Council Tax Benefit with local schemes • The longer term implications of the introduction of Universal Credit.

The Scottish Local Government Forum Against Poverty estimated that (as at September 2010) the proposed welfare reforms will result in an annual total loss of £8m-£9.5m in welfare benefits received by residents of East Lothian. The impact of welfare reform in East Lothian presents a number of challenges for the East Lothian Partnership. These include an increase in demand for some services including children’s wellbeing services, housing and homelessness services, free school meals and other services for vulnerable children and families.

2.7 Inequalities

Whilst overall East Lothian is not an area with high levels of deprivation compared to Scotland as a whole there are significantly higher levels of deprivation across different parts of the county which suggest high levels of inequality. Within East Lothian, the latest publication of SIMD data (2013) shows that deprivation is worsening in Musselburgh, Fa’side and Preston / Seton / Gosford wards. Investment in early intervention and prevention to overcome financial, social and health inequalities that may affect the future life chances of our children is increasingly important.

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3. PRIORITY THEMES

Taking into account the context above and through consultation with a range of stakeholders in East Lothian, approved by the GIRFECYP Theme Group, we have agreed 5 Priority Themes, within the Plan linked to and driven by multi-agency planning:

1. Early Years & Early Intervention - East Lothian’s children have the best start in life and are ready to succeed

2. Curriculum for Excellence and Positive Destinations - All of East Lothian’s young people are successful learners, confident individuals, effective contributors and responsible citizens.

3. Corporate Parenting - The outcomes of LAC children match the outcomes of other children.

4. Child Protection - Children are Safe 5. Additional Support Need and Disability - Children with a disability make

appropriate progress taking into account their age, aptitude and abilities

3.1 Early Years & Early Intervention - East Lothian’s children have the best start in life and are ready to succeed

A priority for East Lothian partners is to develop an Early Years and Early Intervention Strategy building on the work of the Support from the Start (SFTS) Plan, the Early Years Collaborative, the National Parenting Strategy, and the Early Years Framework. The focus will be on the following:

Early Years

Early Years encompasses services from pre-birth to starting school, in line with our participation in the national Early Years Collaborative jointly with Midlothian Council’s CPP. Through trying out tests of change across services, this will help further improve partnership and multi-agency working on early years and early intervention resulting in more positive outcomes for children and young people.

A key achievement in 2012 was establishing Support from the Start community

groups in each of the six school cluster areas for East Lothian. Each Cluster group has its own action plan – updated after every meeting – which describes how the area is working towards the outcomes identified for SFTS above. The key role of these groups is to involve parents and community in thinking and planning for achieving SFTS outcomes as well as co-ordinating and networking for local practitioners. The focus now is to increase the pace of progression in early years prevention and intervention activities, through determining service priorities and resource realignment within and across services, for incorporation into service plans. Each group has its own development budget which is used to support and develop local programmes that contribute to the SFTS outcomes. Prioritisation for funding is made by the groups with the guidance of a lead officer reporting to the head of children’s services. The local groups have contributed to a range of developments from baby massage to increased / enhanced play opportunities and professional development programmes.

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East Lothian partners are also planning the roll out of early learning and childcare provision as provided for in the Children and Young People Bill. This will strengthen the role of early years support in children’s and families’ lives through increasing the amount and flexibility of free early learning and childcare from 475 hours a year to a minimum of 600 hours for 3 and 4 year olds, and 2 year olds who are, or have been at any time since turning 2, looked after or subject to a kinship care order. As part of this we plan to increase resources for 2 year olds, assuming additional funding is forthcoming.

Early Intervention Investment in early intervention and prevention to overcome financial, social and health inequalities that may affect the future life chances of our children is increasingly important. Research and recent policy puts an emphasis on early intervention – the quicker we intervene in a family problem the less likely they will escalate towards crisis and need statutory interventions and the more chance of positive outcomes. Sir Harry Burns the Chief Medical Officer has encouraged the roll out of Support from the Start as part of our participation in the Equally Well initiative, calling for services to deliver “connectivity” - that is doing with, not to, people. However, while the national Early Years Strategy encourages budget redistribution there are few new resources. The Early Years Change Fund will be focussed on improving information and access and co-ordinating services, particularly evidence-based parenting programmes. A training programme and pack covering equalities in early years has been developed. This pack aims to support all those who are working in early years to be inclusive in their practice and help to ensure equality of opportunity for every child in their care. The Early Intervention Screening Group is an example of our commitment to early and effective interventions. Child concern forms (CCFs) submitted by police officers after attending an incident are shared with the members of this multi-agency group which meets every 2 weeks. One of the main objectives of this group is to agree a method of early intervention for the children discussed and to prevent escalation. The group is responsible for a decrease in referrals to SCRA. In East Lothian we are implementing GIRFEC (Getting it Right for Every Child) through Staged Assessment and Intervention (SA&I) - the assessment and planning framework for individual children and young people with additional support needs. Our aim is to achieve a child centred, holistic and integrated approach to assessment and planning of intervention for individual children to ensure that children and young people with additional support needs receive the earliest, most effective and least intrusive response to their needs. Early Intervention is not just about Early Years, it is also our approach throughout the school journey and how we deliver Curriculum for Excellence 3.2 Curriculum for Excellence and Positive Destinations -

All of East Lothian’s young people are successful learners, confident individuals, effective contributors and responsible citizens.

The ongoing development of Curriculum for Excellence continues to progress well across all schools in East Lothian, and specifically with regard to assessment and moderation in session 2012-13. A broad general education is being delivered across Nursery to S3, and secondary schools are broadly positive about their readiness to deliver National Qualifications 3, 4 and 5.

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Relationships are developing with partners, for example with Community Learning and Development and Children’s Wellbeing, to continue to support those learners who are vulnerable or at risk of missing out. Pathways providing wider choices and an increasingly wide range of options are provided in the senior phase to meet the needs of all young people.

16+ Hubs which are focussed on young people at risk of not entering positive destinations are embedded in secondary schools.

All schools have a particular focus on ensuring positive outcomes for Looked After Children and, although attainment is improving, the local authority is aware that it is not as good as it could be and are working towards improvement. Attainment of specific groups eg LAC, young carers and travellers forms part of self-evaluation and the schools’ tracking processes. All LAC have a designated member of staff.

A review of the way young people and their families and carers are currently supported during the transition into adulthood is underway. ‘My Future’ focuses on the additional support young people may need at this time and on any changes needing to be made in relation to options for young people post-school; young people’s journeys into adulthood; and information and communication about transitions.

3.3 Corporate Parenting The outcomes of LAC children match the outcomes of other children.

In November 2012 we organised a second Corporate Parenting Conference. At this conference we further developed the Corporate Parenting Policy and made a series of fresh commitments to help improve the outcomes of the 203 children and young people currently looked after in East Lothian, with a particular focus on those looked after at home and in kinship care, for whom some of our current models of provision are less appropriate because care within families is by its nature less formal.. We have committed to:

• Delivering family interventions that work to strengthen families so that children can safely stay with them

• Reducing the rate per thousand (0-18 population) of looked-after children and young people in East Lothian

• Reducing the number of looked-after and accommodated children and young people

• Keeping more looked-after children and young people locally placed, either with their families or in other placements

• Reducing placement moves and helping looked-after children and young people to build secure attachments • Improving the educational attainment and positive destinations of looked-after

children and young people.

However, the need for specialist resources, including secure accommodation and residential schools, has meant that these placements have had to be externally purchased. We have an action plan which is being putting into action - for instance, by increasing our kincare resources; sharing budgets across functions to ensure children can access appropriate services; working more effectively with colleagues and external stakeholders to ensure that our vision is achieved; improving our

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capacity to provide diversionary approaches; and developing clear early years, corporate parenting and kincare strategies and policies.

Looked After Children and Additional Support Needs

In preparation for all LAC reviews schools are asked to consider whether a looked after child requires additional support to benefit from school education. If required a decision tree meeting will be held to determine whether the criteria for a Co-ordinated Support Plan are met. Education and Children’s Wellbeing are designing paperwork to ensure robust decisions are made.

3.4 Child Protection - Children are Safe The East Lothian and Midlothian Chief Officers Group (CSOG) oversees:

• Child Protection; • Adult Protection; • Offender Management (MAPPA processes for sex offenders and the

management of violent offenders). • Violence against women • Midlothian and East Lothian Drug and Alcohol Partnership (MELDAP)

A Quarterly report is submitted to CSOG covering CP/AP and Offender Management facilitating analysis of data/trends and patterns across the 3 services. All children’s services in East Lothian are represented at the East and Midlothian Child Protection Committee. From April 2014 this will become a joint Public Protection Committee. We are looking to improve child protection case conferences. As a result of 2 years of multi-agency collaboration and planning we are implementing a Signs of Safety (SOS) approach for these meetings. The purpose is to improve outcomes for children and their families through the three P’s of improving:

• Preparation on children and families for the case conferences. • Participation enabling families to have better participation in the meetings.and

reduce power inequalities • Planning – a greater focus on planning

We are evaluating the process on a case by case basis by taking up feedback, talking to families and making ongoing adjustments.

• The number of children on the Child Protection Register has reduced since the beginning of this year and particularly since the introduction of SOS in April indicating that a child’s safety plan is being implemented in a significant number of cases as opposed to a Child Protection Plan and the child’s name being placed on the register.

Child Protection is based on robust multi-agency working in which we have: • An emailed Initial Referral Discussion process with IRD review meetings

every fortnight. • Joint and single agency child protection training. • Police using SHANARRI wellbeing indicators on CCFs and also IRDs

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• Commitment by all agencies to attend Child Protection Case Conferences (CPCCs), Risk Management Case Conferences (RMCCs) and Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) meetings.

• A police officer dedicated to “The Community Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme”, known as Keeping Children Safe”

3.5 Additional Support Needs and Disability- Children with a disability make appropriate progress taking into account their age, aptitude and abilities

Severe and Complex Needs

The local authority continues to meet its duties under the ASL Act (2004) (amended 2009) and the Education Scotland (2000) Act. Children (2-18) with severe and complex needs are educated in East Lothian in specialist provisions attached to mainstream schools or in mainstream schools with extra support. A number of children have split placements which enable them to continue to develop friendships in their local communities. Some children are educated and cared for outwith East Lothian in other local authority schools or independent schools.

We are undertaking a review of additional support needs (severe and complex) in East Lothian and have identified the following areas for development:

Physical space for secondary aged pupils

Over the next five years there will be an increasing shortage of places in our specialist provisions for young people of secondary age. The lack of capacity is particularly acute for young people with Autistic Spectrum Disorder. A range of options to expand provision within East Lothian are being investigated.

Primary/secondary transitions

The most appropriate stage for a child to transfer from primary to secondary is considered on an individual basis in consultation with parents/carers, school staff and all agencies working with the child. Decisions are made in terms of need not necessarily age.

Post-school transitions

Education, Children’s Wellbeing and Adult Wellbeing are working together to improve post-school transitions. Ideally transition planning should start around 14-15 years.

Skill mix of staff in provisions

Currently our provisions for children and young people with severe and complex needs are staffed by teachers, nursery nurses and auxiliaries. While a Severe and Complex Needs Nurse, funded by East Lothian and employed by NHS provides training, advice and support there is a need to consider whether healthcare professionals are required on an ongoing daily basis. The care and education needs of our young people should be met holistically and, in the longer term, we are considering the possibility of Ross High School ASN Base being a centre where education and care needs are met in one place with an appropriate mix of staff.

Mainstream Schools

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The additional support needs of the majority of children and young people are met in schools through mainstream education and support for learning. Extra resources are provided to schools to support those pupils whose needs meet the criteria for additional funding.

The Additional Support Needs and Disability sub-group co-ordinates relevant interagency developments. The main external drivers facing the group over the next four years are the implementation of Social Care (Self-directed Support) (Scotland) Act 2013, and the integration agenda for health and social care.

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4. ACTION PLAN:

This Action Plan uses the National Outcomes of particular relevance to the GIRFEC agenda, namely:

• National Outcome 4: All our young people are successful learners, confident individuals, effective contributors and responsive citizens

• National Outcome 5: Our children have the best start in life and are ready to succeed.

• National Outcome 8: We have improved the life chances for children, young people and families at risk or with disability.

Under the Community Planning heading “Resilient People”, National Outcomes 4 and 8 are grouped together within the East Lothian Single Outcome Agreement, as SOA5. “All of East Lothian’s young people are successful learners, confident individuals, effective contributors and responsible citizens” and NO 5 becomes SOA6. “East Lothian’s children have the best start in life and are ready to succeed”. These link with the section within the East Lothian Council Plan for 2012-2017: “Growing our People: We will give our children the best start in life”.

MONITORING AND PROGRESS REPORTING ON THE PLAN

Each Theme Group will be responsible for delivering key components of this plan with progress against the outcomes being reviewed at the GIRFECYP Theme Group.

Performance data will also be reported on a similar cycle aligned with action point reviews. The Action Plan describes the priority actions under the relevant East Lothian Outcome. The Lead Responsibility is the group or individual who will play a key role in progressing the action, although others will also be required to contribute towards the action. Relevant plans allow access to more detail related to the action.

East Lothian has piloted the Early Development Instrument at a population level measure of children’s early development. All p1 children in January 2012 were assessed by their class teacher using this assessment tool. The data is now being used to engage services and parents in initiatives aimed to improved scores on retest in January 2015

Performance data is collected and disseminated routinely by partners. The Scottish Government publishes a variety of information on its website in relation to children and young people including:

Academic Attainment Children Looked After Survey (CLAS return) Aggregate Child Protection Return Care leavers Attendance Exclusions Average Tariff scores Destinations Secure Accommodation

Information Services Division (Scotland) (ISD Scotland) is part of NHS National Services Scotland. It produces information on a range of child health topics including:

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Infant feeding Dental care Mental Health Injuries Hospital admissions Deaths

Within the Council and its partners the Monthly Digest produces activity and outcome data in relation to vulnerable children. This publication is augmented by a biannual publication called “Listen More: Assume Less which reports on the views of vulnerable East Lothian. The Education Division runs an annual survey into the views of all P6 and S2 pupils through the use of a Lime Survey questionnaire, the results of which inform planning for all children. East Lothian Council attempts to make all relevant information in relation to children publically available through its website. The East Lothian Community Planning website also details information and performance regarding children.

GIRFECYP Theme Group

July 2013

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GIRFEC/Integrated Children’s Services Action Plan 2013- 17 FIVE PRIORITY AREAS

SOA Outcome 5:

East Lothian’s children have the best start in life and are ready to succeed

Priority 1 ‐ Early Years & Early Intervention: Budget;

Total EL Health Visitor Budget £1,248,988 (for ALL services supplied)

Funding from Equally Well in 2012 / 2013 but further funding to be identified

Pre‐school education ‐ £5,382,000 Early Years Change Fund: 2012‐15 £168,000 – Family Information and Support

Medium Term Outcomes :

• Women have a positive experience of pregnancy • Families are supported • All children are ready to start primary school

Actions Relevant Plans Lead Responsibility Performance Measure

Target 2013/14

Target 2014/15

Target 2015/16

1. Develop a coherent Early Years and Early Intervention Strategy Roll out early years and child care provision

Support from the Start Plan, Early Years Collaborative, National Parenting Strategy, East Lothian

Parenting Strategy

Early Years Framework Early Development Instrument Refreshed Maternity Framework

Early Years Collaborative Parenting Strategy Group Head of Children’s Wellbeing Head of Education Manager Community Learning and Development Chief Nurse Chief Nurse

Workstream 1Workstream 2 Workstream 3 information available at the click of a button on the Council’s website

length of time children 0‐2 receiving range of support remain on CP Register/ HV “cause for

Production of an Early Years Strategy Community Planning Prevention and Early Intervention Strategy Achieve Tests of Change from Early Years Collaborative

Rate of stillbirths (15% reduction from 4.9 per 1,000 births in 2010 to 4.3 per 1,000 births in 2015) Rate of infant mortality (15 % reduction from 3.7 per 1,000 live births in 2010 to 3.1 per 1,000 live births in 2015),

Children have reached all of the expected developmental milestones at the time the child starts primary school (90% of all children by end‐2017)

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concern”

Reduction in pregnancies in under18yr olds 32.3 rate per 1,000 (2011) The number of under 18 pregnancies in Lothian was 436 (216 abortions, 220 deliveries), Heat Targets

2. All PS Children with identified additional needs are supported through the EYSAI process

Refreshed Maternity Framework

Practice Development Group Head of Children’s Wellbeing Chief Nurse Clinical Director Chief Midwife

All PS children living in East Lothian have appropriate and timely access to interventions. Strengthen the partnership approach towards Early Intervention & Prevention.

Children have reached all of the expected developmental milestones at the time of the child’s 27‐30 month child health review (85% of all children by end‐2016)

All pregnant woman in East Lothian have early access to Maternity Services

Refreshed Maternity Framework

Clinical Director Chief Midwife

All pregnant woman in East Lothian have access to early and appropriate antenatal care

80% of all East Lothian woman have booked antenatal assessment within 12 weeks of pregnancy

80% of all East Lothian woman have booked antenatal assessment within 12 weeks of pregnancy

Number of still births reduced by 1.0 per 100 births

Infant Mortality reduced by 2%

Reduce the number of Stillbirths to 3.9 per 1000 births (from a baseline of 4.9 per 1000 births 2010)

Refreshed Maternity Framework EYC

Clinical DirectorChief Midwife

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Reduce Infant Mortality by 2% from a baseline of 3.7 per 1000 live births in 2010

Refreshed Maternity Framework EYC

Clinical Director Chief Midwife

To ensure that 85% of all children within each Community Planning Partnership have reached all of the expected developmental milestones at the time of the child’s 27‐30 month child health review, by end‐2016

A New Look at HALL 4: The Early Years: Good Health for Every Child (2011)

Clinical Director Chief Midwife

100% of all children aged between 27‐30 months living in East Lothian are invited for developmental assessment

Indicators on uptake of 27‐30 month review will be developed based on 2013‐14 baseline

Children have reached all of the expected developmental milestones at the time of the child’s 27‐30 month child health review (New indicator ‐ 85% of all children by end‐2016)

SOA Outcome 4: All of East Lothian’s young people are successful learners, confident individuals, effective contributors and responsible citizens.

Priority 2. CURRICULUM FOR EXCELLENCE/SAI Budget : Total?

Primary £29,384,000Secondary £36,316,000 Integration Team ‐ £870,000 CCSF ‐ £167,000 FST ‐ £235,000 Payments to Voluntary Orgs ‐ £768,596

Medium Term Outcomes:

• All children, particularly those at risk, looked after or with a disability, make appropriate progress taking into account their age, aptitude and abilities

• Young people and children are involved in community life and their achievements are recognised • GIRFEC is effectively and safely implemented

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Actions Relevant Plans Lead Responsibility Performance Measure

Target 2013/14

Target 2014/15

Target 2015/16

1. As part of the schools implementation of GIRFEC ensure that all children, particularly LAC, Young Carers and other children with additional needs, make appropriate progress, raise performance and achieve their potential

Education Improvement Plan National Young Carers Strategy

Head of Education Head Teachers Carers Strategy Group

PIPS assessment Average Tariff S4 Scores % of pupils agreeing ‘I am able to contribute to decisions made in our school’ No of 12‐25yr‐olds achieving a national volunteering award (Duke of Edinburgh’s, Saltire, Prince’s Trust, John Muir HMIE inspections: • evaluate schools at

good or above in QI 5.3 – Meeting Learners Needs

• evaluate 80% of learning communities at good or above in QI 2 – Impact on Service Users

• % young carers identified

• Each school improvement plan to contain specific proposals for improving the attainment of looked after children.

Performance in Reading & Maths for all young people is in line with expectations or better than expected HMIE inspections: • evaluate 80%

of schools at good or above in QI 5.3 – Meeting Learners Needs

• evaluate 80% of learning communities at good or above in QI 2 – Impact on Service Users increase from previous survey

Increase young people in positive post‐school destinations

Year on year improvement

2. Develop and improve the preparation and transition of young

Corporate Parenting Action Plan

Head of Education Head of Policy and

% of young people in

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people into adulthood, in particular from education to work training, further and higher education, by close working between schools, Health, Adult and Children’s Wellbeing, the Council’s Employability Centre and other partners. Implement the actions from ‘My Future’ review of transitions to adulthood.

More Choices, More Chances (MCMC) strategic plan Check with A Hood ‘My Future’ Action plans: ‐ Post school options ‐ My Journey 0‐25 ‐ Communication and information

Partnerships East Lothian Works Opportunities for All

positive post‐school destinations

% young people meeting AW eligibility criteria who have had a transition meeting aged 15.

Numbers of young homeless

Reduction in young homeless people

Priority 3. Corporate Parenting: Budget

£150k – fostering & kin care expansion

External Provision ‐ £1,353,000 Social Work Team ‐ £1,734,366 Young Peoples Team ‐ £630,000 Family Placement Team ‐ £2,664,500 Lothian Villa ‐ £785,000 Pathway ‐ £823, 759

Medium Term Outcome:

• The outcomes of LAC children match the outcomes of other children.

• Children are cared for in their communities, schools and families

Actions Relevant Plans Lead Responsibility Performance Measure

Target 2013/14

Target 2014/15

Target 2015/16

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1. Match the outcomes of LAC children with the outcomes of other children.

Corporate Parenting Policy and Action Plan

Chief ExecutiveChief Nurse Corporate Parenting Lead Officer/Chair LAC Group

Attendance Exclusion Attainment Destination East Lothian care leavers had initial positive post school destinations of 80% rising to 100% nine months later (2011/12) Average Tariff Score for Looked After children who left school was 138 compared with 106 nationally (2011/12) Reduce the percentage of accommodated children with 3 or more placement moves The percentage of external residential placements % uptake for Mental Health screening of Looked After Children Percentage implementation of Corporate parenting action plan

Reduce gap with non looked after average year on year Year on year increase Decrease year on year Decrease year on year (from Commissioning Strategy RJC)

2. Seek adoption (or other form of Adoption Strategic Plan Head of Children’s Wellbeing Recruitment of Recruitment of Recruitment of 9 Recruitment of

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permanency) as best way forward for all children who have no prospect of returning to the care of their birth families

Adoption Strategy Group, Service Manager Resources

adopters 9 adopters per year

adopters per year

9 adopters per year

3. Develop Kinship Care

Commissioning Strategy

Head of Children’s Wellbeing Number of kincarers increase of 7 Target of 62 increase from the current 48 to 70 kinship placements

4. Delivering family interventions that work to strengthen families so that children can safely stay with them

Commissioning Strategy

Head of Children’s Wellbeing Reduce the number of looked‐after and accommodated children and young people

a reduction from 156 now to 150

to 145 140

Priority 4. Child Protection

Medium Term Outcome:

• Children are Safe

Budget

1) Child Protection shared project costs for Public Protection coordination office budget £10,670

2) Child Protection committee unit total budget £88,710 split 3 ways between Health and Police and ELC

3) Changing Children Services fund (CCSF) Health posts £167,000 4) MELDAP (Partnership with Midlothian, NHS Lothian, L&B Police

and Voluntary sector) Midlothian and East Lothian Drugs and Alcohol partnership £84,120 (£74k comes from grant)

5) Social Work Child Protection £124,260

Actions Relevant Plans Lead Responsibility Performance Measure

Target 2013/14

Target 2014/15

Target 2015/16

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1. Work together to reduce risk and ensure vulnerable children and those whose names are on the CP register are as safe as possible 2. Implement Signs of Safety

Single Outcome Agreement Multi‐agency CP Action Plan East Lothian Child Protection Action Plan Children’s Wellbeing CP Action Plan

Independent Chair of Child Protection Committee Chief Nurse Executive Director for People

Viewpoint ‐ children on the CP register who report feeling safe % of children who reappear on the Child Protection Register within 12 months % deregistered in 6 months Services for Children Inspection Report 2013/14 Signs of safety evaluation

5% Implement the delivery in the first year

5% Evaluation demonstrates the 3 P’S, that is better preparation of families for the meetings, greater participation of families at the meetings and smarter plans emerging from the meetings

5%

Priority 5. Additional Support Needs / Disability

Medium Term Outcomes:

• Children with a disability make appropriate progress taking

Budget

ASL ‐ £7,972,000 Disability ‐ £274,834 Care at Home ‐ £264,000

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into account their age, aptitude and abilities• Young people and children with a disability are involved in

community life • Appropriate services and supports are available to all

Actions Relevant Plans Lead Responsibility Performance Measure

Target 2013/14

Target 2014/15

Target 2015/16

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1. Identify and take forward issues around establishing holistic provisions for children/young people with severe/complex needs in East Lothian.

• Agree inter‐agency protocols regarding sources and funding of services including respite

• Support respite provision.

ASN Disability StrategyChildren’s Disability Action Plan Housing Strategy Community Learning Strategy (Enjoy Leisure?)

Child Health CommissionerHead of Education Head of Children’s Wellbeing Head of Adult Services

Develop a Transitions (0‐25) pathway Percentage use of Transitions passport Respite provision measured using Viewpoint

Increase the number of places available in East Lothian for children & young people with severe & complex needs Increase the number of places available for young people with disabilities accessing East Lothian’s summer activity Programme; Enjoy Leisure, and child and youth provision .

Baseline to be established

Uptake of 100 places

2. Promote and mainstream needs of children with disabilities

ASN Disability StrategyChildren’s Disability Action Plan

Disability Planning GroupMyra Galloway / Bill Axon

Number of young people with disabilities accessing East Lothian’s Summer Activity Programme Feedback from FLIP regarding parental satisfaction Enjoy Leisure, child and youth provision Junior Disabled Leisure Passes issued 2013 – 27 2013 ‐ 185

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