Agenda item

The Board was advised on the arrangements for the transition of Sure Start Local Programmes to Children’s Centres.  Sure Start resources had created accessible services for young children and their families and the Children Centre model was taking this on to the next level.

 

In Halton there were five Sure Start local programmes. The local authority was the accountable body for three of the programmes and  NCH North West had acted as accountable body for two of the programmes. All five Sure Start programmes currently provided core offer Children’s Centre Services. Staff across the five programmes generally were on temporary contracts with the exception of the co-ordinators for the NCH led Sure Start programmes. A full review of the delivery of core offer services from core team staff had commenced and such posts, with any commissioned services, would be reviewed alongside the needs identified in Halton’s Children and Young People’s plan.

 

               It was reported that the Executive Board had recently agreed to seek the transfer of the accountable body for the NCH led Sure Start local programmes to the local authority. As a consequence, negotiations and planning were on-going with NCH to secure the  TUPE transfer of core staff from 1^st July 2006.

 

               In addition, it was noted that the Sure Start Programme managers across all five programmes had been acting as Children’s Centre co-ordinators on an informal basis during the inception of the programme. The programme was now progressing to develop clusters of Children’s Centres and outreach services through extended schools and Children and Young People area networks.

 

               A new job description was being drawn up to cover these areas, the existing co-ordinators across the five programmes will be invited to apply.

 

               It was noted that in Phase 1 of Children’s Centre developments, nine centres were being developed to service families living in the 20% most disadvantaged wards – four centres in Widnes and five in Runcorn. Specific targets were set for the number of children to be reached by Centres.

 

               In Phase 2,  the 30% most disadvantaged areas (as defined by the ODPM Super Output Areas) would be targeted and there was also flexibility to develop centres outside of the most disadvantaged areas. .

 

               A needs analysis had been prepared to form Phase 2 planning and provide a breakdown of the population of 0-19 year olds across all wards. A needs analysis also demonstrated that within most areas of Halton there were sufficient childcare places already in existence. It would also be more cost effective and better for managing the Children’s Services market for Children’s Centres to be designed around existing provision including family support centres, day nurseries and pre-school groups, maintained schools and learning facilities.

 

                    With these factors in mind, the needs analysis provided the basis for the creation of three new Children’s Centres covering the following areas:

 

                    (i)    Castlefields;

                    (ii)   Hough Green and Birchfield; and

                    (iii)  Appleton and Farnworth.

 

 

 

                                        Following approval by the Executive Board in November 2005, feasibility work was currently being undertaken in relation to these Phase 2 proposals.

 

                                        RESOLVED: That