Issue - meetings

The Portfolio Holder for Children, Education, Skills, and Early Help to present the report and the recommendation from People & Health Overview Committee of 17 October 2023.

That the approach to delivering the Families First for Children Pathfinder, as set out in the report to People and Health Overview Committee of 17 October 2023, be approved.

Reason for the decision

Participation in the Pathfinder programme was a huge opportunity for Dorset to shape the national transformation of children and families strategy and policy and to ensure that Dorset Council was well placed to implement these policy changes when they were rolled out nationally.  Department for Education funding would be made available and would be used to support the required change. 

The Portfolio Holder for Childrens, Education, Skills and Early Help presented the report and the recommendations of the People and Health Overview Committee of 17 October 2023.

The report set out an overview of the approach the council was taking to implement the Families First for Children Pathfinder delivering the Government’s Stable Homes, Built on Love Strategy.  He continued that this was an opportunity for Dorset to shape the national transformation of children and families strategy and policy, to ensure that Dorset Council was well placed to implement these policy changes when they were rolled out nationally.

It was proposed by Cllr B Quayle seconded by Cllr S Gibson

Decision

That the approach to delivering the Families First for Children Pathfinder, as set out in the report to People and Health Overview Committee of 17 October 2023, be approved.

Reason for the decision

Participation in the Pathfinder programme was a huge opportunity for Dorset to shape the national transformation of children and families strategy and policy and to ensure that Dorset Council was well placed to implement these policy changes when they were rolled out nationally.  Department for Education funding would be made available and would be used to support the required change. 

To receive a report by the Corporate Director for Care and Protection.

The Executive Director of People – Children introduced the report on the Families First for Children Pathfinder. Dorset Council was selected by the Department for Education to be one of three pilot local authorities for the pathfinder. The council had received the first round of funding and was expecting more further funding in November.

The Corporate Director for Care and Protection gave a presentation which is attached to these minutes. The presentation outlined the recommendations, the six pillars of the strategy, developing a new model to deliver the pathfinder, the progress made, and the financial implications to the council.

Members asked questions on the report and raised the following points:

·         The Treasury were supportive if the programme to keep children in their extended families.

·         The police and health services would like additional funding for the programme but have not received any.

·         The current system had a focus on crisis intervention; however the programme would change the integrated care system to focus on early intervention and prevention.

·         The family help pillar could be achieved through family hubs and creating networks of support.

Proposed by Cllr Ezzard, seconded by Cllr Jones.

Decision

That the People and Health Overview Committee recommend to Cabinet that the approach to delivering the Families First for Children Pathfinder be adopted by the council.