Family Forum
The meeting began with a general introduction from everyone
and a brief summary of their organisation.
Information exchange sheets were provided for members to
detail issues that they would like to be raised.
Apologies were read out and a list of members was circulated
so that organisations who
may like to attend but are not aware of the forum could be added and contacted.
Copies were circulated regarding “Every Child Matters” – the
Children’s Green Paper. The paper was explained.
The Green Paper was a result of Lord Laming’s
report into the Victoria Climbie death last autumn
and built on work conducted for the Children and Young People’s Unit’s
overarching strategy. The 30th
November was the last day for replies to the consultation and it is likely to
become law very soon.
The scope of the Green Paper is that it is now a focus on
improving and joining up services for children no matter where they are, with
an emphasis on children at risk. There
is going to be a framework for assessment for children.
No child must slip through the net and every child should
reach their potential. It is moving the
balance towards prevention and early intervention.
Due to poor rates of pay and training/promotion
opportunities there is a shortage of social care workers across the country. Feedback was given in the consultation that
there was not enough mention of the voluntary sector and their dealings with
children.
The paper calls for clear accountability and integrating
services around the needs of the child.
It will raise the priority of child protection in all services and will ensure
that information is shared between all partners. This
includes everybody who deals with the provision of services and support for
children. Early intervention and
support will result in early detection and practical support. The Data Protection Act is currently seen as
restrictive but by March 2004 with some changes, more
people will be able to share information about children to enable early
concerns to be flagged.
A training event will be held in January/February 2004 for
all people who work with children and families, to teach them how to input
their service information into the new database which has just been developed. Anyone interested should submit their details
to Pauline Ruth.
Future Issues
In order to make the Forum work, suggestions were invited
for future meetings:
·
A
presentation from the Local Authority on how they are going to implement the
Green Paper and how they are going to address the budget issues.
·
Dog
fouling and how it can be harmful to children.
Although you can be fined for dog fouling, the law is not really
enforced. A session on environmental
issues was suggested for children and families covering both fouling and
hazardous dumping of appliances etc.
·
The
key things that cause families in crisis and what can be done to avoid these
situations.
·
How
people have fun in families.
·
How
does the family forum fit with the Statutory Sector.
Information
Exchange
Halton Children’s
Fund
Halton Children’s Fund’s services are up and running now and
having significant outcomes for children, young people and families. We are still awaiting decisions on future
funding from central Government.
HAFS (Halton
Autistic Family Support Group)
Existence of Halton Carers’ umbrella group.
Halton Borough
Council – Identification Referral and Tracking
The development of a regional service directory available on
the internet will soon be available to all organisations providing services or
support to children and young people and families.
Halton
Psychotherapy and Family Services (HPFS)
We focus on early intervention into parenting and/or
attachment difficulties during periods of vulnerability in a family’s life
cycle particularly in the context of mental health problems. We aim to help the
family function in a way that meets the needs of all of its members.
Butterfly
Project/Children’s Bereavement Service
Drop-in sessions for parents and
carers of bereaved children to be able to access advice, support and resources
to begin running in the New Year. Will be advertised
in local press and will be held in various different community centres every month or six weeks.
Barnardo’s Wider Horizons
Provide support to enable disabled children aged 5-13 to
access play and leisure activities.
Currently recruiting sessional support workers
and looking to recruit volunteers.
Child Accident
Prevention – Health Promotion Halton PCT
I’ve attached the price list for Halton HELPS and the list
of outlets where the equipment is sold. We
are currently reviewing these lists and asking for feedback from local
families. We will be running a big
campaign in Child Safety Week (June 2004) on preventing trips and falls.
There will be a conference held on
Debbie thanked everyone for coming and asked if they could
tell people about this forum and get them involved.
The next meeting will be held the first week in February
2004 in Runcorn. Details
to be sent out nearer the time.