Focus on improving support for vulnerable children

On Friday 14 February 2003 at the Greenhill Hotel, Wigton, two of the County Council's consultative forums and the Member's Children's Forum come together in an unprecedented move. They meet with a wide group of key stakeholders to gain a range of views about the potential integration of children's social services and education. This 'Learning and Care' Forum will focus on the way forward for improving services for children and families in Cumbria. 

Cumbria County Council's Chief Executive, Louis Victory will present a report for discussion entitled 'Shaping Learning and care - The Context'. He says, 

"Cumbria County Council is committed to improving service delivery and ensuring services offer high quality and value for money. It aims to use staff and resources more effectively. It is important to find out if greater alignment of Education and children's Social Services would meet these aims and improve outcomes for children and families in Cumbria. 

The importance of the issue is further highlighted by the Government's Modernisation Agenda for local council's. This modernising theme has resulted in legislation and guidance encouraging partnership working between Social Services, Education, Health, Police, Probation and the Voluntary and Private sector to enable them to consider alternative ways of providing and delivering services, focussed on the person receiving the service - in this case, the child. We are committed to providing quality services to all children and their families and to seek new ways to protect vulnerable young people and maximise their educational attainment - the two are already linked!." 

County Councillor Jim Webster, Chair of the Forum, explains how the forum discussion process will work. He says, 

"This is a very important issue for the Council and the people of Cumbria. It is vital that we gain as many views as possible about the way ahead for these services. The Forum will be asked to split into groups to look at the potential barriers and benefits of integration between Education and Social Services. They will look at possible solutions for removing all barriers to cooperation which might benefit a child's welfare and future success in life. 

There is already a strong case for joint working between Education and Social Services. The question is how this should be developed and expanded to maximise benefits. The Forum groups will discuss four specific questions relating to the potential integration of services for children and families in the County." 

Members of staff from Education and Social Services will facilitate the Forum groups. They will consider the following questions, 

• What do you feel are the current barriers between Education and Social Services preventing more effective working for the benefit of service users? 
• What do you feel are the barriers to more effective working between County Council services and external statutory and voluntary organisations? 
• What suggestions would you propose for overcoming these barriers? 
• What improvements would you expect for children and families, arising from more integrated working between agencies?    

The views and opinions of the Learning and Care Forum will help inform later decisions by the Council on these issues.