An important step towards even closer integration of services for children, young people and families in Cumbria took place today (Thursday 6 September) with the launch of a new commissioning trust.
Cumbria Children's Trust will be responsible for ensuring joint planning and commissioning of children's services across the county.
The new commissioning trust builds on the success of the county's Children and Young People's Strategic Partnership, whose members have been working together at every level to deliver services that will improve the quality of life and wellbeing of Cumbria's children and young people.
The partnership brings together all the public agencies that provide services to children and families, including the county council, district councils, the police, Cumbria PCT, Connexions, voluntary and community organisations.
Today's signing of a protocol by the partnership means the new trust will become responsible for setting the direction of children's services, including priorities, and will also ensure that the partners use their resources in the most effective way towards their stated aim of providing 'the best for every child, young person and family.'
Cumbria Children's Trust will have the responsibility of deciding how best to deliver a wide range of existing services as well as new ones. It will make its decisions based on comprehensive and up to date analysis of the needs of the children and young people themselves, their families and their local communities.
Monitoring the performance of services and also ensuring that best practice is shared locally, regionally and nationally will also fall to the trust.
Although formally launched today, the trust has already begun fundamental reviews of services in five specific areas:
- children who are looked after by the local authority
- support for families
- behaviour support
- integrated youth support services
- services for children with disabilities
These reviews will look at the options for integrating any current services and also any opportunities for improving the way those services are delivered, to ensure that they better meet the needs of children and young people.
The new trust strengthens partnership working in the county and ensures that Cumbria is fulfilling the requirements of the Children's Act (2004). Cumbria has a good track record of delivering on this important legislation. The county moved promptly after the legislation was introduced to appoint Moira Swann, Director of Children's Services at Cumbria County Council, and a lead member for Children's Services, Councillor Philip Chappelhow.
Moira Swann said:
"Today marks another major step forward in our commitment to ensuring that every child and young person in Cumbria can reach their full potential as adults.
"We have a clear plan for Cumbria Children's Trust for the next three years, based on what children and their families have told us they need. Bringing the planning and commissioning of services together 'under one roof' through this new trust will enable us to work even more closely together and be even more effective.
Councillor Philip Chappelhow said:
"Services for children and young families in Cumbria are already regarded as good, but this trust should help the different organisations who provide those services become even more focused and effective, which can only get us nearer to our commitment of developing the best services we possibly can."
ENDS
Further information from Alison Lister, Media Team, (01228) 606335
Notes
The protocol will be signed by representatives of Cumbria County Council, Allerdale, Barrow, Carlisle, Copeland, Eden and South Lakeland councils, Learning and Skills Council, the Police, Primary Heads Association, Probation Service, Secondary Heads Association, Voluntary and Community Sector, Youth Offending Service
The Children and Young People's Plan 2007-2010 is at www.cumbriastrategicpartnership.org.uk/
local_area_agreement/childrenandyoungpeople.asp