Paper 14
Ayrshire and Arran NHS Board
Monday 19 August 2019
South Ayrshire Children’s Services Plan Annual Report 2018/19
Author: Sponsoring Director: Danielle Rae, Policy and Planning Officer Tim Eltringham, Director of Health and Social Care – South Ayrshire
Date: 8 July 2019
Recommendation
The Board is asked to: • support the contents of the South Ayrshire Children’s Services Plan Annual Report for 2018/19; and • request that the Depute Chief Executive and Director-People for South Ayrshire Council, acting on behalf of the Community Planning Partnership, continues to provide annual progress reports on the Plan to the NHS Board.
Summary
The Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 introduced new duties on a range of public bodies on planning and reporting. Part 3 of the Act requires that a Children’s Services Plan be prepared jointly by local authorities and health boards. In line with this Act the South Ayrshire Children’s Services Plan was prepared for a three year period from 1 April 2017.
An Annual Report is drafted to provide a progress update on the actions identified in the Plan and is attached as Appendix 1.
Key Messages:
This paper outlines some key achievements contained within South Ayrshire Children’s Services Plan Annual Report 2018/19.
Glossary of Terms
None
1 of 53 1. Background
1.1 The Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 introduced new planning and reporting duties on a range of public bodies. Part 3 of the Act requires a Children’s Services Plan to be prepared jointly by local authorities and health boards to cover a three year period, commencing 1 April 2017.
1.2 Following widespread consultation in 2016/17, South Ayrshire’s Children’s Services Plan was published in April 2017 following agreement both by the Council and the Community Planning Partnership.
1.3 This Plan sets out the priorities for the next three years to ensure children and young people in South Ayrshire are safe, healthy, achieving, nurtured, active, respected, responsible and included. The five priorities within the South Ayrshire Children’s Services Plan are:
• Ensure South Ayrshire’s children get the best start in life, it is the best place to grow up, and all children and young people are successful learners, confident individuals, responsible citizens and effective contributors; • Reduce the gap in outcomes between the most deprived and least deprived children and young people in South Ayrshire; • Ensure young people and children who are looked after or care leavers are cared for and supported to improve their life experiences and life chances; • Ensure young people and children are supported to achieve and maintain good emotional and physical wellbeing; and • Ensure children and young people have a voice in influencing service delivery that affects their lives.
1.4 The Act also places a duty on the local authority and relevant health board to publish an annual report on the extent to which children’s services and related services have, in that period, been working towards improving local priorities for children and young people.
1.5 The content of the draft plan was agreed by the South Ayrshire Community Planning Partnership at its meeting on 3 May 2018 and by South Ayrshire Council Leadership Panel on 12 June 2018.
2. Achievements
2.1 Co-ordination, management and monitoring of the Children’s Services Plan is undertaken by a range of partners through the Children’s Services Planning Group. Some highlights achieved and noted in the Annual Report include:
• Three breastfeeding peer support workers, employed by the Breastfeeding Network were in post by February 2019, and will target support in the immediate post-natal period to women who breastfeed following caesarean section; • The Family Nurse Partnership (FNP) team continue to deliver the programme to first time parents aged 19 years and under. Between October 2015 and December 2018, 67 young women from South Ayrshire were eligible for FNP programme and of that 48 have enrolled.
2 of 53 • In the early years sector children are making good progress in achieving developmental milestones in Health and Wellbeing, Communication and Language, and Maths and Numeracy; • In 2018/19 Community Learning and Development provided 225 learning opportunities for parents and children in community based settings; • The Police Scotland Work Experience programme in South Ayrshire took place in March 2018 with a group of 15 young people from S3 to S6 and included ten boys and five girls; • In 2018/19, 264 young people received a Youth Scotland Award for their participation in youth work; • Community Learning and Development (CLD) in North Ayr and the villages of Annbank, Mossblown and Tarbolton were inspected by Education Scotland during February and March 2019. The inspection highlighted areas of good practice in the learning community. • The Access to Leisure scheme was launched on 18 May 2018, providing free access to leisure for looked after children and young people or care leavers. To date, 356 memberships have been issued. • Positive progress is being made in South Ayrshire to support young people leaving care to develop the necessary life skills to live independently, hold down tenancies, avoid homelessness and reach their full potential. • The Champions Board have delivered four showcasing events involving young people and their corporate parents, with each event attracting over 100 participants. • Active schools worked in partnership with Community Learning and Development and Girvan Primary to organised Parent and Child Breakfast Club two mornings a week. • Around 900 young people completed the Big Ask survey and told the Community Planning Partnership that priorities outlined in the Children’s Services Plan are still relevant to them.
3. Recommendation
3.1 The Board is asked to:
• support the contents of the South Ayrshire Children’s Services Plan Annual Report for 2018/19; and • request that the Depute Chief Executive and Director-People for South Ayrshire Council, acting on behalf of the Community Planning Partnership, continues to provide annual progress reports on the Plan to the NHS Board.
3 of 53
Monitoring Form
Policy/Strategy Implications There are no policy implications as the paper is reporting on progress of the Children’s Services Plan 2017-2020. Workforce Implications There are no workforce implications as the paper is reporting on progress of the Children’s Services Plan 2017-2020. Financial Implications There are no financial implications as the paper is reporting on progress of the Children’s Services Plan 2017-2020. Consultation (including The Children’s Services Plan Annual Report 2018/19 Professional Committees) was presented to the Community Planning Partnership Board on 2 May 2019. Risk Assessment A risk assessment has not been carried out at this stage.
Best Value
The vision of the Children’s Services Plan is ‘closing - Vision and leadership the gap and achieving potential.’ - Effective partnerships Partnership working across Community Planning Partners is critical to make progress on the priorities identified in the Plan. - Governance and The Plan is monitored and governed by the Children’s accountability Services Planning Group which, in turn, is accountable to the Community Planning Board. Partners also adhere to their own organisations governance arrangements. - Use of resources The Children’s Services Planning Group is comprised of members from a number of Community Planning Partners who utilise their own resources to deliver services in their own services and will, at times, deliver services in partnership. - Performance management Performance of the Plan is monitored through Pentana on a regular basis. Compliance with Corporate The Plan supports the following Corporate Objectives: Objectives • deliver transformational change in the provision of health and social care through dramatic improvement and use of innovative approaches • protect and improve the health and wellbeing of the population and reduce inequalities; • create compassionate partnerships between patients, their families and those delivering health and care services which respect individual needs and values; and result in the people using our services having a positive experience of care to get the outcome they expect;
4 of 53 • attract, develop, support and retain skilled, committed, adaptable and healthy staff and ensure our workforce is affordable and sustainable; and • deliver better value through efficient and effective use of all resources. Local Outcome Improvement Partnership working within the content of the CPP is at Plan (LOIP) the heart of the Plan. Supporting are experienced children are identified as a LOIP priority and are a priority of the Children’s Services Plan. Impact Assessment A full Equality Impact assessment has not been carried out as this paper is reporting progress of the Children’s Services Plan 2017-2020.
5 of 53 Appendix 1 CHILDREN’S SERVICES ANNUAL REPORT 2018/19
6 of 53 CONTENTS
Introduction ...... 3
Context...... 4
Our Vision for Children and Young People . . . 5
Priority 1 ...... 6
Priority 2 ...... 18
Priority 3 ...... 25
Priority 4 ...... 35
Priority 5 ...... 41
Conclusion ...... 47
2 7 of 53 INTRODUCTION
The Children’s Services Plan for South Ayrshire Young people are also becoming embedded community planning partners sets out our in the Children’s Services Planning Group and priorities for the three year period from 2017 to other strategic groups such as the Mental 2020. We are now into the final year of the plan Health Strategy group. The Champion’s and our aim remains to achieve our vision of Board is also going from strength to strength, closing the gap and achieving potential. challenging all of us to be better corporate This report has been prepared by the South parents. Ayrshire Children’s Services Planning Group. Our inspection in February 2018 said that we We have also consolidated our reporting and had improved the leadership and strategic planning process to improve accountability direction across services for children and and share responsibility. We welcomed young people. We remain strongly committed representatives from Scottish Government to delivering services that focus on our five key to discuss our priorities and welcomed their priorities which are to: positive comments. This year we have started work with the Scottish Government on 1. Ensure South Ayrshire’s children get Realigning Children's Services to make sure we the best start in life, it is the best place have stronger evidence of people’s needs and to grow up, and all children and young to tell us about the services that will offer earlier people are successful learners, confident intervention and support to those who need it individuals, responsible citizens, and most. effective contributors I would like to take this opportunity to thank 2. Reduce the gap in outcomes between the all our partners who have contributed to most deprived and least deprived children our priorities, especially the young people and young people in South Ayrshire themselves. I would also like to assure you 3. Ensure children and young people who are that South Ayrshire Community Planning looked after or are care leavers are cared Partnership is committed to getting the best for and supported to improve their life possible outcomes for all our children and experiences and life chances. young people, especially the most vulnerable. 4. Ensure children and young people are supported to achieve and maintain good emotional and physical wellbeing 5. Ensure children and young people have a voice in influencing service delivery that affects their lives. Douglas Hutchison Chair, Children’s Service Over the past year we have focussed on Planning Group Priority 5, to ensure children and young people have a voice in influencing services that affect their lives. We have asked children and young people about the priorities to check they are the issues that matter to young people.
8 of 53 3 CONTEXT
South Ayrshire is set in the south west of Scotland and covers an area of 472 square miles. It includes the towns of Ayr, Girvan, Maybole, Prestwick and Troon. Seventy per cent of the population of South Ayrshire live in the towns of Ayr, Prestwick and Troon, while the rest of the population live in Girvan, Maybole, and the large rural area in the south of the authority.
In 2017 the population of South Ayrshire was 112,680; a slight increase from 112,470 in 2016. The population of South Ayrshire In 2016, 19 (1.8%) of the 15% most deprived accounts for 2% of the total population of datazones in Scotland (1,046 datazones) were Scotland. Fourteen per cent of the population in South Ayrshire. This compares to 17 (1.7%) is aged 16 to 29 years, and 16% is aged in 2012 and 18 (1.8%) in 2009. 0-15 years. This is lower than Scotland where 18% are aged 16 to 29 years and 17% of the In January 2019, 3.7% of the working aged population are aged 0 to15. Since 2000, South population (aged 16 to 64) were claiming Ayrshire’s total population has remained largely ‘Out-of-Work’ benefit. This compared to 2.8% unchanged, while Scotland’s population has across Scotland as a whole. Of those age 16+, risen by 7% over this period. the Claimant Count is 3.7% compared to 2.8% in Scotland as a whole. By 2041, the population of South Ayrshire is projected to be 106,974, a decrease of There has been a decrease in the number of -4.9% compared to the population in 2016. children registered on the child protection The population of Scotland is projected to register. There were 60 children and young increase by +5.3% between 2016 and 2041. people (3.4 per 1000 of the 0 to15 population) The population aged under 16 years in South in 2017, compared to 44 (2.5 per 1000 of the Ayrshire is projected to decline by -12.2% over 0 to15 population) in 2018; this compares with the 25 year period. 2.8 per 1000 in Scotland as a whole in 2018.
Children on child protection register: Rate per 1000 of 0 to15 population 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 South Ayrshire Council 5.1 3.4 3.9 3.4 2.5 Scotland 3.2 3.0 3.0 2.9 2.8
At 31 July 2018 there were 355 children and young people looked after by South Ayrshire. This represents 1.8% of the 0 to 17 year population compared with 1.3% nationally (excluding Glasgow). The majority of looked after children and young people were boys (62%) and 22% were under five years of age. 2015 2016 2017 2018 No. Looked After Children in Authority 330 384 370 355 % 0-17 population 1.6% 1.9% 1.8% 1.8%
4 9 of 53 OUR VISION FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE.
Our Vision - Closing the gap and achieving potential
All children and young people in South Our aim is to reduce inequality in outcomes Ayrshire deserve the chance to reach their full for children and young people, in particular, potential. We will support those who start at to close the gap in outcomes related to a disadvantage and remove barriers for those deprivation so that all can achieve their who are struggling, we will stretch those most potential. able and protect and nurture all children, especially the most vulnerable. Our priorities This year we consulted with children and young people what the five priorities mean to them and how could we make them more meaningful. They told us that the priorities meant this to them:
Give you the best start in life Opportunities to be – making South Ayrshire the healthy, both mentally best place to grow up and physically
You will be treated Your voice will be heard equally no matter your background Children and Young People who are care experienced will be supported to be the best they can be
10 of 53 5 PRIORITY 1 Ensure South Ayrshire’s children get the best start in life, it is the best place to grow up and all children and young people are successful learners, confident individuals, responsible citizens and effective contributor.
Give you the best start in life – making South Ayrshire the best place to grow up
6 11 of 53 To ensure the best start in life we have been working on a range of initiatives to improve health in pregnancy and early years.
Examples of these are: Fetal Alcohol Spectrum High Risk Pregnancy Protocol Disorder (FASD) Safeguarding midwives have been identified to undertake pre-birth assessment for FASD can have a major impact on families of unborn children where pregnancy child development. We are working is identified as high risk. A screening group is to increase knowledge and awareness established between health staff and social in our workforce by establishing the care staff. Where it is identified that child FASD training calendar. protection support is not required pre-birth, Providing to the public the a process has been developed where the Alcohol and Pregnancy health visitor and midwives are notified and leaflet and establishing a provide support as required. Further work local FASD support group. is required to ensure robustness of this process and to evaluate Smoking in Pregnancy effectiveness. This has enabled a more appropriate level of We have implemented Tobacco Control response to families who require Action Plan 2018-21 to improve pathways it. for pregnant women to reduce smoking in pregnancy and maintain cessation following birth. Referrals have improved Health Visitor Pathways to the Quit Your Way service within the inpatient ward and early pregnancy The ‘Universal Health Visiting Pathway’ has assessment ward in Ayrshire Maternity been fully implemented. Outcome data is Unit. Training has taken place currently available from reviews undertaken in both inpatient and early at 11-14 days, 6 to 8 pregnancy assessment and weeks, 13 to 15 months early signs show an increase and 27 months. This has in referrals as a result of this. led to increased contact It is anticipated that this will with families which has lead to the improvement of enabled early intervention the health of women during approached to be used. pregnancy.
27-30 Month Review There has been a decrease from 76.6% to 67.9% of children who are reaching developmental milestones at the time of their 27-30 month review. Nationally there has been a decrease against this measure and South Ayrshire performs higher than the national average rate of 66.1%. As stated nationally in the ‘Child Health 27-30 Month Review Statistics Technical Report’, the methodology to collate this data has changed as a new domain around ‘Problem Solving’ was introduced during the reporting period and this has varied across partnerships in terms of the time it has taken for this to be established. South Ayrshire - 67.9% | Scotland - 66.1% | Ayrshire and Arran - 69.5%
12 of 53 7 Employers with Heart
South Ayrshire Council was the first local The additional time will be added on to the authority in Scotland to provide additional end of maternity leave, allowing mums to support to staff whose babies need hospital enjoy the quality time with their children often care after a premature birth and has been denied to them early on, due to the baby’s recognised by a national charity. The Council complex medical needs. Dads, partners has extended paid parental leave for staff and caregivers of whose babies are born prematurely and as premature babies a result the Council has been awarded the at South Ayrshire ‘Employer with Heart’ by premature baby Council are now charity The Smallest Things. entitled to two weeks’ paid Changes to the Council’s Special Leave additional special Policy entitles female employees to seven leave, following the days paid leave for every week a baby is born birth of the baby. prematurely and in need of hospital care. Breastfeed babies
Three breastfeeding peer support workers, All schools and early years establishments in employed by the Breastfeeding Network South Ayrshire have been encouraged to sign were in post by February 2019, and will up to the Breastfeed Happily Here scheme. target support in the immediate post natal Across Ayrshire over 400 premises have period to women who breastfeed following signed up to the scheme demonstrating their caesarean section. The peer support workers support for breastfeeding women when they are based at Ayrshire Maternity Unit and work are out and about with their babies, helping to closely with the infant feeding team. Work is normalise breastfeeding in our communities. underway to develop processes to ensure services including midwifes, health visitors and assistant nurse practitioners work in tandem to support breastfeeding families.
8 13 of 53 Family Nurse Partnership (FNP)
Centre. The two family nurse supervisors are based in Mossblown Health Centre. Family nurses work alongside partners in their localities to support services and planning, for example: • Working with Community Learning and Development (CLD) and Newton The Family Nurse Partnership (FNP) team Primary School to deliver Parent continue to deliver the programme to first Early Education Programmes (PEEP) time parents aged 19 years and under. The parenting sessions FNP team are now in a position to be able to • Working with the Carrick Parenting offer the programme on a concurrent basis and Family Learning Partnership. with no gaps in service provision. Positive outcomes for the parent and child
have been achieved: Between October 2015 and • A higher percentage (28.1%) of December 2018, 67 young women mothers involved in the programme from South Ayrshire were eligible breast fed their babies compared with for FNP programme and of that 48 the general South Ayrshire population have enrolled. (20.5%) • 50% of mothers smoked when they The profile of parents being supported by the joined the programme. This reduced to team show that two thirds live in an area of 41% at 36 weeks gestation multiple deprivation, 83% have low income, • At 6 months, 100% of children had 21% have previous care experience and received their primary immunisations. 59% have anxiety or other mental health By 24 months, 96% of children concerns. In South Ayrshire family nurses are had received recommended based in Symington and North Ayr Health immunisations.
Early Years
Early Years Developmental Milestones In the early years sector children are making good progress in achieving developmental milestones in Health and Wellbeing, Communication and Language, and Maths and Numeracy.
Percentage of all children achieving all milestones
2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 Health and Wellbeing 67 71 73 Comm and Language 46 50 49 Maths and Numeracy 47 51 57
14 of 53 9 Girvan Early Years Centre
Girvan Early Years Centre visit a sheltered been secured from the Going Forward for housing complex in Girvan with a small South Carrick for a Drama Coach to become group of children on a regular basis. Both involved in delivering sessions with our the children and elderly people really look children and elderly people. The focus will forward to these sessions. Funding has be on promoting literacy and movement.
Parenting Programmes
In session 2018 -2019 we delivered Parents Barnardo’s South Ayrshire Families – Family Early Education Programmes (PEEP), Make and Resource Service also provide a number of Taste, Bookbug and Family Walking sessions to groupwork programmes including Mum’s Self early years centres across South Ayrshire. The Care; Dad’s Self Care; Children’s Therapeutic team have delivered a 6 week block of PEEP Group; Science groups; Baby Massage, to all 37 early years centres. Themed PEEP Healthy Eating; Seasons for Growth; Promoting programmes have been developed to meet the Positive Behaviour; Family time groups; needs of families and these are now on offer Summer Activities and Mellow Parenting. to all centres. These include Wonder of Words, Fun with Numbers, Learning Outdoors, Healthy Eating and Tears and Tantrums.
10 15 of 53 In 2018/19 Community Learning and Literacy, Early Maths and Communication and Development provided 225 learning Language. opportunities for parents and children Programmes have been delivered in Girvan, in community based settings. Maybole, Colmonell, Dailly, Barassie, Lochside Community Centre, Wallacetoun Nursery, 32 programmes were delivered, which are Newton Primary School, Braehead Primary open to parents with pre nursery children, and School and Dalmillling Primary School. include Infant Massage, PEEP, Weaning and Parent Child Together programmes on subjects Retention rates of parents completing such as healthy cooking. programmes is very strong with a retention rate of 85%. Of the parents completing PEEP programmes covered learning around programmes, 15% of them gained Health and Physical Development, Personal, accreditation. Social and Emotional Development, Early
Attainment of all children and young people
Children achieving expected levels of literacy have increased slightly in all organisers in 2017-18 in P1, 4 and 7. To achieve the expected level of overall literacy children must achieve each of reading, writing, listening and talking. Children are less likely to achieve the expected level in writing. Achievement of numeracy (overall maths) has been consistent across the past three years.
Achievement of the Expected Level ACEL Literacy and Numeracy P1, 4 and 7
16 of 53 11 South Ayrshire consistently performs above people are more likely to achieve a Level its virtual comparator in literacy, and at times 6 award (Higher level) in literacy than in above the comparator in numeracy. Young numeracy.
Achievement of SCQF Literacy and Numeracy Awards: School Leavers
Getting it right for every child
We have completed the review of the to meet the needs of children and young team around the child model. Through people. An action plan has been formed and consultation with parents and practitioners will be implemented and monitored by our we have identified key actions towards Children’s Services Planning Group. improving our processes and planning Enough time My personal experience should be allowed for the child's is positive based on a needs to be discussed fully. I I have been very hands Assessments must be well run meeting with have had a positive experience on through the process shared and collated by all agenda and accurate but I feel that this is due to anyway so support was agencies / parents and all record of actions agreed. being well informed myself and necessary for me. I must work to achieving having a good team involved. was informed who was the same goals. asked to attend.
12 17 of 53 Campus Police Officers Campus Police Officers now work in every secondary school and also provide support if requested to cluster primary schools. As part of their core function to support Personal and Social Education (PSE) in schools, the officers focus on any national campaigns or trends that affect the safety and wellbeing of children and young people. In 2018/19, campus officers delivered sessions on issues such as stranger danger and road safety for younger children and substance misuse as well as no knives better lives to older children. Campus Officers also ensure they cover internet safety with all primary and secondary children and young people.
In addition some officers provide outside activities in order to engage with young people, breakdown barriers and improve relations such as the Horticulture Project at Ayr Academy, Police Work Experience Programme Rural Skills Intervention at Girvan Academy; Gardening Project at Kyle Academy; Cycling Club at Queen Margaret Academy and Marr The Police Scotland Work Experience College plus others. To date there has been programme in South Ayrshire took place positive feedback from all participants which in March 2018 with a group of 15 young has resulted in improved behaviour and better people from S3 to S6 and included ten relations between young people and Police boys and five girls. This was a one week Officers. programme where young people were given the opportunity to have an insight into what it is like to be an operational police officer. Within all secondary schools in South Ayrshire there was a high level of interest take part in the work experience programme.
As a result of the programme, five young people have indicated they are considering applying to become a Police Officer whilst one of the female participants has started the Police application process.
Due to the high level of interest, Campus Officers are increasing the programme from one week to two weeks.
18 of 53 13 Youth Scotland Awards
Young people continue to gain accreditation Development, residential staff, Education through the Youth Scotland Awards across and 3rd sector partners. South Ayrshire in both our schools and communities. The Awards include the Hi5 award, Dynamic Youth Award and the Youth Achievement Award. In 2018/19, 264 young people received a Youth Scotland Award for their participation in youth work.
Thirty two members of staff qualified to deliver the awards during 2018/19, this included staff from Community Learning and
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award participation and completion Number of new enrolments rates are impressive and were highlighted during the recent inspection of Community Learning and Development. The scheme continues to be sector leading and have been maintained over the last three years, with increased emphasis on making sure all young people are encouraged and supported to participate, regardless of personal circumstances. Number of young people completing the awards
14 19 of 53 Child Protection
We have implemented new arrangements that are designed to support the Child Protection Committee (CPC).
There are now four sub-groups that will service the agendas of the Child Protection Committee and Adult Protection Committee. The sub- groups meet on a quarterly basis and are: • Policy, practice and improvement • Service evaluation • Learning and education • Communication and engagement
Support through the Children’s Hearing System
Annual data provided by the Scottish this period. At 31 March 2018, 304 children Children’s Reporters Administration (SCRA) and young people were subject to CSOs helps provide a picture as to the extent and compared to 350 from the previous year. nature locally of children and young people’s involvement with the Children’s Hearing Through commitment to prevention, early System. intervention, and effective use of multi-agency meetings, support for Between April 2017 and March 2018, individual children can often be put in place 323 referrals were made to the children’s on a voluntary basis where families engage reporter on non-offence grounds with the positively with services. main reason for referrals over that period was ‘lack of parental care’. 91 referrals were By implementing this structure we have made on this basis. This reflects a continued strengthened our processes and systems trend of decreasing number of referrals to for safeguarding and protecting children. the children’s reporter in South Ayrshire over recent years.
Referral rates to SCRA are higher than the Scottish average but recent work with the SCRA on thresholds for referral is bringing the rate down effectively. Early submission of reports continues to increase and work is ongoing within teams to keep improving this. Links with the SCRA have also been strengthened through the senior management team and trends are shared and analysed regularly.
Information from SCRA also shows a reduction in the number of Compulsory Supervision Orders (CSOs) in effect over
20 of 53 15 Whole Systems Approach/Early Effective Intervention (WSA/EEI) (Police Scotland)
multi-agency interventions are targeted to deal with high risk robustly and work on the premise that public protection is of paramount concern.
In 2018:
594 referrals were reported on offence grounds. 172 of these received a formal Our youth justice Whole Systems Approach police warning. 209 were referred is a multiagency intervention to prevent directly to the Scottish Children’s Report offending. The approach ensures that Administration. The other 104 were dealt offence referrals are processed quickly and with through Whole Systems. This involved that appropriate and proportionate support the following inputs appropriate the to the is provided within a short timescale. needs of the young person. The remainder were either given a Recorded Police Warning We aim to: over 16 years old and not on Compulsory • Divert the young persons from Supervision Order or reported to the formal and statutory systems where Procurator Fiscal. appropriate • Ensure the needs of that child, young • Referral to Sacro, person and family are met • Referral to Community Safety • Ensure that the behavior and casual • Restorative Work by Campus Officer, factors are addressed. • or via further meetings on Team Around the Child/ Team Around the Where a child or young person is presenting Young Person. as at high risk we aim to ensure that
16 21 of 53 good practice example
Family Nurse Partnership Sienna
Sienna’s life was spent in and out of care from was really scared about the meeting and how the age of 6. At the age of 16, Sienna got it would go and was worried how she would be involved with the wrong crowd and ended up able to get across her thoughts and feelings. drinking alcohol and taking legal highs. At this The Family Nurse helped Sienna to prepare for it time, Sienna moved out from her foster carer’s by looking at the SHANARRI wheel. This helped home and went in to supported care and from Sienna feel more confident about what she was there ended up in a homeless accommodation. going to say and made her feel well prepared for Whilst in homeless accommodation, Sienna the meeting. At the meeting they decided that met someone, who was to become the father of the baby’s name did not have to go on the Child her child, who she moved in with very quickly. Protection Register. Sienna was so pleased. Sienna’s partner became controlling and physically abusive towards her. Sienna’s baby is now 5 months old and she now looks forward to the future and family days out. Sienna then discovered she was pregnant but Sienna has a really good friend but when she her partner was not really interested. Around goes to college and mother and toddler groups, this time Sienna was invited out by relatives for she knows that she will meet more friends. the day and her partner started to make threats Sienna now feels really positive about her and about what was going to happen to her when her baby’s future. she returned home that night. Sienna was really frightened and decided that not to return and Sienna is planning for her own and her baby’s put herself and her unborn baby at risk so she future. She really wants to pass her driving test went to stay with a friend. From there, Sienna and would also like to get a part- time job and moved into supported care/living. start night classes, eventually completing a course in beauty therapy. Sienna would also like It was when Sienna was staying with her to have her own home and give her baby a good friend that she was offered the Family Nursing happy and stable life. Partnership Programme and decided to join. The programme made Sienna think about how she According to Sienna: would bring up her baby. Sienna learned about “I think the Family Nurse helps people to babies’ brain development, feeding, caring for her baby and their health and how to look think about how they are going to bring after her own health. One of the pieces of work up their child, learning about their child’s Sienna did was learning about how smoking health and their own health. It helps could affect her unborn baby. At this time, people to make changes and builds your Sienna was smoking 20 cigarettes a day and confidence and self- esteem. It makes you decided to stop. Sienna’s baby is now 5 months old and she has not smoked since giving birth. feel as if you have achieved something that you never thought you would do. I feel that Due to the risks around Sienna and her baby, I can really trust my Family Nurse and I can there was be a Pre- Birth Case Conference and phone and seek advice or support from her there was a chance that Sienna’s baby may be whenever I need to.” placed on the Child Protection Register. Sienna
22 of 53 17 PRIORITY 2 Reduce the gap in outcomes between the most deprived and least deprived children and young people in South Ayrshire
You will be treated equally no matter your background
18 23 of 53 Holiday Meals Programme Poverty Action Plan Holiday meals provision has been delivered since summer 2017 in key communities with high levels of A strong message from children child poverty. In that time over 25,000 lunches have and young people was the need to been provided. Initially the programme was piloted close the poverty gap and ensure in North Ayr and Girvan where the Council partnered that children are treated equally no with Lochside Mission and Outreach, and the matter what their background. Glendoune Centre.
South Ayrshire Community From Easter 2018 the scheme was broadened Planning Partnership is out to include delivery in Maybole and Barassie, implementing the Financial Inclusion Pathway. This involves where Community Learning and Development increasing knowledge amongst staff delivered programmes along with the lunch named persons, lead professional provided. and multi-agency practitioner of the drivers of poverty and the In the North Ayr area the Council provide support for impact. Using routine enquiry the Lochside Mission 3:16 bus to deliver meals to five we will ensure that children and communities which were Lochside, Wallacetoun North families can access support and South, Dalmilling and Whitletts, this delivery to ensure that they receive the method continues to be used in addition to providing benefits and supports that they meals at holiday clubs and sports activities. During are entitled to. Working with our Christmas 2018, Lochside Mission and Outreach forum for learning parents whose partnered with the Council and Unity Grill (a local children have additional support social enterprise) to provide hot meals and in Girvan needs we delivered information on Milestone Church provided the service. Over the last benefits and two years the scheme has been adapted to meet the entitlement for needs of the communities it has targeted. children and During the Easter, Summer, October and Christmas holiday young people periods the total meals provided in 2018/19 were 15,232 in with the undernoted areas: additional support North Ayr - 8492 Girvan - 4106 needs. Maybole - 1233 Barassie - 1401
Cost of the school day All schools are undertaking a cost of the school day audit, which could identify areas that potentially will relieve the financial burden on parents and families. Girvan Academy has established a Poverty Proofing school working group of staff members, who also liaised with the pupil and parent body and was a part of their equity work to close the attainment gap. A number of recommendations have been put in • To remove the necessity to buy school brands place: uniform. Free ties given to all pupils. • Encouraging families to apply for Free School • To ensure all school trips are planned as far in Meals(FME) and to enable the FME to be advance as possible and that these must be used at interval for snacks generally financially accessible. All trips must • To provide stationary equipment in all classes have a ‘paying up’ facility to be accessed by pupils who need it • To fund school transport costs as much as • To create a school clothing bank of new possible or to have a very minimal charge clothes purchased by school and through • To reduce the number of charity events, to donations keep costs to a minimum and to remove the • To have blazer bank which loans blazers to expectation everyone needs to take part pupils who are representing the school at • To provide homework support during and event – blazers are not part of the normal after school and to allow access to ICT during school uniform this time. 24 of 53 19 19 Pupil Equity the impact of interventions or approaches Funding (PEF) in place. Partnerships with local community has empowered and third sector organisations have further schools to work strengthened the support available to children and with stakeholders families. and the wider school community Additional funding has now been made available to identify supports or approaches to close the to support care experienced children and young poverty related attainment gap. South Ayrshire people. Going forward additional funding schools have benefited from £2.4 million targeted will be used to support transitions for care at improving educational outcomes for children experienced young people in South Ayrshire and and young people impacted by the poverty related accommodated elsewhere in the country. The attainment gap. Head Teachers have primarily appointment of a virtual school Head Teacher focused this additional resource on additional and education welfare officers as part of the staffing, resources, targeted interventions and care experienced team in education will focus wider opportunities for children and young people on improving outcomes for all care experienced with clear expections on tracking and monitoring children and young people.
Early Years - Uptake of provision for eligible 2 year old children South Ayrshire provides access to high quality the third highest provision for eligible children aged 2-3 years. In in Scotland. 2017/18 the uptake of provision was approximately Dental Health Programme Early Years Developmental Milestones The oral health of The rapid progress made children in South initially following the introduction of the Childsmile Early years developmental milestones Ayrshire has improved programme has slowed. is analysed using the Scottish Index of in recent years. In 2018 Additional activity is needed Multiple Deprivation (SIMD). The analysis to address the persistent for 2016/17 and 2017/18 shows there oral health inequalities with is a gap in achievement of milestones children from more deprived at the start of primary school for young of children in Primary 1 backgrounds experiencing children living in the 20% most deprived had no obvious tooth more tooth decay. areas. Achievement is lower in the 20% decay, compared with most deprived areas than children in The NHS Ayrshire and other SIMD areas. The percentage of Arran Activity Plan 2019- children living in the middle 60-80% SIMD 2020 is in development to areas achieving the health and wellbeing across Ayrshire and include specific activity for milestones has increased, however there targeted groups including has been a decrease in those living in the care experienced children 20% most deprived areas. There has and young people, children been a slight increase in the percentage of from travelling communities children living in the 20% most deprived Scottish average. and children with additional areas achieving maths and numeracy, support needs. however there has been a significant increase in the 20% least deprived. In South Ayrshire, Fairer for Scotland funding provided During 2018/19 funding for 12 early Childsmile Fluoride Varnish intervention (additional graduate posts) Applications in five additional was received from Scottish Government schools. to support Closing the Gap in early years. 2020 25 of 53 Attainment
Primary Schools The gap in achievement of literacy (reading, writing, listening and talking) and numeracy in the primary sector has narrowed each year since 2015-16, and is lowest in 2017-18. The gap in achievement is greater in literacy (21%) than numeracy (11%).
Percentage Gap in acievement of ACEL Literacy and Numeracy 20% Most and 20% Least Deprived
School Leavers - Literacy Over the past five years there is evidence that the gap in achievement of literacy awards is closing. At level 5 or better in literacy the gap in achievement between the 20% most and 20% least deprived has reduced from 37% to 22% between 2013-14 and 2017-18. At level 6 or better the gap has reduced from 48% to 42%.
Percentage Gap in Achievement of SCQF Literacy Awards 20% Most and 20% Least Deprived School Leavers
Numeracy Over the past five years the gap in achievement of numeracy awards has fluctuated, and whilst the gap was lower in 2017-18 than in 2013-14, at levels 4 and 5 the gap has increased in 2017/18.
Percentage Gap in Achievement of SCQF Numeracy Awards 20% Most and 20% Least Deprived Leavers
26 of 53 21 Community Learning and Deveopment Youth Work
The Community Learning and Development Plan • Closing the poverty-related outcomes gap for was approved in September 2018. This plan children and young people in South Ayrshire highlights South Ayrshire Community Learning • Supporting our older people to live in good and Development (CLD) partnership activity health that is planned over the next three years (2018- 2021) and has been developed in line with ‘The Through the planned activity, CLD partners will Requirements for Community Learning and strive to develop the resilience and ambition Development (Scotland) Regulations 2013’. The of individuals and communities, to combat foundation of this activity is an assessment - in the effects of economic factors which cause partnership with learners and communities - of deprivation and inequality, ensuring that barriers needs, strengths and opportunities. to achieving better life chances are identified, It contributes to the priorities identified in the understood and overcome and that communities South Ayrshire Community Planning Partnership are full partners in delivering practical solutions. Local Outcomes Improvement Plan (LOIP): CLD Inspection
Community Learning and Development (CLD) in North Ayr and the villages of Annbank, Mossblown and Tarbolton was inspected by Education Scotland during February and March 2019. The inspection highlighted areas of good practice in the learning community. This included our targeted youth work across North Ayr where the number of young people living in lower income areas that registered with the CLD service increased over the last three years, from 86% to 95%
22 27 of 53 Adverse Childhood Experiences
In May 2018 following discussion with Ayrshire A short life working group was created to assist Police Division and South Ayrshire Council with the planning and delivery of the events Educational Services, an agreement was with representatives from Ayrshire Police made in relation to delivering initial awareness Division, Education Psychological Service, sessions throughout South Ayrshire with a Education and Barnardo’s. At the events, panel target audience of both Police and Education discussions took place with: in respect of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and the impact of toxic stress. It was • Ayrshire Police Division agreed that the sessions would use the format • Ayrshire and Arran Public Health of the Resilience documentary followed by a • South Ayrshire Education panel discussion. • Champions Board and Care Experienced Young People The Resilience documentary shows how • South Ayrshire Alcohol and Drug researchers have discovered a biological Partnership. syndrome caused by abuse and neglect during childhood. It demonstrates how toxic stress A total of five screenings were delivered during and trauma affects the brains and bodies of the summer of 2018 in Annbank, Girvan, Ayr children, putting them at much greater risk of and Prestwick. All were delivered within local poorer outcomes in life including addictions, schools which resulted in a total of 748 people imprisonment, homelessness and significant attended. Attendance was noted from a variety health issues. of partners including Police, Education, Health, Social Work, Council Staff, Scottish Fire and The evidence shows us that if a person Rescue, Local Authority, Occupational Therapy, experiences four or more such negative Parents and Voluntary Sector. experiences, they are 14 times more likely to have been involved in violence in the last Evaluations from the screenings were positive year and 20 times more likely to have been and key themes from the evaluations included: incarcerated. It’s estimated that half of the • Build relationships Scottish population have been affected by • Multi-agency approach is required (ACEs). • Reflect on what this means for my practice.
LGBT Scotland
Work has been taken forward with LGBT Scotland to create a safe space and forum for young LGBT+ people to be themselves. Young people have access to support relating to mental health, sexual health, lack of support from family, fear of judgement , discrimination, lack of understanding from education and healthcare professionals. “Within the senior club I took the lead in facilitating From April 2018 to December 2018; 34 LGBT+ youth a workshop as part of International Homophobic work groups have been delivered, with 179 individual attendances and 10 new members. There has also been 34 Day. The young people discussed the issues one to one sessions from April 2018 to September 2018. they perceived young LGBT+ young people may experience, and designed a poster to raise Young people have reported that they have gained a awareness of these issues. I felt great that I sense of belonging, better understanding of their rights, had taken the lead on this workshop and that it opportunities to attend local and national events and had gone so well. I now feel confident that I can meet new people. Staff and young people have increased organise youth activities and workshops and know access to a range of LGBT+ resources with a dedicated that I want to pursue a career in youth work.” LGBT+ page on the South Ayrshire Young Scot Website, information on social media and LGBT+ activity resource packs created. South Ayrshire Community Learning and Development and Prestwick Academy achieved the Charter Mark by increasing the understanding of LGBT+ rights and enabling young people to feel welcome, included, supported and valued.
28 of 53 2323 good practice example
Community Learning & Development Volunteer Youth Worker Paul
Paul Reilly is currently volunteering at the In 2018 Paul Domain Youth Centre as a volunteer Youth became a worker. registered volunteer with Community Learning Paul now 21, started attending the Domain and Development, in his role he volunteers at Youth Centre when he was at primary school various youth groups in Ayr and supports youth and continued to attend the senior youth groups work staff to plan and deliver community based before becoming a volunteer. and schools youth work programmes.
When Paul left school he registered with As well as volunteering Paul also gained the the STEP project to try and help him secure confidence to apply to Ayrshire College and is employment however, Paul was diagnosed with due to finish his 24/7 course through the HIVE diabetes and was unwell for around two years. in May 2019. Paul has already been accepted During this period Paul hardly left the house and on to the Ayrshire College Step In To Youth this set him back. Work Course for next year while continuing to volunteer at the Domain and work part time in In 2015 Paul registered for the Duke of McDonalds. In 2018 Paul was nominated for a Edinburgh Awards through the Domain Youth South Ayrshire Youth Forum Award and reached Centre and completed the Silver Award. the final stages. Through Paul’s participation in the Duke of Edinburgh Awards he became interested in Paul is hoping to secure employment with archery. Paul got the opportunity to gain an Community Learning and Development as a archery instructors qualification, this qualification Youth Worker in the future while gaining skills has allowed Paul to coach archery to other and qualifications that will help him secure full young people and adults with additional support time employment. needs. Paul gained the confidence to apply for college and completed the Princess Trust “Over the past 12 months Paul has programme where he thrived. volunteered in the youth centre and has “I can honestly say the opportunities used skills that he gained through the that Domain has provided me with has Duke of Edinburgh and the youth work helped me gain skills and confidence in the Domain. Paul is a role model for that helped me get in to college. Over other young people in the Domain and the past year the experience I have is well respected by staff and young gained through volunteering has helped people. Paul is an example of how youth me develop my leadership skills that work, youth awards and volunteering will hopefully help me secure full time can help young people develop their employment.” (Paul Reilly) skills.” (Brian Cooper CLD Officer)
24 29 of 53 PRIORITY 3 Ensure children and young people who are looked after or are care leavers are cared for and supported to improve their life experiences and life chances
Children and young people a who are care experienced will be supported to be the best they can be
30 of 53 25 We have started work to improve health point of accommodation; and oral health related outcomes of care experienced care pathway. young people. There will be a series of interviews with care experienced young Revised guidance has been implemented people to explore how we can address within the service for completion for their health needs more effectively. We health assessments. A new format for will prepare a health profile for care data collection has been implemented experienced children and young people from 1 February 2019 which will enable (CECYP) in NHS Ayrshire and Arran. more robust reporting mechanisms to be Integral to this is ongoing development established. This has led to more children to improve the delivery of child health receiving a review of their health needs assessment for care experienced children more quickly and enabled interventions to and young people; standard operational be put in place. procedure (SOP) health safety check at the Access to Leisure
The Access to Leisure scheme was launched on 18 May 2018, providing free access to leisure for looked after children and young people or carer leavers. To date 356 memberships have been issued. There have been 340 attendance across all leisure facilities and 13 children have joined the Learn 2 Swim/ gymnastics or dive programmes
26 31 of 53 Attainment
Primary Schools The gap in achievement of care experienced children has fluctuated over the past three years. The gap decreased in 2017-18 compared to the previous session.
Gap in Achievement of the Relevant Level P1, 4 and 7 Care Experienced and All Children
Looked After Young People in the Senior Phase The gap in achievement of literacy awards at level 3 and 4 or better appears to be reducing, although there was an increase in the gap in 2017-18 compared to previous sessions. The gap at level 5 and 6 or better has increased. There is a similar gap for achievement of numeracy awards, although there is no increase at level 6.
Percentage Gap in Achievement of SCQF Literacy Awards Looked After and All Leavers
Percentage Gap in Achievement of SCQF Numeracy Awards Looked After and All Leavers
32 of 53 27 South Ayrshire – Centre for Excellence for Looked After Children in Scotland (CELCIS) Inclusion Project
During the second phase of the project, partners and Education have engaged in workstreams focussed on four key areas of work. These have centred on promoting attendance, transitions, participation and engagement and process mapping. This work is leading to a number of small tests of change in the Belmont Cluster to identify and share high quality practice prior to considering further rollout across the authority. Specifically this has led to the establishment of a local Champions Board in Belmont Academy with care experienced young people engaged in decision making and participatory budgeting opportunities to benefit the wider care experienced community.
Staff in all Belmont Cluster schools are engaged in developing approaches to support the enhanced transition process for care experienced and other vulnerable children and young people. In order to support improved attendance, Belmont Academy have completed a number of case studies identifying possible underlying barriers and supports to attendance. A care experienced lead has been identified in Belmont to directly support care experienced young people. Early indications show encouraging results.
Designated Managers’ Network In South Ayrshire the Designated Managers’ Network is established and continues to support school staff in approaches to supporting care experienced children and young people.
28 33 of 53 Corporate Parenting Plan 2018-21 (Corporate Parenting Group)
The Corporate Parenting Plan 2018-21 was developed by the South Ayrshire Corporate Parenting Group, which is made up of representatives from Community Planning Partners and third sector organisations. Part 9 Statutory Guidance for the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 identifies eight outcomes for Corporate Parents to work towards:
1. Providing safe, secure, stable and nurturing homes for looked after children and care leavers 2. Enabling looked after children and care leavers to develop or maintain positive relationships with their family, friends, professionals and other trusted adults 3. Upholding and promoting children's rights 4. Securing positive educational outcomes for looked after children and care leavers 5. Ensuring 'care' is an experience in which children are valued as individuals, and where support addresses their strengths as well as their needs 6. Ensuring physical or mental health concerns are identified early and addressed quickly 7. Increasing the number of care leavers in education, training and employment 8. Reducing the number of looked after children and care leavers who enter the youth and criminal justice systems.
The outcomes are set out in broad strategic terms, and many will involve the development of more detailed plans of action. An action plan has been developed for Corporate Parents to make progress towards achieving the outcomes above. The progress of the action plan will be monitored by the Corporate Parenting Group.
Commissioning of support services for young people leaving care The Health and Social Care Partnership for young people leaving care have been have developed a policy framework for identified which follow the themes of the improving outcomes for young people Scottish Care Leavers Covenant and were leaving care. The purpose of the policy developed in consultation with partners framework is to outline the required and CELCIS. Close partnership working approach to supporting young people has taken place through the Improving leaving care. It is based on the current Housing Outcomes for Young Care Leavers legislation, local and national policy and a group. Officers from the Health and Social profile of care experienced young people Care Partnership and South Ayrshire in South Ayrshire. This document will Council Housing Service and Corporate be used to inform a new commissioning and Housing Policy are working on a framework. This will be developed to collaborative basis towards achieving the prioritise the aftercare services provided to best housing outcomes for young people care experienced young people. Outcomes leaving care.
34 of 53 29 Single Point of Contact for Children’s Houses
Campus officers and Locality Police Officers have been identified to take on the role as Single Point of Contact (SPOC) for children’s houses within South Ayrshire. Officers are proactively engaging with staff and residents within the houses in order to improve relations and build working relationships.
Improving housing outcomes for care experienced young people
Work is ongoing to ensure all care experienced To ensure that suitable and sustainable housing young people are provided with the opportunity options are available to young people leaving to improve their life chances by making more care, a small group of young people are positive life choices. undertaking 'trial' tenancies. The trial includes scheduled reviews that help assess how well Positive progress is being made in South the tenancy is going, with the aim of converting Ayrshire to support young people leaving it into a permanent secure tenancy. care to develop the necessary life skills to live independently, hold down tenancies, avoid Alongside this, a Housing First pilot is homelessness and reach their full potential. underway, providing a care-experienced young person with permanent accommodation as well The work underway is focused on four key as intensive wraparound support to meet their areas – life skills, person-centred housing individual needs. It's hoped this approach will options, preventing the need to apply as maximise the potential for the young person to homeless, and appropriate person-centred successfully integrate into the local community support – and ensuring these support the and live a good quality life. young people involved to achieve the best possible outcomes. To help those who may not be quite ready to live on their own, the Health and Social To support improved life skills, the Council Care Partnership is also working to expand is running two dedicated pilot programmes the number of supported carers available. in conjunction with Ayr Housing Aid Centre, Supported carers provide young people with a young people and carers: supportive family setting while they prepare for living on their own. • First Home focuses on money management, cooking and healthy eating, living as part of Feedback from the young people benefiting a community, looking after your home and from the Council's approach has been very improving and maintaining your home. positive. Arron (21) is taking part in the Housing • Housing Education for Youths is aimed First pilot – he said: at young people 14-16 years thinking "The programme is absolutely brilliant about taking their first steps towards and has helped me so much over the independent living and covers areas such as housing options, the cost of running a past few months. If I didn't have the household, the realities of moving out and support from the programme, I don't homelessness. know where I would be."
30 35 of 53 Inspection of Fostering and Adoption Services
This year our fostering and adoption services were inspected. The Inspection focused on the quality of care and support and the quality of staffing. The Care Inspectorate reported “South Ayrshire Adoption service had strengthened performance in adoption and permanence work since the last inspection”.
It was also noted that the service was working with CELCIS to assist in improving timescales for children in need of adoption and permanence to good effect.
The Care Inspectorate reported that carers enabled young people to be safe and healthy by providing routines and boundaries. Supervising Social Workers provided support to the carers in addition to providing training and carer support groups. Relationships were supportive and caring in nature.
The Inspectorate observed that there were independent supports offered to young people to enable their views to be heard and joint visits with locality Social Workers offered consistency and safety for the young person. Inspectors also noted there was evidence of carers being respectful of birth families and in turn allowing young people to develop family relationships.
Sundrum View – Children’s House
A new purpose-built children's house in South Ayrshire is making a real difference for the young people who live there and supporting them to achieve positive outcomes.
Sundrum View provides care and accommodation for up to seven children and young people and is designed to allow them to grow, develop and meet their full potential in all aspects of their lives.
Inspectors assessed the quality of care and support, the quality of staffing, and the quality of management and leadership as good, while the quality of the environment was rated as very good.
36 of 53 31 Employability and Skills
Post school tracking Regular meetings are held between social work, employability and skills and Skills Development Scotland to track the post school destinations of all looked after young people.
Access to apprenticeship opportunities Our apprenticeship guarantee scheme has been developed to ensure all care experienced young people who are engaging with the Employability and Skills team have the opportunity to engage in pre-apprenticeship work placements . This will give them the opportunity to demonstrate competencies without having to go through a formal interview.
Post school destinations We will provide enhanced support to care experienced young people through the transition from school up to at least their 20th birthday into sustained post school destinations. Dedicated Employability and Skills officers provided through European Social Fund (ESF) will offer support and guidance.
Permanency planning
South Ayrshire is working towards becoming Permanence and Care Excellence Programme (PACE) ready. PACE is a whole systems approach to reducing drift and delay in permanence planning for looked after children and young people. This will enable us to identify areas where drift and delay occurs and use improvement science to drive improvement. All Children and Families Social Workers will attend mandatory five day permanence training. Two programmes have been delivered with two further programmes to be delivered in 2019.
32 37 of 53 Champions Board Champions Board
Twenty one young people aged from 8- 21 years take part in weekly group work sessions in Ayr and Girvan and a group of 10 care leavers aged 17-29 • Support collaboration, sharing of resources years meet every two months to progress key and good practice priorities. Monthly house visits take place to • Review updates and monitor progress South Ayrshire’s two Children’s Houses for tea against Champions Board work-plan. and Sunday brunch. The Champions Board team lead on Children’s Rights work stream Four key priorities have been established to of the CELCIS inclusion project with Belmont determine the work of the Champions Board Academy and feeder primary schools. for the coming year. These are relationships, rights, mental health and housing. Four showcasing events have taken place involving young people and their corporate The Champions Board also support young parents, with each event attracting over 100 people to design and steer an Individual Small participants. Grants programme for care experienced young people across South Ayrshire - 40 small grants The events have showcased young people’s totalling £8346.16 have been distributed voices through, artwork, photography, film to date. One young person with care and presentations. Young people also vote for experience continues to sit on South Ayrshire’s a corporate parent who has gone above and Fostering and Adoption Panel as part of their beyond to receive an award at the showcasing Participation Assistant role. events. The Champions Board continues to support One of the key actions is the development care experienced young people from South of a Champions Board Steering Group to Ayrshire to link in with national initiatives such ensure compliance with Statutory Guidance as 1,000 voices root and branch review of care on Part 9 (Corporate Parenting) of the Children and National and Regional Champions Board and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 and activities facilitated by Life Changes Trust. contribute to support the vision of closing the gap and achieving potential. The steering group is co-chaired by a young person and SAC Depute Chief Executive. It has had an initial meeting and is scheduled to meet quarterly and has a remit to :
• Meet with care experienced young people and listen to their priorities for change • Agree in collaboration timescales and a plan for improvements • If required work thematically (e.g. on themes such as housing, education, legal issues, employability, rights and participation etc.)
38 of 53 33 good practice example Employability and Skills Sonia
Sonia was identified as being at risk of not the work. Angela Iver (Owner of Unity Grill) reaching a positive destination and a care worked to ensure that Unity Grill was a supportive experienced young person. It was discussed placement for Sonia. Sonia began to grow ever and agreed that it would be beneficial to Sonia more confident in her ability to trust others. Sonia to engage with the Employability and Skills Team exceeded the high expectations that she had which began in September 2015. set for herself and after a few months Angela approached the Employability and Skills Team Sonia took part in the Work Out! programme whilst about the possibility of offering a paid position to she was a 4th year pupil at Belmont Academy. Sonia. Employability and Skills were happy to offer The Work Out! programme allowed Sonia to do Unity Grill a wage incentive to assist in offering a work experience placement at Newton Primary Sonia a paid position. Sonia agreed to this but for one day per week, over the full academic year. laid out fears she had about losing the support She was supported throughout this programme of Employability and Skills. Since beginning by the Employability and Skills Team. Sonia really employment the team have continued to support enjoyed her Work Out! Placement. Sonia in various ways.
On leaving school Sonia continued to engage Speaking about her journey through the with the Employability and Skills Team and Employability and Skills team, Sonia said registered on the Activity Agreement programme. “Everyone at Employability and Skills has The team spent time with Sonia developing her employability and life skills through the various been really helpful to me and have played groups on the Activity Agreement programme, a big part in helping me to get where I am such as the Cookery Group and Personal now. Working with the team was good Development. Sonia was living in supported because they didn’t put pressure on me to accommodation, receiving support from services get into a work placement when I wasn’t to develop her independence and key life skills. Sonia was supported through individual ready. They helped me to learn about meetings, group work, arranging and attending work first, which looking back was far appointments, advocating her views at meetings more beneficial to me. Things in my life when she felt she couldn’t, and championing have been gradually improving. I am really Sonia’s rights as a care experienced young thankful for all that Employability and Skills person. The Employability and Skills Team helped Sonia to focus her attention on getting herself to a have done and continue to do for me.” point where achieving employment was a reality. There were many ups and downs throughout this Sonia is now working full time for Unity Grill and time, however after years of Employability and is being given more responsibilities in her role, Skills engagement Sonia indicated in September which is also being reflected in her pay. She has 2018 that she was ready to enter employment. also recently been granted her own flat by South She had worked in a restaurant for a summer Ayrshire Council which she has moved into and whilst at school as a kitchen porter. From this is now living independently. Furthermore, Sonia experience, she opted to try this line of work and is now learning to drive through an Employability took it upon herself to source a work experience and Skills programme for care experienced young placement at Unity Grill. people. Sonia is looking forward to the future and seeing what further opportunities come her way. Sonia started doing one shift per week in a kitchen Employability and Skills would like to congratulate porter capacity. She found it difficult at first to Sonia on all of her hard work and wish her every deal with her nerves, nonetheless she persevered success for the future. Remember Sonia, our door and continued to attend and get involved with is always open to you!
34 39 of 53 PRIORITY 4 Ensure all children and young people are supported to achieve and maintain good emotional and physical wellbeing
Opportunities to be healthy, both mentally and physically
40 of 53 35 Healthy start
Partnership working continues to promote the uptake of healthy start vitamins for eligible parents and families. There continues to be success in the Girvan Locality including Girvan Early Years Centre and Children 1st increasing and maintaining the number of Healthy Start vitamins distributed to parents/ carers. The work in Girvan is still supported by the Assistant Nurse Practitioner. 126 bottles of vitamins were distributed between June 2018 and January 2019.
Work will continue in the Girvan area to plan the rollout of this programme. Information and link to Healthy Start scheme for children aged two is available on the South Ayrshire website.
All key participating Early Years Centres met to discuss next steps of the work. Healthy start champions in each centre will be responsible for coordinating the scheme with support from Health Improvement and South Ayrshire Early Years team.
Healthy weight by P1
Play on pedals programme is helping to develop children’s skills to progress quickly to a pedal bike and also their general health, wellbeing and self-esteem. Partnership working with Cycling Scotland, South Ayrshire Council Road Safety and Ayrshire Roads Alliance is supporting practitioners to deliver the messages from ‘Play on Pedals’.
In 2017/18, 20 children in South Ayrshire completed a ‘JumpStart’ evening programme, and 202 children completed a JumpStart school based programme. The evening programme runs for eight weeks and participants take part in physical activity for 45 minutes at each session as well as being encouraged to be more active between sessions. The percentage of Primary 1 children with a healthy weight increased slightly in 2017/18.
36 41 of 53 Active Schools Through the Active Schools Programme there continued to be opportunities for children and young people to participate in sport and physical activity sessions offered across 46 different activities outwith the school day. The activities on offer include athletics, badminton, basketball, boccia, boxercise, cheerleading, country dancing, cricket, curling, cycling, dance, dodge ball, fitness, golf, gymnastics, handball, hill walking, hockey, martial arts, mountain biking, netball, orienteering, rugby, sailing, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, volleyball and yoga.
• 518 (an increase of 22%) volunteers providing physical activity sessions, including 274 qualified adults and 147qualified secondary aged young people • Five leadership programmes in secondary schools supporting young people to become coaches and ambassadors for sport • One leadership programme in a primary school with P6/7 children taking part in the Junior Coaching Academy • Pathways developed with a total of 80 different clubs.
Social Activities A number of opportunities exist to support participation in activity based social support: • Carrick Sensory Group – for children and families who experience barriers to accessing community resources • Come 2 – Whitletts Activity Centre Friday Fun Activity Sessions for children with additional support needs • Unique Youth Club Venture , Ayr – Disco for teenagers with disability and additional support needs • Ayr United Community Football Coaching – Football Sessions for children and teenagers with disabilities and or complex additional support needs • Children and Families Disability Team Rainbow Buddies Group – for children impacted by physical disability • Children and Families Disability Team Girls Youth Group – for teenage girls with complex needs.
Get Up Girvan
Active schools worked in partnership with Community Learning and Development and Girvan Primary to organised a Parent and Child Breakfast Club two mornings a week. The families attending took part in half an hour of physical activity followed by a healthy breakfast and key health messages. Two sessions a week were delivered one for P1- P3 and one for P4 to P7. Eight families attended with a total of 11 children getting active with their families: “We are thoroughly enjoying coming to Get Up Girvan as it’s a break from normal routine and lets us have some fun and enjoy breakfast together (Girvan Primary Parent)”
42 of 53 37 Lawn Bowls Project
In promoting local opportunities for children “We enjoy having the Primary pupils up to play sports all the bowling clubs within the at the bowling green. It gives them the Girvan Cluster delivered 4-6 week bowling experience of having a shot at bowling sessions after school to local primary schools, without having to join the club or go to followed by a competition. 39 pupils took part and five pupils have now joined their local any expense with the purchase of bowls. bowling club. We have had kids interested in joining after they have been up with the after school club” (Ballantrae Bowling Club)
Turnberry Golf After School Club
Active schools in partnership with South Ayrshire Community Safety and Turnberry Golf Club organised a six week golf coaching at Turnberry Gold course delivered by the PGA Pro’s. 30 pupils, 10 girls and 20 boys participated in this and learned how to chip, putt and drive.
“I enjoyed the golf a lot and would love to go again if I could. I loved it as it was new and interesting” (Declin P4)
“My daughter Sophie really enjoyed the session and loved that she was golfing on one of the best courses in the world. I feel it’s a fantastic opportunity for the kids from Girvan to take part in.” (Joanne, Girvan PS Parent).
“Golf at Turnberry Golf Resort has been an amazing experience for the children on the golf driving range and the putting greens. The coaching has been so well planned that both groups wanted their block of lessons to continue. The coaches have been superb role models to the groups, and this has helped them to develop an understanding of the code of conduct and the dress code.” (Mrs Shennan, Girvan PS)
“It has been a fantastic opportunity for Trump Turnberry to work with South Ayrshire Active Schools to develop Golf within South Ayrshire. Our long term goal is to grow junior golf in the local community and provide a solid foundation of tuition here at the club.” (Oliver Foster, Golf Professional Trump Turnberry)
38 43 of 53 Young Carers Strategy
We have started to implement the Carers Scotland Act integrating with core GIRFEC approach. New pathways have been developed to support young carers identified through school and primary care routes. We have developed the format of our Young Carers Statement.
Emotional and Mental Health
We have taken key steps to support We have created a mental children and young people to maintain and health and wellbeing achieve positive mental health. Crucial to section on the South this is the implementation of preventative Ayrshire Young Scot resources and support. South Ayrshire website. The mental health Youth Forum through their SAY IT Out and wellbeing website Loud initiative has made a significant features a range of information contribtution to raising awareness and and support, tailored Spotify informing services of the supports that playlists, feel good activities our children, young people and parents and specific apps. require. This group has led on the design of a wellbeing website, youth work resource We have also implemented pack and family information leaflet. The the Say It Out Loud Charter resource pack was promoted in local for schools. The Charter is a positive youth clubs which enabled young people environment checklist for South Ayrshire to engage in activities to promote positive primary and secondary schools to mental health and encourage “chatting recognise the ongoing commitment that things through” schools play in supporting children and young people to learn the skills they Our family leaflet was designed to offer need to develop their mental health and support to parents on how best to engage wellbeing, build resilience and manage young people in discussion relating to their life’s challenges. The charter is based on feelings, emotions and mental health. The NHS Ayrshire and Arran Whole School leaflet signposts parents to where they Approach to support mental health and could access resources to support their wellbeing guidance for schools. child’s health. In the Carrick and Girvan areas Community Planning Partners have been working on a proposal to create a mental health support service for young people which will be available five day per week, 52 weeks per “I think this leaflet is year. The service will be accessible and great, it has useful available to young people at the point information and love that when they need it. 75% of the funding has it is created by local young now been agreed in principle for a 3 year people – I would definitely period. read this if my child took it “It makes me happy home” knowing that there are Local Parent so many others that feel the same as I do”
44 of 53 39 good practice example Mental Health Awareness - A Starter for 10
Our school vision is: “Belmont Academy is a nurturing learning environment which inspires every learner to reach their potential.”
The school identified stigma associated • Train all staff to be able to look out for the with mental health as a significant barrier to warning signs which indicate a young person providing a nurturing learning environment. is experiencing mental health or emotional Reflecting on local and national data regarding wellbeing issues – this will be supported by occurance of mental health conditions we the NHS and the Kris Boyd Charity want to develop and implement practical, • Working better with parents/carers to relevant and effective mental health policies and provide more all-round support. procedures. Through this we we will achieve • Raise awareness of mental health through a safe and stable learning environment for fundraising activities – first charity will be the the many young people who attend Belmont Kris Boyd Charity. Academy are are affected both directly, and indirectly by mental ill health. In October 2018, the school launched the Belmont Bee and had a week of events for At our school, we have formed a mental health every year group to promote positive mental action group whose main aim is to promote health. The bee has become the school logo for positive mental health for every member of the year to brand the mental health awareness our whole community. We will pursue this aim work and to raise the profile in the school to let using both universal, whole school approaches everyone know that it is good to talk and not to and specialised, targeted approaches aimed at bottle things up. vulnerable young people. This project involved partnership working with We want to deliver a health and wellbeing parents and workshops were available from strategy to: other providers, offering parents an awareness • Promote positive mental health in all staff raising session on such topics as self harm, and young people anxiety management, active body/active mind • Increase understanding and awareness of and pros and cons of social media. common mental health issues • Alert staff to early warning signs of mental ill Community Support health • Provide support to staff working with young Barns Medical Practice were involved with the people with mental health issues school to benefit our young people and we will • Provide support to young people suffering work in partnership to better support our young mental ill health and their peers and parents/ people with their mental health. carers. The message from the Belmont Bee – Action Our Actions - Year One Group is “it is a starter for 10. Hopefully • Carry out an audit of how we teach about Mental Health (PSE) you will bee positive about what we are • Engage with partners/train staff to be able to trying to do and of course thank you in sign post effectively our young people and advance for bee-ing supportive” families to appropriate support
40 45 of 53 PRIORITY 5 Ensure children and young people have a voice in influencing service delivery that affects their lives
Your voice will be heard
46 of 53 41 The introduction of the SEEMiS child's plan views of young carers. The Wellbeing Wheel is format makes provision for the gathering also being used regularly to gather the views of children's and the views of their parents of children in relation to the seven GIRFEC integral to the completion of the plan. The wellbeing indicators. Team Around the Child process creates a forum where we gather the view of our children, The local authority has started the work of young people and parents. In terms of other realigning children’s services and all young vulnerable groups Hear 4 U advocacy service, people aged 8 - 16 have been surveyed on Viewpoint, Who Cares? Scotland advocacy local needs. Pupils voice continues to be service and Having Your Say are in place strong element in improvement planning within to gather views. The accessibility strategy school. Young people and youth groups have group is looking in particular to develop work been involved in participatory budgeting. to gather the views of children with complex Our Champions Board continues to promote communication issues. We have made the rights of looked after children and young arrangements to implement Young Carers people. Work is also in progress in relation to Statements that will specifically canvass the LGBTI and Young Carers. Pupil Survey Each year an annual survey of children and young people is carried out. In 2017/18, 3,681 children in primary schools and 1,268 young people in secondary schools completed the survey. The survey demonstrated that generally children and young people are very positive about their educational experiences. Big Ask We have completed our survey regarding • Bullying the priorities of our Children’s Services Plan. • Education with particular reference to Around 900 young people completed the Personal and Social Education surveyand told the Community Planning • Increased youth opportunities Partnership that priorities outlined in the plan • Equality for all and meeting children and are still relevant to them. They told us that we young people’s rights. are good at the following. Young people felt that currently, South Ayrshire The improvement identified by our children and Community Planning partners are good at: young people will be integrated into the refresh of our Youth Strategy and the revised Children’s • Providing afterschool clubs and Services Plan opportunities to take part in a range of activities • Ensuring young people have a voice and are listened too • Supporting young people • Providing young people with education
The top 5 areas young people feel the children service plan should focus on are:
• Mental health and emotional health
4242 47 of 53 The UK Youth Parliament Make your Mark took part in South Ayrshire, which is 50% of figures over 3 years show a significant increase young people that are aged 11-18, which in young people taking part in the ballot vote on was the highest number in local authority in what they think are the top issues that should Scotland. be addressed. In 2018, 5,073 young people
Make Your Mark 2018 Make Your Mark 2017 Make Your Mark 2016 5073 young people took part 4159 young people took part 1891 young people took part
Top 3 Issues Top 3 Issues Top 3 Issues Mental health (1231) Mental Health (699) Votes at 16 (334) Equal pay for equal work (758) Transport (682) Transport (256) Let’s tackle homelessness (640) Protect LGBT+ people (503) Mental health (220)
48 of 53 43 Rights Respecting School
We continue to seek the views of children the target of 90% of schools achieving and young people in our educational the bronze award and there has been in establishments. The number of schools increase in the number of schools achieving participating in the UNICEF Rights gold. Three schools have registered, 16 Respecting School (RRS) programme have achieved the Bronze award, 20 have remains high, with all schools involved at achieved the Silver award and 12 the Gold some level. South Ayrshire has reached Award.
Unicef UK Rights Respecting Schools Programme Director, Frances Bestley, said: “We are very pleased to be awarding Annbank Primary School Gold: Rights Respecting, the highest level of recognition we award. It is clear that the whole school has embraced a culture based on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Annbank is a very inclusive school where children report feeling valued and safe irrespective of their background. Pupils also have many genuine opportunities to have their views heard and influence key aspect of school life, in turn creating a positive learning environment. It was also clear that children had an excellent grasp of children’s rights and social justice, and so did school staff, parents, carers and the school’s governors. Everyone should be very proud of their achievement.”
Additional Support Needs (ASN) Parents Forum
In the past year we have developed our ASN Parents Forum and formed a steering group of parents to work with us in setting the agenda of how we offer support. From this work we have identified entitlement and benefits advice, advice on emotional and mental health support, assistive software and devices to assist literacy and activities and opportunities for leisure and recreation with children and young people. The group provides an invaluable reference group to advise the Community Planning Partners on how we can meet the needs of children and young people with additional support needs.
44 49 of 53 Champions Board
The Champions Boards provide platforms for • Health and social care parnterhsip planning young people to talk directly to Council staff, policy and performance team elected members and service providers to • Children’s health care and justice teams discuss the challenges that being in care can • South Ayrshire Foster carers bring, and how these challenges can be faced • Employability and Skills team and overcome with the right support. • Skills Development Scotland Between November 2017 and February 2019 • Housing teams including teams from ‘Champions for Change’, South Ayrshire Viewfield Gate and Succession House, Champions Board has designed and delivered Maybole and Girvan, Troon, Housing corporate parenting awareness sessions to Options and housing staff based in 1,005 corporate parents across South Ayrshire, Riverside House. participants include: All sessions closely reference The Scottish • Elected members Care Leavers Covenant and have been • South Ayrshire Head Teachers and targeted developed and are delivered by young people groups of teaching staff living in South Ayrshire with lived experience • Locality Planning groups of care. The sessions provide a platform for • SAHSCP Integration Joint Board young people’s voices to be heard through • Police Scotland animation and film with a focus on developing • CAMHS local solutions to local issues using a strengths • Community Planning Partnership based approach. • Voluntary sector colleagues and partners including Barnardo’s Girvan Youth Trust An online module has been developed for all Community Learning and Development South Ayrshire Council staff as mandatory teams induction training and this module is almost • Human Resources ready to be implemented. • Procurement
South Ayrshire Alcohol and Drug Partnership (ADP) commissioned Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol and Drugs (SFAD) to undertake consultation activities with young people to identify the support needs for young people (8 – 25) affected by problematic substance use (their own or a family member). The consultation work engaged with over 250 young people and staff through a series of workshops, interviews and electronic surveys. The findings will provide an evidence-base for the ADP to identify and develop the most appropriate support for young people affected by substance use.
50 of 53 45 good practice example Participatory Budgeting
Participatory Budgeting (PB) events have taken place across South Ayrshire during 2018-19. Groups were able to apply for up to £1,000 and voting was open to anyone who lives, works, volunteers or studies in the local area aged 10 years plus. Many projects that support children and young people were allocated funding to improve the outcomes of those living in the local community. Examples of the groups that were allocated funding:
Girvan Youth Football Funding received for equipment, upkeep and coaches £1,000 Club training to enable an increase in year groups. 1st Girvan Girls Guides Funding received to part fund a 2 day residential to Dolphin £1,000 House. The aim of this residential is to promote positive mental health and wellbeing for all 18 girl guides that will attend. Girvan Youth Trust: Music Funding was received to assist with costs of hiring bands £1,000 on the Prom and musicians for Music on the Prom, an 11 week programme showcasing 50’s, 60’s and 70’s music on the promenade between 1-5 pm every Sunday from June to August. St Patrick’s Fundraising Funding will contribute towards sports equipment and £750 Group – Fitness 101 sports lessons. The Group aims to include those children who would not usually have the opportunities to take part in sports and fitness activities due to cost contraints, deprivation, disabilities and to break down social barriers and make sports accessible for all. Dundonald Primary Funding will support the development of the friendship £750 School and Parent garden and the activities that will run. This will promote Council Friendship enjoyable intergenerational learning. Garden Heathfield Primary Funding is to develop a more inclusive and stimulating £1,000 Parent Council playground environment; to enhance social interaction and Playground Project promote health and wellbeing. Monkton Community Funding will facilitate the formation of a youth forum and £875 Council associated activities and events. Funding will help towards set up costs and resources for Ready Steady Cook competition and cooking workshops.
46 51 of 53 Conclusion
We hope that you have found this report and shared priorities are still significant. Combined the information indicative of the strong level with a clear leadership commitment we are of partnership working and our clear focus on confident that we can collaborate, co-design improving and providing services of the highest and co-produce the best services possible for quality. In the past year, we have strengthened children and young people in South Ayrshire our consultation with children young people to achieve our vision of closing the gap and and their families by working in partnership and achieving potential. listening to their voices, we are assured that our
52 of 53 47 South Ayrshire Council Contact Centre 0300123 0900
53 of 53