Someone to Listen – Something to Do SoToDo Model

Someone to Listen – Something to DoSoToDo Model KEITH TOWLER Programme Director - Wales

In my 20 minutes going to cover:1.Social and Policy Considerations2. How the SoToDo Work Began3. The SoToDo Model4. The Benefits of This Model Neath Port Talbot – 11th December 2007

Social and Policy Considerations (1) Labour Gov has pledged to end child poverty by 2020 Children who start school this year will be 18 in 2020 That’s the challenge to ensure that unlike the tens of thousands of each cohort who have left school in the UK to a life characterised by poverty over previous decades we break that cycle

Social and Policy Considerations (2) Government is struggling with its targets to half child poverty by 2010 ECPN calling for greater levels of investment by the UK Government and estimate we need £4 billion Made progress in Wales – now as bad as the rest of the UK Must do better to get back on track

Social and Policy Considerations (3) Save the Children Report earlier this year – Living Below the Radar Children in Wales more likely to live in severe poverty than children in any other part of Britain apart from London 1 in 4 children in Wales – living in poverty (170,000) Families living in severe poverty: £7,000 pa (couple and one child) = £19 per day (electricity, gas, phones, other bills, food, clothes, washing, transport, health needs plus activities for children and other essential items Lone parent with 2 children, severe poverty means a weekly income of at least £78 per week below the Government’s own poverty line Lack of hope within some of our communities is real

Social and Policy Considerations (4) What do young people say about this: “We are mocked for being from the area I live in” “…it will never change and it may be worse in 5 years” “We need to be listened to and respected” “You don’t have to be in Africa to be in poverty” “Every one knows there are problems and who they affect but they are talking to the wrong people” How does all this look in statistics…

Social and Policy Considerations (5) Poor children in Wales more likely to be born early and have a lower birth weight 15 x more likely to die in a fire at home 5 x more likely to die in an accident 10 x more likely to become a teenage mother More likely to have higher levels of obesity More likely to be drawn into anti social behaviour and crime Far more likely to leave school early without qualifications On average will live 7 years shorter lives

A Child Rights Approach UNCRC – Reporting Year Wales Monitoring Group – will be saying there are children living in Wales in poverty whose right to an adequate standard of living is being breached. Article 27 recognises – the right of every child to a standard of living adequate to the child’s physical, mental, spiritual, moral and social development Rights based approach is fundamental to improving services for children and young people It provides all the reasons why we must take this agenda forward It is a multi agency agenda – no one agency can deliver this agenda alone

Policy and Practice – Distant Companions (1) Extending Entitlement – 10 entitlements Rights into Action – 7 core aims (UNCRC linked) Working Together to Safeguard Children Youth Offending Service – All Wales YO Strategy Community Safety Panels Local Service Boards – Making the Connections Single Plans and the Guidance

Policy and Practice – Distant Companions (2) WE HAVE THE POLICY AND STRATEGY DOCUMENTS IN WALES… BUT WHY IS PRACTICE SLOW TO RESPOND? WHAT PREVENTS US FROM WORKING TOGETHER TO ACHIEVE BETTER OUTCOMES FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE? Answers on a postcard please to…

Partnership Working (1) “Partnership is the only game in town” Raises issues about: Leadership – CEO Status of voluntary sector in partnership Participation of children and young people Need a 0 – 25 approach Universal, targetted and individual services

Partnership Working (2) Number of partnerships – duplication / time / effectiveness Do partnerships deliver better outcomes? “Feeding the Beast…” Joint Commissioning Joint Vision Joint Expectations Focus – has to be on improved outcomes

Someone to Listen - Something to Do Model (1) Children’s Commissioner and South Wales Police – Someone to Listen – Something to Do (holistic multi agency youth at risk prevention model for South Wales) Messages from young people: …we need someone to listen, something to do…and somewhere to go Prof. Howard Williamson, University of Glamorgan …young people need critical people at critical times

Someone to Listen - Something to Do Model (2) Incorporating UNCRC Considered implications of the Children Act 2004 (single plan, Lead Director) Within WAG policy and strategic frameworks Developed multi agency practice model: Area based –school clusters Universal, targetted and individual services bound together Active involvement of children and young people Leadership – reconfiguring services Joint commissioning (intelligent!)

Someone to Listen - Something to Do Model (3) Beyond Boundaries: Citizen Centred Local Services The citizen model cuts across the culture and working practices of traditional public service delivery organisations. It requires a weakening of orgnaisational boundaries, to extend horizons radically, so that citizens are put centre stage. Efficiency and personalisation have to be the imperatives of public service organisations: citizens should not have to negotiate complex pathways across organisational boundaries, these should be planned seamlessly and the citizen helped to access them effectively. Sir Jeremy Beecham, June 2006

Someone to Listen - Something to Do Model (3) Practice Model (Summary) 4 Tiers 1. Early years work. Support and assistance for school age children after school hours 2. Working on an outreach basis to reach marginalised children and young people with a view to developing individual support plans 3. Provision of vocational training which ties in closely with youth employment services and colleges and meets the needs of local employers and the local community 4. Access to individual services as required

Someone to Listen - Something to Do Model (4) Challenges (some) Joint Commissioning Framework Information Sharing Involvement of children and young people Role of voluntary sector – national, local, community based Governance Leadership Funding and resources Practice model = emphasis on practice: If it is not improving the lives of children - stop doing it Work force development

Someone to Listen - Something to Do Model (5) • 10 Point Action Summary (Practice) • Take a multi agency approach • Develop an integrated universal, targetted and individual service model • Ensure the active participation of children and young people • Look at how existing services can be re-configured and consider the financial and resource issues • Be sure to get the facts right before you begin • Get the support of and involve the local community • Agree and implement a joint local plan, which addresses the risk and protective factors

Someone to Listen - Something to Do Model (6) 10 Point Action Summary (Practice) 8. Develop a range of enjoyable, educative, environmental, supportive and positive activities and services for childen and young people 9. Develop a series of targeted responses to particular risks or problems (eg anti social behaviour, truancy, substance misuse, etc) 10. Be careful to monitor and evaluate all activities and processes so that progress can br tracked to inform future developments

Someone to Listen - Something to Do Model (7) Potential Benefits: Improved services and support for children and young people Long term community benefits Help young people to develop new skills improving levels of self esteem Physical improvements in local community Regeneration and employment potential Cut down duplication of assessment and service delivery amongst service providers

Conclusion Multi agency working is tough. But get it right and the benefits are self evident: Less frustration, more progress Performance indicators will be hit More resources can be realised to better effect For children, young people and the community Improvements in the quality of life Raising ambition > improving self esteem > Attainment

THANKS FOR LISTENING ! Keith Towler Programme Director – Wales Save the Children 8 Cathedral Road Cardiff CF11 9LJ Tel: 02920 398838 Email: k.towler@savethechildren.org.uk

Someone to Listen – Something to Do SoToDo Model