Agenda and minutes

Councillor Dance welcomed everyone to the meeting and introductions were made.  It was agreed to vary the order of business and view the DVD prepared by the Mid Argyll Youth Project first.

Apologies for absence were intimated from Councillor Mary-Jean Devon and from Glenn Heritage, Third Sector.

None declared.

Discussion with Fiona Kalache, Mid Argyll Youth Project

The Group welcomed Fiona Kalache and James Quarton from the Mid Argyll Youth Project to the meeting and viewed a DVD entitled “The Gilp” which the Mid Argyll Youth Project had produced for a project they had been selected to participate in by the Scottish Parliament as part of the Scottish Parliament’s Community Partnership Programme.  The topic of the film was chosen by the young people themselves and aimed to highlight the negative media stereotypes of young people and the impact this can have on them within their local communities.

Fiona and James also highlighted other initiatives the Mid Argyll Youth Project were involved with and responded to a number of questions arising from their presentation.

Thereafter Cleland Sneddon invited the Group to view a film produced by pupils of Dunoon Grammar School and Women’s Aid which aimed to raise awareness of Child Trafficking in Britain.

Decision

1.             Noted the variety of activities the Mid Argyll Youth Project were involved with including partnership working with Argyll College to enable young people to learn new skills and undertake training to enable them to access employment opportunities;

2.             Noted that the Mid Argyll Youth Project have been approached to participate as one of three partners in a Scottish wide futures project – A Scottish Wave of Change – which will tie up with the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games and the London 2012 Olympics;

3.             Noted that Strathclyde Police have very low instances of  child trafficking in Argyll and Bute;

4.             Agreed that Councillor Dance, as Chair of the Group, write letters of thanks to the Mid Argyll Youth Project, Dunoon Grammar School and Women’s Aid for their very well produced and thought provoking films.

Social Affairs Thematic CPP Group 14 February 2011

The Minutes of the Social Affairs Thematic CPP Group meeting held on 14 February 2011 were approved as a correct record subject to the following amendment:-

Item 4 Matters Arising – the date of Islay High School’s presentation to be amended to read 9 May 2011 and not 9 March 2011.  It was noted that this was subsequently moved back to the August meeting.

Item 10 – Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010 Community Payback Orders – it was noted that Fyne Homes had expressed an interest in becoming involved with providing unpaid work.

Presentation by Roslyn Redpath, Principal Educational Psychologist, Argyll and Bute Council

Roslyn Redpath presented a report which provided an overview of the HMIE report Educational Psychology in Scotland: Making a Difference as a context for the inspection of Argyll and Bute Psychological Service.  The report also provided a review of the recent HMIE inspection of Argyll and Bute Education Psychology Services and indicated the ways in which the psychological service contributes to local priorities to make a difference to children and young people in Argyll and Bute.

Roslyn also responded to a number of questions arising from her presentation.

Decision

1.             Noted the contents of the report;

2.             Noted that Dougie Dunlop would liaise with Jim Robb, Head of Adult Care, regarding Councillor Horn’s concern in respect of a young person within her Ward who had been diagnosed with autism as a young child and who had recently left school with no care plan in place; and

3.             Noted that a multi agency task group had been set up to look at the current processes in place in respect of the transition from Child Care to Adult Care Services and agreed that a report should come to a future meeting on the revised protocols currently being developed.

(Reference: Report by Principal Educational Psychologist dated May 2011, submitted)

Presentation by Dougie Dunlop, Head of Children and Families, Argyll and Bute Council

Anne Paterson gave a presentation on the Early Years Framework policy document published jointly by the Scottish Government and COSLA in 2008. Anne advised that the framework focussed on pre birth to aged 8 and that it was a 10 year plan.  She highlighted the progress being made within Argyll and Bute in relation to the National Outcomes and referred to the Service Review and Implementation Plan and current intervention work programmes.

Anne also responded to a number of questions arising from her presentation.

Decision

1.             Noted the contents of the presentation and agreed that arrangements should be made for a copy of this to be circulated to all members of the Group; and

2.             Agreed to Cleland Sneddon, as Thematic Lead, signing off an expression of interest form completed by Argyll Voluntary Action for Improving Futures National Lottery Funding which will support 20 partnerships across Scotland set up to support families with multiple and complex needs.

Report by Dougie Dunlop, Head of Children and Families, Argyll and Bute Council

Consideration was given to a report outlining the work being undertaken to reshape services to children and young people who have particular vulnerabilities due to their emotional or mental health needs.

Decision

Noted the content of the work being undertaken.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director – Community Services, submitted)

Prior to consideration of the Highlight and Exception reports submitted by Strategic Partnerships, a copy of an up to date list of Strategic Partnerships linked to the Social Affairs Thematic CPP Group was tabled and noted.

Consideration was given to a highlight and exception report provided by the Argyll and Bute Adult Protection Committee.

Decision

Noted the activity that was undertaken by the Argyll and Bute Adult Protection Committee during the period January to March 2011.

(Reference: Report by Argyll and Bute Adult Protection Committee dated 11 April 2011, submitted)

Consideration was given to a highlight and exception report provided by the Argyll and Bute Health and Care Strategic Partnership.

Decision

1.             Noted the activity that was undertaken by the Argyll and Bute Health and Care Strategic Partnership during the period January to March 2011 and the key challenges and actions to be addressed in the future; and

2.             Noted that the Council’s Project Board for Learning Disability Services and the Special Committee for Older People’s Service had agreed to progress to tender for the redesign of Learning Disability Services.

(Reference: Report by Argyll and Bute Health and Care Strategic Partnership dated 6 April 2011, submitted)

Consideration was given to a highlight and exception report provided by the Argyll and Bute Strategic Community Safety Partnership.

Decision

1.             Noted the activity that was undertaken by the Argyll and Bute Strategic Community Safety Partnership during the period January to March 2011 and the key challenges and actions to be addressed in the future; and

2.             Agreed that a report on domestic violence and violence against women should be brought to the next meeting of the Social Affairs Thematic CPP Group.

(Reference: Report by Argyll and Bute Strategic Community Safety Partnership dated 20 April 2011, submitted)

Consideration was given to a highlight and exception report provided by the Argyll and Bute’s Children.

Decision

Noted the activity that was undertaken by Argyll and Bute’s Children during the period January to March 2011 and the key challenges and actions to be addressed in the future

(Reference: Report by Argyll and Bute’s Children dated 13 April 2011, submitted)

Consideration was given to a highlight and exception report provided by the Child Protection Committee.

Decision

Noted the activity that was undertaken by the Child Protection Committee during the period January to March 2011 and the key challenges and actions to be addressed in the future.

(Reference: Report by Child Protection Committee dated 13 April 2011, submitted)

Consideration was given to a highlight and exception report provided by the Early Years Partnership.

Decision

Noted the activity that was undertaken by the Early Years Partnership during the period January to March 2011 and the key challenges and actions to be addressed in the future.

(Reference: Report by Early Years Partnership dated 13 April 2011, submitted)

Consideration was given to a highlight and exception report provided by Argyll and Bute Strategic Housing and Communities Forum.

Decision

Noted the activity that was undertaken by Argyll and Bute Strategic Housing and Communities Forum during the period November 2010 to March 2011 and the key challenges and actions to be addressed in the future.

(Reference: Report by Argyll and Bute Strategic Housing and Communities Forum dated 15 April 2011, submitted)

Consideration was given to a highlight and exception report provided by the Third Sector Partnership and also to their 2010 – 2011 Annual Report.

Decision

Noted the activity that was undertaken by the Third Sector Partnership and the key challenges and actions to be addressed in the future and noted the 2010 – 2011 Third Sector Partnership Annual Report.

(Reference: Report by Third Sector Partnership dated 14 April 2011 and Third Sector Partnership Annual Report 2010 - 2011, submitted)

Consideration was given to a highlight and exception report provided by Youth Focus/Argyll and Bute Youth Forum and Dialogue Youth.

Decision

Noted the activity that was undertaken by Youth Focus/Argyll and Bute Youth Forum and Dialogue Youth and the key challenges and actions to be addressed in the future.

(Reference: Report by Youth Focus/Argyll and Bute Youth Forum and Dialogue Youth dated 7 April 2011, submitted)

Verbal update from Cleland Sneddon, Executive Director – Community Services and Thematic Lead

Cleland Sneddon tabled a revised version of the Social Affairs Thematic CPP Group Scorecard for consideration.

Decision

1.             Noted the contents of the revised Scorecard; and

2.             Agreed that the Scorecard was still too Council focussed and invited Strathclyde Police, Health, Fire and Rescue and the Third Sector to identify further indicators they would wish included on the Scorecard.