Children & Young People Block

National Context

The national context for this block is firmly based around Every Child Matters: Change for Children (ECM:CfC) which is a shared programme of change to improve outcomes for all children and young people. It takes forward the Government's vision of radical reform of the services provided for children, young people and families. Every Child Matters is based on five outcomes which children and young people have identified as key to their well being, both in childhood and later life:

being healthy,
staying safe,
enjoying and achieving,
making a positive contribution
achieving economic well-being.

Our LAA seeks to deliver improvements in these outcomes.

Governance

Devon has developed a Children's Trust as part of its ECM:CfC implementation. The Trust acts as the delivery mechanism for the LAA.

There are a range of services which are best delivered by joint working between a variety of different agencies with a common purpose. The Trust is the vehicle for that joint working. It is not a stand alone employer, rather it is a partnership vehicle from which the different agencies achieve agreed outcomes towards the delivery of their core service, greater efficiencies and economies of scale, more accurate information, targeting of appropriate resource and access to specialist skills. The result is a more comprehensive and effective service to those children and young people.

The Trust reflects the collective responsibilities of the County Council and its partners in realising the objectives of the Change for Children programme.

The LAA strands reflect four key priorities for the Children's Trust as follows:

Devon's children and young people have better physical and mental health to enable them to enjoy life and achieve their potential
The life chances of Devon's most vulnerable children and young people and their families are improved
Devon's families have safe, secure and suitable housing
High aspirations and ambitions for young people

These areas have been chosen because it is agreed they are most likely to be where the complexity of cross agency initiatives, funding requirements or targets threatens to dilute the impact of integrated planning or delay delivery and where robust partnership working can deliver significantly improved preventive services and outcomes for children, young people and families.

Devon Facts and Trends

33 of Devon's electoral wards lie within the bottom quartile nationally in the Index of Multiple Deprivation's Child Poverty category (3 wards are in the bottom 5%). The population of these wards is 140,200 or 18.7% of the population. This includes 28,400 children 0-15.
98% of 3-4 year olds access early education places.
In 2002 51% of all 15 year olds in Devon gained 5 or more GCSEs at A*-C. This is in line with national performance, but below that of neighbouring counties. 12.5% of looked after children achieved a similar performance.
20% of children and young people live in low income households.
Devon has reduced its number of looked after children permanently excluded from school from 2.9% in 1999 to 1% in 2003.
On average there are just under 700 children and young people looked after by the Local Authority (or 0.44% of the overall population aged 0-19) at any one time. This figure has been consistent over several years and is high compared to similar authorities. There is an over representation in Exeter and Barnstaple although this has been reducing.
In March 2003 there were 255 children on the Child Protection Register, or approximately 0.18% of the population 0-17. This is consistent with other authorities and the national benchmark.
In 2002 the number of young offenders per 1,000 population aged 10-17 years ranged from 93.92 in the worst electoral ward to nil in forty five wards.

Devon Viewpoints (MORI 2002)

Only 68% of young people age of 16-24 were satisfied with Devon as a place to live, as opposed to 87% across all adult age groups
13% said that lack of facilities for young people were a problem, as against a national figure of 10%
67% thought Devon had good quality schools
A net 9% only, thought Devon was a good place for young people to live
After affordable housing, the second highest priority for improving the quality of life in Devon was creating more facilities for young people. 68% thought that little or no progress had been made on this matter
92% would like to see more job opportunities for young people to help them stay in the County.

Challenges for Devon

Support parents and carers
Help children and young people obtain the skills, knowledge and understanding to get the most out of life, manage transitions and thrive as adults
Improve physical and mental health and promote healthy lifestyles
Enable young people to make a positive contribution to the community
Improve outcomes for children and young people looked after by the local authority
Protect children and young people from harm and neglect.

Block Lead Contact Details

Liam McGrath
liam.mcgrath@devon.gov.uk