We are currently working towards developing a 15 year commissioning strategy – our CYPP 2010-25.

What are we doing in Sunderland?

A planning group is in place. The planning group is using the Children’s Trust’s commissioning process to help plan the development of the CYPP 2010-25. The key pieces of work that the Children’s Trust will progress, in planning for the 15 year strategy include:

REVIEW

• Set up Strategy Planning Group
• Consider aims and objectives of a 15 year strategy
• Identify and consider some of the ‘big issues’ that have emerged from CYPP 2007-09 and strategic planning across the Children’s Trust
• Consider how the C&YP Plan can become a commissioning (and decommissioning) strategy for the Children’s Trust and clarify the commissioning role of the aligned partnerships
• Review and apply requirements of Government statutory guidance and proposed legislative changes
• Review governance and partnership arrangements with the LSP

ASSESS

• Prepare a Children’s Trust Needs Assessment, building on· performance data analysis· consultation with children and young people (Citizenship week, Tell Us 3 survey, consultation conducted by services and partnerships)· consultation with the workforce
• Work with the PCT and Health, Housing and Adult Services to formulate a comprehensive Joint Strategic Needs Assessment
• Build locality profiles to support locality based service planning and delivery
• Apply ’Outcomes Based Accountability’ methodology to ‘Turn The Curve’ on performance areas where progress is slow

PLAN

• Use the needs analysis to identify priority outcome areas for the Children’s Trust.
• Consult on and agree priority outcome areas with key actions and responsibility for implementation
• Work to establish processes to include key elements of partners’ plans
• Strengthen early identification, intervention and prevention for children with additional needs. ‘Narrow the Gap’ for vulnerable groups and inequalities
• Map different models of service provision and identify which give the best outcomes
• Set out governance arrangements for the Children’s Trust 2010-25. To do this the Children’s Trust will:· Identify what types of Aligned Partnership are required and which Aligned Partnership will be responsible for each priority outcome area· Prioritise the priorities into three year bands· Set out arrangements for reviewing progress against the priority outcome areas · Strengthen links with the Local Strategic Partnership· Strengthen the engagement of schools, schools forum, College and Academies · Strengthen engagement of other frontline providers· Set out roles and responsibilities of partners for delivering the 15 year strategy
• Prepare for formal consultation with Children’s Trust partners, Children’s Services Review Committee, Cabinet and Council
• Undertake formal consultation with children and young people on the priorities emerging from the needs assessment (Citizenship Week 2009)
• Set out arrangements for joint commissioning

DO

• Establish commissioning intentions of the Children’s Trust partners to achieve priority outcomes for children and families
• Work towards clarifying the spend of Children’s Trust partners on children and young people
• Set out a programme of service improvement and delivery

What is the Government asking us to do?

New non-statutory Children and Young People’s Plan Guidance 2009  ( 962kb) has been published to help achieve these aims. The new guidance replaces previous guidance on the Children and Young People's Plan (issued in 2005 and 2007) and brings together the 2005 and 2007 CYPP regulations in one place, reflects the new performance management arrangements including Local Area Agreements, and sets out the proposed legislative changes for 2011.

Key requirements for the CYPP 2010 and beyond, as follows:

• The CYPP must be developed in the context of local issues and priorities and understood as part of a wider local strategy involving all partners in the Local Strategic Partnership
• By 2010 Children’s Trusts should have in place consistent, high quality
  arrangements to provide identification and early intervention for all those who need additional help
• The CYPP sets the strategic commissioning framework within which partners will, together or individually, ensure delivery of services, which improve outcomes for children and young people and families in the area
• The CYPP must include a statement on how the local authority intends to achieve improvements with reference to the integration of services, early intervention and prevention, and safeguarding
• The CYPP must:
  - set out the arrangements for co-operation with local partners.
  - include a needs assessment against outcomes for children and
  - young people.
  - include an outline of key actions, with timescales, to meet priorities.
  - include a statement of how the use of the local authority’s resources will contribute to the improvement of the outcomes

What NEW legislation supports Children and Young People’s Plans?

Three key pieces of legislation have been proposed:

• Extending the Children’s Trust duty to cooperate in making the arrangements under s10 of the Children Act 2004 to maintained schools (and Academies), Sixth Form and Further Education Colleges and Jobcentre Plus
• Requiring all areas to have a Children’s Trust Board; and
• Extending the ownership of the CYPP to all statutory partners by placing the duty to produce the CYPP on the Children’s Trust Board

The Government is also considering how best to use the CYPP to support local action to tackle child poverty.

The proposed legislative changes will give the Children’s Trust Board responsibility for producing the CYPP meaning the plan will then be “owned” by the Children’s Trust partnership.

The intention is to ensure that:

• CYPPs have more impact
• are applied more consistently across all authorities and
• have the resources to make a difference

These proposals currently have no basis in legislation. Subject to parliamentary approval they would be in force in the spring of 2010.