Working together for children and young people

Wednesday, 06 June 2012

'Early support' is the key focus for the new Hampshire's Children and Young People's Plan.

The focus of the new 2012-15 Plan is on preventative work and helping families to access support as early as possible, with organisations working together to ensure services have maximum impact.

The Plan has been informed by consultation feedback from those working with and for children and young people, parents and carers and, young people themselves.

Hampshire: an even better place to enjoy childhood

At his decision day on May 31, Councillor Roy Perry, Hampshire County Council's Executive Lead Member for Children's Services approved the Plan, an overarching strategy for the Hampshire Children's Trust, which represents all those working with, and for, children and young people. It reflects a shared commitment to improving the lives of all children and young people in Hampshire - enabling every child to be talented and successful, making Hampshire an even better place in which to enjoy childhood.

Key achievements

The plan builds on a number of achievements:

• The development of Children's Centres and the successful transfer to new providers with an increase in frontline workers providing support for the most vulnerable or disadvantaged families
• Improving health assessments and checks for children in care
• Providing successful parent support programmes
• Promoting equal access to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services
• Securing year on year improvements in key national tests for school pupils
• Reducing rates of first time offenders, use of custodial sentences and re-offending
• Developing apprenticeships and internships for disadvantaged or vulnerable young people.

Councillor Perry said:

"Ofsted has rated our partnership working as outstanding and all organisations involved in the Trust can be proud of the achievements to date. Despite Hampshire's great record to date for helping children, we are not at all complacement. Through the Children's Trust and Local Children's Partnerships, I am confident we can all build on these achievements to ensure those most in need receive our support, so that Hampshire is an even better place for all children to live in and grow up in."

Main priorities

The five priorities of the 2012-15 Plan are:

• Reducing the incidence and impact of poverty on the achievement and life chances of children and young people
• Securing children and young people's physical, spiritual, social emotional and mental health, promoting healthy lifestyles and reducing inequalities.
• Providing opportunities to learn, within and beyond the school day, that raise children and young people's aspirations, encourage excellence and enable them to enjoy and achieve beyond their expectations
• Helping children and young people to be safe and feel safe
• Promoting vocational, leisure and recreational activities that provide opportunities for children and young people to experience success and make a positive contribution

Underpinning all five priorities is a commitment to removing barriers to access, participation and achievement and not tolerating discrimination and abuse.

• Children and Young People's Plan 2012-15

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