Agenda and minutes

www.swansea.gov.uk/disclosuresofinterests

In accordance with the Code of Conduct adopted by the City & County of Swansea no interests were declared.

To approve & sign the Minutes of the previous meeting(s) as a correct record.

Resolved that the Minutes of the People Policy Development Committee held on 20 June 2018 be approved and signed as a correct record.

·                 Well-being – A Strategy Framework (Presentation);

·                 Feedback on ACE Support Hub – Shared Learning Event (Verbal).

The Head of Vulnerable Learner Services provided a presentation on Well-being – A Strategy Framework regarding the strategic approach to Well-being for children and young people which included acknowledgement of the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs).

He outlined the background, definition of Well-being, the Vision, Principles and Graduated Model of Promotion, Nurture and Support, the Well-being Framework.

He suggested that the Committee take a more overarching approach in terms of Wellbeing, rather than focusing solely on an ACE’s approach. 

The Committee made the following points:

·                 Concern expressed that we seem to be focusing solely on children when traumatic experiences can affect children through into adulthood;

·                 The Swansea Public Services Board had published their Wellbeing Plan – we need to link in with our partners eg Police, Health, 3^rd Sector;

·                 Already good work ongoing with ‘Rights Respecting’ in our schools;

·                 An example of training on children’s mental health was highlighted which depicted slides on the brain of well stimulated child compared to that of one that was not stimulated;

·                 All teachers, governors and staff all need to be aware of the basic training.  Most schools are doing it but it is not consistent;

·                 Need a multi-agency approach – most of these children can be identified by the schools so those with ACE’s should be identified early;

·                 2 types of ACE’s – those that could be anticipated and those that could not be anticipated;

·                 The most appropriate services to identify early cases would be via colleagues in maternity services and health eg health visitors;

·                 Also a big issue with Young Adult Carers – they don’t see being a Young Adult Carer as an ACE;

·                 Would like to be able to prevent children who suffer from ACE’s from revisiting them when they progress into adulthood.

Simon Jones, the Social Services Strategy and Performance Improvement Officer stated that there was an ACE Support Hub with broad representation from Health, Police and 3^rd Sector that could be utilised if required. 

The Head of Vulnerable Learner Services stated that the preferred option was for ACE’s to become part of the Wellbeing Strategy with a work stream around ACE’s in order to develop skills such as train the trainer.  There could then be an action plan to develop ACE awareness across Social Services & Education to encompass actions as part of the work stream that would contribute to the broader Wellbeing Strategy.  It would also identify whether progress was being made.

The Committee considered whether they should continue with the Work Plan as previously agreed or change it slightly to support the ‘Behaving Well Sub Group’ in order to develop the wider Well-being Strategy. 

The Committee agreed that they should concentrate on an achievable outcome such as focussing on ensuring a consistent approach for all staff, Governors, Teachers and Councillors in relation to training associated with ACE’s. 

The Committee could also be updated on the progress of the Wellbeing Strategy as and when necessary. 

The Chair thanked the Health of Vulnerable Learner Services for his presentation.

Resolved that:

1)              The presentation be noted;

2)              Simon Jones, the Social Services Strategy and Performance Improvement Officer attend the next meeting to further consider the Implications of ACE’s for Citizens.

The Chair outlined the Work Plan for 2018-2019.

Resolved that the Work Plan be noted.