Agenda item

(Helen Jones, Head of Commissioning, Families and Social Care, Kent County Council and Linda Denne, Service Commissioning Manager, Consulting Service, NHS Kent and Medway were in attendance for this item)

(1)               The Shadow Health and Wellbeing Board had a very comprehensive report which set out for the Board how Children’s Centres across Kent had developed and how health services were currently being delivered in these Centres.

(2)               The Board acknowledged that there is a variance in current links between Children’s Centres and health professionals across Kent, and, in particular, the links between General Practice and Children’s Centres.

(3)               The Kent Children’s Centres outcomes Framework for commissioned services provides an overview of strategic outcomes to guide and support commissioners in developing services within Children’s Centres in Kent. This Framework aims to deliver the revised core purpose for Children’s Centres which enables and guides services to be targeted at those most in need whilst maintaining availability to all.

(4)               The Board noted that Children’s Centres contribute significantly to the Public Health Outcomes Framework.

(5)               The Health Visitor Implementation Plan 2011-2015 – A Call to Action published in February 2011 sets out the coalition Governments vision to increase the number of Health visitors nationally by 4,200. The Board noted that Kent and Medway have the highest target, 420 new Health Visitors.

(6)               The Shadow Health and Wellbeing Board were invited to discuss how the review of the delivery of Children’s Centres may further develop joint working and improve outcomes including:

·        Should the age range be extended to have a more family focus whilst not diluting the core purpose for 0-5 year olds?

·        Could some Children’s Centres have specialisms?

·        Could more targeted and specialist services be delivered in those areas with the most vulnerable families?

(7)               The Shadow Health and Wellbeing Board acknowledged the central role Children’s Centres can play in multi agency working to achieve the National Implementation Plan.

(8)               Reference was made to the way good work is already taking place in parts of the County to align some health services to Children’s Centres.

(9)               There was a real opportunity to drive this agenda forward together working collaboratively across the agencies.  The opportunity to maximise the use of Children’s Centres and align some services provided by GPs to provide a more equitable service across the County.  The Leader of the Council sought the views of Health colleagues, GPs and Clinical Commissioning Groups on the value of Children’s Centres.

(10)          The Shadow Health and Wellbeing Board recognised that the Children’s Centres could play a significant role for expectant new parents, public health, children’s mental health and those mental health services for children in the community.

(11)          The Board asked for a map of where the 97 Children’s Centres are located across the County and a description of what each Children’s Centre provides in the way of services so gaps can be identified.

(12)          The Board acknowledged that the Team were confident that they would be able to achieve the target of 420 new Health Visitors for Kent and Medway.  One GP representative, whilst supportive of Health Visitors, expressed the view that it is very difficult to measure services and outcomes for the Health Visitor Team.

(13)          Commissioning Services through a mix of commissioners and providers will need to be handled with care and streamlined where possible.

(14)          It was important to reflect where local pilots, e.g. Dover and Shepway, fitted into the wider vision.

(15)          In conclusion the Board noted that responsibility for the provision of Children’s Centres rests with the Local Authority.  There would be a core offer of services.  The challenge is to ensure that there is the right number of Children’s Centres in the right place offering a broader but equitable range of services.