Agenda item

(1)        Mr Collins briefly introduced the report which set out information relating to the progress that had been made on the key decision taken in November 2019 (decision number: 19/00076).

Mr Collins then responded to a number of comments and questions from Members, including the following: -

a)    Mr Collins referred to the new Positive Behavioural Support (PBS) service which was an evidence-based programme in place to replace the early help element which was delivered by NELFT. The PBS was supported by one of the Canterbury academic institutions to develop strategies to support emotional health and wellbeing at tier 2.

b)    Mr Collins referred to the information that had been relayed at the Cabinet Committee meeting in November 2019 in relation to moving £400,000 out of the £1.2m contract that was for emotional health and wellbeing services because the delay that was being caused in the service globally was mostly because of the neurodevelopmental work. As a result of the Written Statement of Action (WSoA) that had been developed since the Ofsted CQC, a great amount of co-design and co-production work had been undertaken with Kent Parents and Carers Together (PACT) to develop a strong evidence base for working with children and young people who were on that neurodevelopmental pathway. He added that whilst a reasonable amount of progression had been made, the Covid-19 pandemic had had an impact on the co-design and co-production work.

c)    Mr Collins referred to parenting more globally and said that there was a suite of both evidence-based and accredited parenting programmes in place and being further developed which contributed to the continuum of support for parents.

d)    In terms of the future developments of the wider emotional health and wellbeing contract, Mr Collins stated that work would soon commence to develop and deliver in line with any procurement issues.

e)    Mr Collins referred to section 9.4 of the report and stated that the Covid-19 pandemic had had a different impact on young people in different circumstances. He added that Kent County Council would continue to work with the welfare return to education and the monitor the evidence that came out of that as well as the evidence from the surveys conducted by HeadStart which had been undertaken with young people and families.

f)     Mr Collins confirmed that there was one children’s centre open in every district in Kent and the universal virtual offer continued during the Covid-19 pandemic.

g)    Mr Collins referred to section 3.1 within the report and confirmed that there had been three tragic deaths amongst young people following the Covid-19 lockdown in March 2020.

h)    Mr Collins referred to section 3.7 within the report and said that he would ensure that a colleague within Public Health would send further information to all Cabinet Committee Members in relation to the Kent and Medway Suicide Prevention Strategy.

i)  Mr Collins referred to project timescales and confirmed that he could submit a report to a future meeting of the Committee to highlight the impact that the Covid-19 pandemic had had on children and young people and the lessons learnt.

(2)   RESOLVED that the report be noted.