THE DEVELOPMENT OF SURESTART, CHILDRENS CENTRES AND EXTENDED SERVICES

1
THE DEVELOPMENT OF SURESTART, CHILDRENS CENTRES
AND EXTENDED SERVICES

• PRESENTATION
• BY
• BRIAN BROWN
• LOCALITY EXTENDED SERVICE MANAGER

2
RESEARCH FINDINGSFAMILIES IN FOCUS - DoH
PUBLICATION 1998.HEAD START USA.

• EARLY INTERVENTION IS ESSENTIAL
• PARENTS WANT NEED PREVENTATIVE SERVICES
• DETAILED LOCAL KNOWLEDGE TO DICTATE SERVICES
• LISTENING TO SERVICE USERS PROVIDES INNOVATION
  CREATIVITY
• CHILDS VOICE IS NOT HEARD SUFFICIENTLY
• DETAILED MONITORING EVALUATION PROVIDES
  EVIDENCE BASED PRACTICE INNOVATION
• EARLY INTERVENTION IS NOT CHEAP - BUT COST
  EFFECTIVE

3
SURE START LOCAL PROGRAMMES
1998
1999
2004
Pathfinders
Round 1
Round 6
10 year life span for each one
4
WHAT IS SURE START ?

• SURE START IS THE CORNERSTONE OF CENTRAL GOVT.
  ANTI-CHILD POVERTY POLICY.
• DESIGNED TO PROVIDE THE BEST SERVICES FOR
  CHILDREN UNDER 4 TO INCLUDE THE VOICE OF
  PARENTS FAMILIES IN HOW SERVICES ARE DESIGNED
  DELIVERED.

5
WHAT DOES SURE START AIM TO DO ?

• TO IMPROVE OUTCOMES FOR YOUNG CHILDREN THROUGH
  IMPROVEMENTS IN THE HEALTH WELL-BEING OF
  FAMILIES CHILDREN BEFORE FROM BIRTH - SO
  CHILDREN ARE READY TO THRIVE LEARN WHEN THEY GO
  TO SCHOOL.

6
WHAT IS EXPECTED OF SURE START ?

• GOVT. EXPECTS - SURE START PROFESSIONALS TO WORK
  CLOSELY WITH PARENTS COMMUNITY OTHER
  MAINSTREAM AGENCIES TO DESIGN THE BEST POSSIBLE
  SERVICES FOR CHILDREN UNDER 4 THEIR FAMILIES.

7
WHAT ARE THE CORE SERVICES OF SURE START ?

• GOOD SUPPORT TO CHILDREN FAMILIES IN THE HOME.
• SUPPORT GUIDANCE FOR PARENTS.
• SUPPORT GOOD QUALITY PLAY, LEARNING CHILDCARE.
• SUPPORT GOOD COMMUNITY HEALTH CARE.
• SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN PARENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
  - ACCESS TO SPECIALIST SERVICES.

8
PROGRESSION TO CHILDRENS CENTRES.

• THE CHALLENGE OF MAINSTREAMING THE SURE START
  EXPERIMENT ROLE OF LA
• THE SURE START CHILDRENS CENTRE MODEL BUILDS ON
  PRINCIPLES DEVELOPED, AND LESSONS LEARNED FROM
  SSLPs
• THE SURE START CHILDRENS CENTRE CONCEPT
  INTEGRATED EDUCATION, CARE, FAMILY SUPPORT AND
  HEALTH SERVICES ARE KEY FACTORS IN DETERMINING
  GOOD OUTCOMES FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILES
• CCs VITAL PART OF EVERY CHILD MATTERS (CC 2004)
  AND CHILD CARE STRATEGY (CC ACT 2006)
• GOVT COMMITMENT CC IN EVERY COMMUNITY BY 2010.

9
Each Centre to be developed locally to meet the
needs of specific communities

• Key Principles/How it should look
• Community led, professionally coordinated
• Services are tailored to meet the needs of
  families, rather than the convenience of
  professionals
• Families are able to access a wide range of
  services at or through one site e.g. Drop Ins,
  health care, group activities, training
• Staff working together within an integrated
  management structure

10
CHILDRENS CENTRE CORE OFFER

• Early education integrated with day care
• Family support and parental outreach
• Child and family health services
• Links with schools and Childrens Information
  System (CIS)
• Links with Job Centre Plus
• Other links and services
• Higher education/local training providers
• Training for parents
• Specialist services
• Benefits advice
• Childcare and other services for older children

11
Childrens Centre Management Model An
Interactive Structure
Childrens Executive Board
Local Childrens Board
Local Childrens Board Sub-group
Childrens Centre Cluster Forum
Childrens Centre Cluster
Childrens Centre Management Group
Childrens Centre Management Group
Childrens Centre Management Group
Parent /Carer and Community Engagement
Parents Forum
Parents Forum
Parents Forum
12
THE ROLE OF THE VCS.

• THE VCS ARE VITAL TO THE SUCCESS OF EARLY
  CHILDHOOD SERVICES CHILDREN ACT 2004 SPECIFIC
  MEASURES FOR VCS (AND PRIVATE) INVOLVEMENT IN
  SERVICES.
• INSPECTION OFSTED HAVE AUTORITY UNDER CA 2004
  ONE ELEMENT OF INSPECTION IS HOW WELL SETTINGS
  HAVE INTEGRATED WITH VCS SERVICE PROVISION.