Tonbridge LCSP Manager's Page

 

  Image: George Parkin
George Parkin
Local Children's Services Partnership Manager (LCSPM)

 Tonbridge Partnership Update

This research was commissioned in response to Action 1.7 on the Tonbridge Local Children's Services Partnership's Children and Young People's Plan 2008-2011 - 'Improve signposting to support services for CYP and families in Tonbridge'.
In particular, the research was commissioned to look at the following:
  • The Mapping of services to ascertain what is available to CYP and families in Tonbridge
  • An evaluation of those services.
  • How well are they meeting needs.
  • What improvements could be made.
  • Where are the needs not being met.
  • What other support is needed.
  • Produce a strategy for more effective signposting of the services.
  • Directory of Local Organisations - Appendix 1.
  • National Organisations in this field - Appendix 2.
  • Useful links for young people experiencing difficulties - Appendix 3.
  • Reading material - Appendix 4.
Common Assessment Framework (CAF)
 
The pathways for accessing services are changing.
Partnership based review still exists and is the route for interventions to meet children’s needs within education. Other children’s services have their own arrangements in place to discuss individual cases or deal with as a single agency.
 
For children with more complex needs that may require a multi-agency integrated response the Common Assessment Framework should be used to identify needs and work with families to identify appropriate intervention through the Single Point of access meeting (SPA) and the subsequent Team Around the Child meeting (TAC).
 
A support network for practitioners is being established.
 
Geraldine Cox has been appointed as CAF coordinator for Tonbridge and Malling and Daphne Tallett is the CAF administrator.
 
Many practitioners within the partnership have received CAF training and have begun to use the CAF process successfully for the benefit of families. There is further training planned for managers and practitioners - dates to follow.
 
Those of you who would like some support to complete your first CAF please contact Geraldine Cox (Tel: 01732525016: Mobile: 07545 743774) or for more general enquiries Daphne Tallett (01732 525016)
 
Education Management Group.
 
This group held it first meeting in October: The purpose of the group is to identify needs and develop strategies for schools across Tonbridge. The group will also encourage collaboration between schools to address agreed priorities. Transition between all phases is a particular focus with a local subgroup.
The group agreed that literacy is a partnership-wide priority and a programme of initiatives will be established. The Early Years conference in February looking at reading will kick off the programme and a programme of activities will ensure all young people are involved. As a finale it is hoped to participate in the Tonbridge and Malling Arts festival in June with poets in residence, story tellers and displays of written work.
 
The education management group members are:
Robert Masters – Headteacher at The Judd
Jon Barker – Principal, Hugh Christie
Annemarie Whittle – Headteacher, St Margaret Clitheroe Primary
George Parkin – Local Children’s Services Partnership Manager
Viv Resch – Headteacher – Slade Primary
Jacqui Tovey - Headteacher - Ridge View School
 
 
Charlton Football Club Community Programme
 
Dan Wells the Charlton coordinator has been working in Tonbridge and Malling since last year and has run successful programmes at Long Mead, Sussex Road and Stocks Green. The project has been funded for another year and in Term 4 Dan will be at Shipbourne and term 6 at Slade.
 
Little Foxes Children Centre
 
Little Foxes is based on the Long Mead school site and offers a wide range of services and opportunities for parents and carers of all ages and their children. Richard Brown the Centre Manager and Yvonne Powell the Community Involvement Worker are currently looking to develop services across Tonbridge using existing premises.
 
Good links have been developed between the Childrens Centre and pre-school settings.
 
There are plans to provide Childrens Centre Services in the rural areas of East Peckham and Hadlow again making use of existing community premises.
 
 
SSKY Team:
 
The SSKY team covers five partnership areas and provides support to children and families. Referrals come through Education and Childrens social services.
The worker for Tonbridge is Tara Balcombe who is also able to offer play therapy when appropriate. I have recently increased the capacity of the Tonbridge service by commissioning the services of the family support worker from Tonbridge Baptist Church for two days a week.
 
This is an area of work where there is ever increasing need due to the pressures on social services and CAMHS tier 3 services.
 

Children & Young People

Please find below the KRD website which give information about services, activities, support and guidance for children and young people, aged 0 - 19 years, parents and practitioners across Kent.

 http://www.krd.org.uk/index.aspx

 

 

 | Published: 4-1-09  | TOP