VCS Engage Action Plan The Journey so far….. Matt Buttery, Family Matters Institute

Journey so far….. Where we’ve come from Development of the Action Plan Progress we’ve made so far.. Are we there yet? / What’s next..

ECM : Children’s Services Reform Radical improvement in opportunities and outcomes for children Whole-system reform of the delivery of children’s services Build services around the child, young person and family Support parents and carers Develop the workforce, changing culture and practice Integrate services across the age range 0-19, with positive role for ‘third sector’ in strategic planning, commissioning and delivery of services

Building Brighter Futures, 2007 “Children's Trust to have in place by 2010 consistent high quality arrangements to provide identification and early intervention for all children and young people who need additional help…These arrangements will be delivered through effective commissioning of services, including through private, voluntary and third sector providers, not by an old style command and control approach.” Chapter 7 “Making it happen”

Partnership in Public Services Action Plan “The third sector’s strength is its ability to do things differently and put an individual’s needs at the heart of things. We want to ensure that what the sector has to offer is an integral part of our aim to transform public service delivery.” Phil Hope MP, Minister for the Third Sector PSAP One Year On. Dec, 2007

Herts & VCS Engage What is ‘engagement’? –More than communication or involvement –Long term partnership –Co-designing and planning –Transparent commissioning and delivery structures –Democratic and sustainable –Clear lines of accountability VCS Engage Programme Improving the capacity of the VCS to engage with Children’s Trusts, and Increasing their ability to deliver services on behalf of strategic partners.

The VCS Engage Action Plan: How it was produced… Built on existing activities at County & District Level across the Partnership Joint away day 28 th February Self Evaluation Toolkit to gauge & review level of engagement with VCS, across : Governance Strategy Processes Frontline Delivery Development of draft 3 year action plan, circulated to delegates and wider VCS for comment.

Radar Plot Showing Average Answers from HCTP Leads & Away Day Delegates

Key areas for development Communication LSCB Representation Diversity of Voices Resource Allocation QA & Performance Management Asset Management

Progress …. Strengthening VCS representation on the Local Safeguarding Children’s Board DCTP stakeholder group pilots in Stevenage, Broxbourne and East Herts Direct representation of the youth sector at County & District levels through Pro-Action Increasing funding in Prevention 513 commissioning process, (62% overall funds commissioning VCS compared to 42% cent through the Children's Fund). Acknowledging the need to develop a communications strategy; Children’s Partnership News Articles early outputs HCTP/VCS Joint Induction Day Pilot Establishment of a HCTP VCS Strategy Group….

Are we there yet? (Oct 2008) VCS considers itself least influential. Positive about participation. Key themes : 1.Purpose of engagement 2.Ways of working 3.Valuing the sector

What’s next? Development and review of the VCS Engage Action Plan : –VCS Stakeholder Events –VCS Strategy Group & Small Group –HCTP Strategic Partnerships Manager post –Representation at HCTP & DCTP –Development of a communications strategy Clear Expectations study : – ZoLm4M9aAUhx_2bS_2fsA_3d_3dhttp:// ZoLm4M9aAUhx_2bS_2fsA_3d_3d