The Kensington and Chelsea Children’s Trust
Partnership working in Kensington and Chelsea
Kensington and Chelsea has a proud history of
successful partnership working. The borough believes that strong
partnerships between agencies working with children and families
lead to better services – especially for the most vulnerable.
In 2011 the Government removed the requirement
for all local areas to have a ‘Children’s Trust Board’ - a meeting
which agencies working in the borough attended to discuss the
challenges and issues facing children and families in the
borough. Kensington and Chelsea used this announcement as an
opportunity to review its partnership arrangements and create
something that best worked locally.
In September 2011 Kensington and Chelsea
launched its new children’s trust arrangements incorporating a
network, for professionals and residents, and a commissioning group
which influences how money is spent on local services. The core
principle of both groups is a shared commitment to improve the
lives of children, young people and families.
Ensuring children and young people are
safe is at the forefront of our arrangements. We remain vigilant to
protect the most vulnerable children and young people.
If you are concerned about the welfare
of a child, please call 020 7361 3013 or 020 7373 2227 outside
office hours.
The Children's Trust Network
Kensington and Chelsea Children’s Trust
Network is a forum for those working with children and families in
the borough. The Network holds bi-annual events which bring
together professionals working with children and families, decision
makers, and children and young people to discuss current issues and
challenges. Agencies involved include the Council (such as
Education, Housing and Family Services), the Police, Health
Services, Connexions, Probation Services, Jobcentre Plus, schools
and the voluntary sector.
The Network provides an opportunity to
identify ways in which services can be improved or better joined
up. The Network is also responsible for setting a shared vision for
partners. Members of the Network are responsible for championing
children and families in their services.
The Children's Trust Commissioning
Group
The Commissioning Group is chaired by the Lead
Member for Children’s Services and its membership includes senior
officers from the Council and the other agencies who have
responsibility for budgets and making spending decisions.
The group is responsible for identifying and
pooling resources to make the most effective use of resources to
improve outcomes for children and young people.
The Commissioning Group is also a sub-group of
the borough’s new Health and Wellbeing Board.
Engaging children and young people in the design of
services
Effective consultation and engagement is at
the heart of enabling children and young people to play an active
role in their community. There is also clear evidence that if
children and young people are included in the decision making
process this leads to better performing services which are more
responsive to local needs.
To help services routinely engage children and
young people in service planning the Trust has developed a
framework for participation. The borough also has an active
youth forum and
children’s forum which helps to inform the planning of
services.
The Children and Young People’s Plan
The Children and Young People’s Plan (CYPP)
sets out how agencies and services will work together to improve
the lives of children, young people and families in an
area. It also sets out the local vision and aspirations for
children and young people.
Kensington and Chelsea’s first CYPP was
written in 2006; this has been reviewed and updated twice, once in
2008 and again in 2009. As the vision and aspirations of the plan
are still relevant, the Children’s Trust has agreed to embed the
new partnership arrangements before producing a new plan.
Kensington
and Chelsea’s Children and Young People’s Plan – Strong Families at
the Heart of Strong Communities [PDF file]
(warning: large file size 4.5Mb)
For further information please contact:
- Project Director Kensington and Chelsea’s Children’s Trust;
tel: 020 7361 3577 (for information on the Children’s Trust);
email:childrenstrust@rbkc.gov.uk
- Policy and Improvement Officer; tel: 020 7361 3851 (for
information on the new CYPP); email:cypp@rbkc.gov.uk
National guidance on Children’s Trusts and CYPP’s can be found
on the Department for Children
Schools and Family website.