The Children Act 2004 outlines a new way to plan for the provision of services for children and young people including education. The main change is that existing plans for education will now be part of a more overarching Children and Young Peoples Plan. The new plan will cover all services for children and young people within a local authority area and come into force in 2008. They will be put together by a Children and Young Peoples Partnership in each local authority. The local authority along with it’s partners have a shared responsibility for the development and implementation of the plans. Partners include health services, the police, probation services, youth offending teams and the voluntary sector. These agencies will have to work together to deliver services based on the needs of children and young people.
This poses a significant challenge for all partners involved in the development of the plans. Although working in partnership is not new for local authorities it still takes time and commitment to ensure processes are in place. Local authorities see that getting partnership working right is essential to fulfil their most important commitment; the commitment to children and young people from all backgrounds and in all situations.
In order to help local authorities and their partners with the process of developing the partnerships and the plans the Welsh Local Government Association and the Welsh Assembly Government have set up the Partnerships Support Unit, to be based at the WLGA. The Unit will have a centrally based manager with four regional support officers to provide assistance to implement the provisions of the Children Act. This Unit will be up and running from the autumn 2007.
For more information contact: Daisy Seabourne