Plan to improve children's lives in Nottingham

THE report into the state in which children in Nottingham are living their lives has some stark findings.

Truancy, alcohol abuse and health concerns all have a significant impact on youngsters.

But now the city council – along with police, the NHS, social services and community groups – has agreed a plan aimed at improving young people's lives.

Councillor David Mellen, portfolio holder for children's services, said: "Parents have the primary responsibility for raising their children, but they cannot do it alone.

"Our wider families, friends and neighbours also help and influence, and Government also has an important role.

"But we also need to get better at thinking in a more rounded way about families, as their lives are touched by so many more services, it takes a city to raise a child."

More than 400 community members and children's services staff have been contacted, along with more than 100 children and teenagers, to help form the new strategy, the Children and Young Persons' Plan 2010 to 2014.

They have been asked about the issues they face and what is most important to them.

One of the new policies involves city council staff – from maintenance workers to leisure centre receptionists – being urged to challenge pupils who are seen out in the community during school hours.

Andy Downing, director of schools at the council, said: "It's not about city council staff becoming child catchers, it's about making everyone aware of our school attendance policy and creating a sense of shared responsibility."

Dale Hanks has faced problems in his life before but has turned his life around thanks to the Wheelbase charity in Sneinton – a motor education project.

It engaged him again in training and he now works for the council's Street Scene team and is mentoring other young people.

The 24-year-old, of Hyson Green, said: "I clean up the city now. I enjoy my work, it's the first time I have enjoyed a job since Wheelbase.

"I volunteer on a Friday there now and I have not had a chance to talk about my life yet but I will at some point."

Dale has come a long way since being in trouble at school and then dropping out of education.

"I was in with the wrong crowd, doing the things that they were doing – shoplifting, driving with no licence, no insurance.

"This all started when I was about 16 years old and there were a lot of people I was with who were in the same situation, but I turned my life around."

Dwayne Francis, 17, of Bobbers Mill, is a Youth Cabinet member and has had direct input into the Children and Young Persons' Plan.

He said: "Young people need a voice and there are opportunities for us to give our views, that's important."

Dwayne consults with the council regularly about the key issues facing young people.

"I feel that vulnerable young people need a consistent support worker rather than up to six different ones in some cases," he said.

"Better training is also needed for staff who support young people because some workers are doing extra jobs."

A clear picture emerges from the council's report and Nottingham's Children's Partnership Board – a body involving different partners which aims to look after young people.

The report states: "The city's longstanding deprivation means that many families do need help.

"Two thirds of our children and young people live in households that rely on state benefits.

"For many, this reliance is a pattern that has been repeated for several generations.

"The links between deprivation, social exclusion and educational underachievement are well documented.

"On top of this are national trends that affect all families – such as the pressures of working life on families and trends towards less healthy lifestyles."

The compulsory school leaving age rises to 17 in 2013, requiring teenagers to stay in school for longer, which council education chiefs believe should bolster participation.

And more and more vocational subjects – such as the new diploma – are set to be introduced to ensure education and training is relevant and interesting for those less academic.

But Mr Mellen still urges all services to work together and do their bit by sharing information.

"There are a lot of issues that we want to make progress on and there will be less resources available, but we have a good team, willing partners and a new plan," he said.

Many of the council's targets focus on vulnerable children, such as those in care or with special needs.

Nottingham currently has a shortage of social workers and their case loads are high.

There are more than 500 children in care today, with many leaving care with no or minimal qualifications. Half of all girls who leave care become mothers within a year.

"Children in care or leaving care are particularly vulnerable to poor mental health, homelessness, substance misuse, offending and unemployment," the report states.

Teenage pregnancy in Nottingham is "very high" by national standards.

Latest annual data shows Nottingham had the ninth highest rate by local authority nationally at 69.3 per 1,000 females aged 15 to 17.

Some Nottingham wards have under-18 conception rates twice the national average and 15 of the city's 20 wards have rates that are within the highest 20% of wards in England.

"There has been little change in the teenage conception rate in Nottingham over the last 10 years," the report states.

"There is a strong correlation between rates of teenage pregnancy and levels of deprivation and low educational attainment."

Yvonne Burbanks is a senior lecturer in the School of Education at Nottingham Trent University, with a specialism in childhood studies.

She said: "This report is very well backed up with data.

"They need to do this so they can set meaningful targets which allow them to set priorities.

"The report is rich in statistics and they have clearly been able to analyse the issues facing young people accurately.

"For a number of years, local authorities have been looking at 'the problem', but what pleases me about this report is the emphasis on early intervention and prevention."