Agenda item

Consideration was given to the joint from of the Interim Director of Finance and Procurement (Aneurin Bevan University Health Board) and the Service Manager, Blaenau Gwent Children’s Services.

The Service Manager Children’s Services advised that the report updated the PSB Scrutiny Committee on the progress made to date on the Welsh Government’s new Early Years Integration Transformation Pilot in the Blaenau Gwent Pathfinder area. The Service Manager added that the report also sought approval to further roll out into the Blaina Ward from January 2022.

The Service Manager further reminded Members of the work being undertaken as part of the Early Years Integration Transformation Pilot. The Service Manager noted that plans were currently underway to move into Brynmawr then into Nantyglo by January 2022 as already approved by BG PSB. The Service Manager reported that due to the ABUHB Health Visiting Department being recently restructured and Health Visitors given new caseloads, the Brynmawr, Nantyglo and Blaina Wards were being run as a team and therefore approval had been sought from the BG Local Well-being Partnership’s to roll into Blaina at the same time as Nantyglo in January 2022.

It was added that work had also been undertaken around progressing the pilot for another 5 years and the Service Manager was confident that if funding was available the pilot could be rolled across Blaenau Gwent within 2½ years. Although the Service Manager stated that the speed of roll out would be dependent on funding available.

A Member welcomed the extension of the funding and had hoped that the whole of Blaenau Gwent would benefit from this excellent project.

Concerns were raised in respect of the lack of supporting evidence from the work undertaken in the Cwm Ward. The Service Manager Children’s Services advised that a full evaluation of the Cwm Ward had not been completed at the time of the writing the report, however, it was hoped that following further roll out in Brynmawr, Nantyglo and Blaina a full analysis of would be included in the next stage when we sought approval for roll out across Blaenau Gwent.

Another Member noted the excellent work achieved with this project and welcomed roll out across Blaenau Gwent as it would be greatly welcomed in the Waundeg Ward. The Service Manager advised that once the project had a presence in a vulnerable area it helped turn that area around. The Service Manager was also pleased that the Waundeg Ward would be one of areas to be accessed in the roll out pilot and it was hoped that we could target this most vulnerable area next year.

The Member further reiterated his thanks to the Service Manager and her Team on the excellent work achieved.

Another Member raised concerns that a study of the progress of children in flying start areas had not been undertaken as they progress through their school life. The Service Manager advised that Welsh Government was not looking at this aspect at the moment and noted the performance indicators which are then measured against a red, amber and green system in terms of the action to be taken. These findings are passed to schools to highlight the work which may need to be taken forward with the child.

The Service Manager added that this was a major piece of work and at present there was no funding to take it forward. It was noted that the Member had raised the matter in Education and Learning Scrutiny Committee on a number of occasions and the Service Manager advised that the request had not been ignored, there was no aspirations from Welsh Government to take the project in this direction.

The Member felt that this was a failing of Welsh Government and it should be pursued to monitor the progress of pupils in flying start areas. Although, the Member recognised the excellent work and welcomed roll out across Blaenau Gwent could being secured.

A question was raised in relation to ‘hubs’ in the respective areas, the Service Manager informed that a number of places had been looked at in the Brynmawr Ward, however these were out of budget. Following a conversation with the Head Teacher in Blaen-y-Cwm Primary School a room had been acquired within the school.

The Chair thanked the officer for an excellent report and for the work undertaken by the Team.

The Committee AGREED that the Public Services Board Scrutiny Committee noted the roll-out outlined for 2022 (Option 1).