Appendix Essex Child Poverty Strategy

CHILD POVERTY STRATEGY
2015-2020
Version: 1.15
Date: Oct-14
Author: Benjamin Mann, Ellie Sapsed and Nicola Park
Approved by: Chris Martin, Barbara Herts, Cllr Madden
Next Review: 2020
Contact: Benjamin Mann
Senior Policy and Strategy Advisor – People
email – benjamin.mann@essex.gov.uk
telephone - 01245 430785
CONTENTS
SLIDE
Child Poverty Headlines
4
Why is this strategy important?
6-11
What do we know?
12-17
What do we want to do?
19- 20
How are we going to get there?
22-25
Responsibilities
26
Measuring Success
27
CHILD POVERTY HEADLINES
CHILD POVERTY HEADLINES
AUGUST 2014
NATIONAL
 THE
Essex
NUMBER OF CHILDREN IN POVERTY IN THE
UK
HAS
REDUCED BUT SO TOO HAS THE AVERAGE INCOME
 SINCE 2008
AVERAGE WAGES HAVE RISEN BY
9%
DOMESTIC ENERGY UP BY
 THE
45%
WHILST
HERTFORDSHIRE
 THE
26%,
AND TRAVEL UP BY
NUMBER OF FAMILIES EXPERIENCING ‘IN WORK’
AND
 IN RUSH GREEN WARD
49.1%
ASSESSED TO BE IN EXCESS OF
TO THE
£29
UK
ECONOMY IS
BILLION INCLUDING
IN
CAMBRIDGESHIRE
HARLOW (21.1%)
HIGHER THAN IN ANY PREVIOUS YEAR
CHILD POVERTY
15,845 (12.6%)
IN
TENDRING (24.4%) BASILDON (21.9%)
(TENDRING) POVERTY
COST OF
33,885 (13.2%)
HIGHEST LEVELS OF CHILD POVERTY CONTINUE TO BE
EXPERIENCED IN
37%
AND
POVERTY IN ADDITION TO WORKLESS HOUSEHOLDS IS
 THE
CHILDREN ARE CURRENTLY
LIVING IN POVERTY COMPARED WITH
THE THREE BIGGEST ELEMENTS OF HOUSEHOLD
EXPENDITURE ARE THE COST OF FOOD UP BY
 IN ESSEX, 49,020 (16.1%)
AND
GOLF GREEN WARD
LEVELS ARE AS HIGH AS
51.4%
AND
RESPECTIVELY
 PROFESSIONALS
REPORT SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED
PARENTAL ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION EXACERBATED BY LOW
THE IMMEDIATE COST OF SPENDING PUBLIC MONEY ON
INCOME, PROBLEM DEBT AND MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES WHICH
HIGH COST, ACUTE FAMILY INTERVENTION WHETHER
LIMIT THE SUCCESS OF INTERVENTION AND ARE
THROUGH SOCIAL SERVICES, EXTRA HEALTH SPENDING OR
INCREASINGLY IMPACTING UPON THE HEALTH AND
EDUCATION
WELLBEING OF THE CHILDREN.
 OUTCOMES
FOR
CARE LEAVERS
AND
DISABLED CHILDREN
 BASED
ON
NATIONAL DATA 10% (33,000)
ESSEX
ARE AMONGST THE POOREST WHEN CONSIDERING POOR
CHILDREN IN
CHILDREN BECOMING POOR ADULTS.
HEALTH PROBLEMS.
OF ALL
ARE ESTIMATED TO HAVE MENTAL
WHY IS THIS STRATEGY IMPORTANT?
WHY IS THIS STRATEGY IMPORTANT?
of poverty with more than half (61%) of children deemed to be living
in poverty across the Country having a parent in paid work.
Living in poverty significantly impacts on family resilience, stability and
emotional and physical health with potential long term consequences If families are finding that they have less money to cover the costs of
for children as they develop and on their educational attainment and day to day living, evidence nationally suggests that the impact on
aspirations. Close to one in every five children across Essex are living the most disadvantaged families is far greater. Those families who
in relative poverty (16.1%). These children live in families where the
already have an income below the national average, who are
income is less than 60% of the National median income.
unemployed and accessing benefits or who are on the cusp of poverty
face serious financial difficulty.
Whilst worklessness and low income are the fundamental causes of
poverty this is a multifaceted issue with drivers including health,
The Child Poverty Action Group has identified that low income families
housing, education and aspiration, isolation and community support have been more adversely affected by a significant increase in the
that both compound financial pressures and prevent families from
‘Minimum cost of living’ which has increase by 28% since 2008.
moving out of poverty.
Poverty represents a cross cutting issue for the Local Authority and its
partners. As such this strategy considers those families in Essex with
Based on 2011 data, all areas of Essex show a decrease in the number
children who are living in poverty based on a measure of financial
of children in relative poverty following a three year high recorded in
income but will go further, through the process of Needs Assessment,
2010. This mirrors the national trend and is largely attributed to
Consultation and Literature Review, to develop a more holistic picture
fluctuation in the mean average income nationally which raises or
of the issue and to identify the drivers of poverty and the areas of
lowers the threshold against which relative poverty is recorded.
greatest prevalence.
The plain fact is that the broad picture of poverty in Essex
Through the experiences of front line professionals
remains unchanged and the areas of greatest disadvantage,
working
in Essex there has been an opportunity to better
(reinforced by recent needs assessments), remain
understand and describe the issues impacting on the
predictable and mirror the areas where health, early years
day
to day life of children and families and clearly
‘Some children
and educational outcomes are also low.
identifying the geographic areas where the concentration of
appear to have
children in poverty is at it’s highest will enable the most effective
Across England unemployment rates are at their lowest
become less poor,
targeting of multi-agency resources.
for six years with over 70% of the working age population
simply because
in employment. Whilst more people are in work the average average incomes
The key aims of the strategy are to develop a shared
take home wage has only increased by 0.7% which is the
have fallen’
commitment to tackling Child Poverty through the
lowest annual increase since 2001. With inflation slightly
identification of strategic priorities and development of
above the Bank of England target rate of 2%, the majority of ~ Ian Duncan Smith
locally focused actions with local partnership
working families have less money to cover everyday
MP
concentrating efforts on the needs of the most
household and family expenditure.
vulnerable families in Essex. Any actions will deliver tangible
improvements where needs is greatest and stand up to
For the first time ever the Government has announced that
robust evaluation over the duration of the strategy.
employment by itself is no longer a guaranteed route out
WHY IS THIS STRATEGY IMPORTANT? - NATIONAL STRATEGY AND TARGETS
The Child Poverty Act 2010 committed Government to reducing child poverty and placed specific duties on local authorities to work towards ending child
poverty. In June 2014 the Coalition Government published a National Child Poverty Strategy for the period 2014-17 which explores two interconnecting
issues:The drivers for families living in Poverty and the consequences of poverty that increase the likelihood of poor children growing up to be poor adults
The National strategy makes a commitment to ending child poverty in the UK by 2020 placing the issue squarely in the context of economic growth,
based on the assumption that if every child fulfils their potential at school and finds employment they would earn more for themselves and boost the
economy.
‘Children cost. That is why families
with children have a higher risk of
poverty than those without. The
bornmost
into recent
povertystatistics show 27 per
up. cent of children live in poverty in
the UK, and with declining levels of
support for families, child poverty
of
can only increase
below
Alison Garnham
Chief Executive
Child Poverty Action Group
emotional, cognitive
conditions, diet,
aspirations required
reduction by 2020.
Sir Michael Wilshaw, Chief Inspector of Schools at Ofsted has supported the commitment of the strategy to
breaking the cycle of disadvantage and having the same expectations and hopes for children
adopting the principle that where someone starts in life doesn’t determine where they end
Nationally the Government has set four targets for Child Poverty Reduction by 2020, the most fundamental
these are reduction in the proportion of children who live in relative low income (families with an income
60% of the Median) to less than 10% by 2020. This is the Relative Poverty target influenced by a range of
economic factors.
Secondly the Persistent Poverty target to reduce the proportion of children who experience long periods of
relative poverty. Where children are exposed to long periods in poverty the impact on social,
and health development are considerably higher exposing children to physical and emotional
family stability and support that fails to nurture and model the behaviours, expectations and
for success in later life. The Persistent Poverty target will be set in the region of a 7%
The government’s response to the Child Poverty targets is set out on three fronts:
Persistent Poverty
Is measured over a four year
period
where a child has been
• Supporting families into work and to increase earnings
living
in
relative low income for
With childcare costs representing around 45% of the cost of a child, families on low income are faced with finding
at
least
three
our of four years
a greater proportion of the costs of childcare which have increased by 42% since 2008.
Creating jobs, supporting families back into work, tackling low pay and moving people into better paid jobs
• Supporting living standards of low income families
Reducing utility bills, reducing transport costs, tackling problem debt and increasing affordable credit
• Breaking the cycle of poor children into poor adulthood through education
Increasing access to high quality pre-school education for the poorest children, establishing the Early Years Pupil
Premium and support Post-16 education for the poorest children.
WHY IS THIS STRATEGY IMPORTANT? - IMPACT ON CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
The following diagram displays some of the key areas where poverty impacts on children and families reinforced through national research
and borne out by engagement with front line professionals across Essex. The work reinforces the cross cutting nature of poverty as an issue
and the importance of integrated commissioning and targeted intervention in addressing very specific issues.
FINANCES
•
•
•
•
CAN I MANAGE TO BUDGET WEEKLY?
DO I UNDERSTAND MY BENEFIT
ENTITLEMENT?
DO I NEED TO GET A PAY DAY LOAN?
WHICH DEBT SHOULD I PAY FIRST?
EDUCATION
Housing:






Is my
accommodation
secure?
Can I pay my
rent?
Do I need to
borrow some
money?
Do I have all
the basics,
carpet, bedding?
Might I be
homeless?
Who do I turn
to?
 DO I READ TO MY CHILD AND PLAY
AT HOME?
 WHAT DO I WANT FOR MY CHILD?
 DID I LIKE SCHOOL?
 DOES SCHOOL REALLY MATTER?
 SCHOOL DON’T CARE HOW HARD
THINGS ARE FOR US
FUEL
CAN I
CAN I
PAY MY BILLS?
AFFORD TO HAVE THE
HEATING ON?
HOW MUCH WILL MY BILLS BE
NEXT MONTH?
Time:
Do I have time to
talk to my children,
to hear them read
and play with
them?
WHY IS THIS STRATEGY IMPORTANT? – THE IMPORTANCE OF COMPLEMENTING NOT DUPLICATING THE COMMISSIONING STRATEGIES
Child Poverty has emerged as an issue that cuts across all twelve of the Strategic Priorities set out in the Essex Children,
Young People and Families Partnership Plan 2013-2016 as well as all seven of the Essex County Council Corporate
Outcomes set out in the Commissioning Strategies.
These strategies have been structured around an Outcomes Based Accountability model which grounds any strategic
action in analysis of current data and the needs of residents setting ambitious targets for improvements in the outcomes
for the most vulnerable members of our community including children and families.
The commitments made within the seven commissioning strategies indicate the emphasis that ECC and strategic
partners are placing on understanding the key issues for residents and making measurable and lasting improvements.
Implementation of the commissioning ambitions identified in the commissioning strategies will support the
commitment to reducing child poverty and will provide joined up, community based support for the most vulnerable
families.
Ambitions from each of the commissioning strategies (outlined over page) will drive forward progress against a
countywide reduction in the number of children in poverty.
Through far-reaching ambitions, families gain access to the right services in a timely manner. Vital to the success of the
strategies will be the partnership commitment to delivering effective, integrated provision that is co-designed with
children and families. This will create an environment where all partners work to support families . Where professionals
understand and value each others roles and make the best use of every contact with children and families to identify
and work through the day to day challenges building trust, building confidence and building resilience.
Understanding the complexity and far reaching nature of poverty related issues, sharing information and referring
families appropriately, providing continuous improvement through delivering advice, guidance and support at the right
time and as part of a coherent and dynamic Essex workforce will lead to fewer people experiencing the effects of
poverty.
The following slide shows how the commissioning ambitions complement the wider approach to addressing poverty.
WHY IS THIS STRATEGY IMPORTANT?
Development of high quality, consistent support for children and families from pre-birth to school
Developing high quality education for all children and opportunities for lifelong learning
Investment in job creation, increasing adult skills levels, training and apprenticeships
Headline
ambitions of
the
commissionin
g strategies
Supporting people to live as independently as possible or as long as possible and giving them choice and
control over their lives
Effective targeting of health resources and reducing health inequalities across the county
A safe Essex where residents can enjoy life free from the fear of crime and feel protected from harm
Maintaining an environment where residents can enjoy and benefit from the local area
Collective
strategic
approach to
addressing
poverty
related issues
Develop genuinely integrated provision where partners share accountability for
achieving improved outcomes and involve children and families in the design.
Develop a shared workforce that utilises every ‘touch point’ with children and families to
convey consistent and informed support, advice and guidance building on what families
can do and can achieve rather than what they can not.
Building trust, building confidence and building resilience
FAMILIES AND
CHILDREN WILL
ACCESS SERVICES
FROM A RANGE OF
AGENCIES OVER TIME,
TO SUPPORT
THEM WITH
DIFFERENT ISSUES.
OVER THE PAGE WE
CAN SEE AN EXAMPLE
Resulting
actions have a
positive
impact on
poverty
Fewer children experiencing the effects of poverty
OF ‘WHO’S
SUPPORTING
Better, co-ordinated approach from professionals
AND THE VALUABLE
TOUCH POINTS WE
NEED TO MAKE FULL
Monitoring and measuring progress and learning from good practice
USE OF
HENRY’
WHO’S SUPPORTING HENRY?
An example of the sort of support that a family
may require
Baby Henry was born to a
family where dad works in
a low paid job. Mum was
looking for work before
becoming pregnant.
Henry’s mum was 19
and finding it hard to
cope with new
pressures
At he 6 week check
Henry’s mum was referral
to a mental health worker
by her GP.
At Henry’s 6 week
health check he start’s
his vaccination
schedule through to
his 1 year old check.
Henry’s mums health
improves but his Dad
loses his job and the
family need to claim
benefits while Dad
looks for work.
If we don’t get it right, it
doesn’t end here…Poor Children
NHS Hospital intervention,
midwives hand over to
health visiting team
Become
Poor Adults
Currently children growing up in
poverty are four times as likely to
become poor adults
Henry enjoys primary school. The school
have a wrap around care services, Henry
has his breakfast there and as he gets
older he is able to enjoy sports activities
after school.
Family Nurse
practitioner contact
forms a positive
relationship.
Clinical Commissioning
Group, GP,
Mental Health Trust,
Health Visiting Team
Health Visitors MESCH
providing a whole
family approach to
health care,
identifying some
stimulating activities
that
JobCentre Plus
Local intervention
for claimants
Henry’s family live
in relative poverty
– who do they
have contact
with? Who can
offer support?
Sometimes Henry’s
family find it hard to
put enough food on the
table but get short term
assistance from their
local food bank..
At 2 years, Henry starts
pre-school. His Mum is
keen for him to interact,
play and learn with his
peers.
Henry’s Dad finds
employment, but the
salary is low and the
hours aren’t regular . The
family need help with
housing costs.
Henry is developing well, he is a bouncy, inquisitive toddler and
mum and dad attend free weekly read/sing library sessions and
the local Children’s Centre with him.
Voluntary and
Community
Sector
benefits – local
food bank
Local Authority
Free Early
Education
Entitlement
Social Housing
providers
offer assistance
Local Authority provision,
Children’s Centres Teams
WHAT DO WE KNOW?
WHAT DO WE KNOW? – LITERATURE REVIEW
As part of the process of developing this strategy, a literature review was conducted. There is a wealth of work on
child poverty, the review was not all inclusive, but aimed to provide an overview of issues in order to expand our
understanding. and help identify solutions for Essex. Rather than uncovering a ground-breaking solution, the
review primarily served to reinforce work already undertaken and reassure that the views of professionals in Essex
are representative. Some findings include the following:
•
Employment by itself is no longer guaranteed route out of poverty (if it ever was) - more
than half (61%) children in poverty have a parent in paid work
•
Maternal employment has a profound effect on poverty mitigation - Employment for
mothers in UK with children under three years of age is just 56%. This is low in
comparison with other European countries. Many inhibited by cost of childcare
•
Families in poverty are often trapped in cycles of ‘problem debt’ - one in five households
with an income of less than £13,500 per year spend above 30% of their weekly income
on repaying debts. Debt problems are more common in single parent households. Job
loss, relationship breakdown and ill health can all underlie escalation into ‘problem debt’
•
There is a direct relationship between household income and school-readiness and
vocabulary at age five.
•
This can lead to poor outcomes in school achievement and earnings in later life, as it is
linked to employability and wages.
•
High Quality Early Education is key. Access to high-quality, Early Education for children
from disadvantaged background can reduce the attainment gap
•
Child poverty can impact on health. Health problems, such as diabetes and obesity are
more common among poor children. Parental stress weighs heavily on children; 52%
children living in poverty agree that not having enough money makes their parents
stressed
What will work?
‘Since work in itself is
not an automatic
cure for poverty,
longer term
strategies to
counteract
educational
disadvantage
[specifically Effective
Early Years
Education] are likely
to have the most
significant impact on
children’s lives and
expectations’
– Family and Child care
Trust
WHAT DO WE KNOW?–THE DETERMINANTS OF POVERTY
While there are many factors that create conditions leading to poverty, each linked to others through a complex web of social, emotional and
physical influences the government is clear that worklessness and low earnings are the root cause.
A snapshot of Essex Job seekers allowance claimants shows that 23% have dependent children; this is just over 4,500 individual claimants
The Government’s national strategy identifies a range of risk factors, these have been supported by internal literature
review, which in turn reinforces the views of practitioners. A number of factors impact on long-term worklessness and
low earnings, the crux of the problem, according to the national strategy. Other characteristics also lend themselves
to being major risk factors.
“40% of disabled
children live in
poverty in the UK”
The Children’s
Society 2011
Looked after children
Having low parental
qualifications
Family structure –
lone parent families
and larger family
Parental ill health and
disability
Children with Special
educational needs and
Disabled children
NEETs
Young carers
Young offenders
“A third of previously
looked-after children
are not in education,
employment or
training at age 19”
The Poverty Site 2014
WHAT DO WE KNOW? – CHILD POVERTY NEEDS ASSESSMENT IN ESSEX
Child Poverty Needs Assessment Headlines
• In Essex, we have less child poverty (16.1%) than the national average
of (20.1%), however we have a higher level than some of our
comparable counties (Oxfordshire have around 12%) and still means
49,020 children are in poverty in Essex.
• We know that there are areas of Essex that are particularly affluent
and others that are deprived. The highest levels of child poverty are
found in parts of Tendring (24.4%), Basildon (21.9%) and Harlow
(21.1)%.
• The same 3 districts have the highest numbers of larger households in
Essex with 3+ children – a further indicator of children living in
poverty.
• Child poverty is an issue for all areas as it exists in pockets in every
Essex quadrant - there are a number of wards in each where over a
quarter of children are in low-income families.
• Data is available showing % children in low income families from
2008-2011. No data is available beyond 2011, but at this time, all
districts in Essex had made progress to reduce the number of children
in low income families from their 2009/10 highs in line with the
National trend.
• The government suggests that parental qualifications are a key driver
for child poverty, however, analysis suggest that qualification levels
vary significantly within Essex and there is no apparent correlation
between
Essex
Insightthese and geographical pockets of deprivation.
A thorough and detailed Needs Assessment can be found on Essex Insight
at the link below. It contains a lot of information that will support local
discussions and planning, helping to identify areas where key
activities/projects can be trialled and evaluated to monitor progress.
http://www.essexinsight.org.uk/Resource.aspx?ResourceID=974
WHAT DO WE KNOW? – MULTIPLE RISK FACTORS IN ESSEX AREAS
Uttlesford
Tendring
Rochford
Harlow
Epping
Forest
Colchester
Chelmsford
Castle
Point
Brentwood
Braintree
Basildon
Essex CC
Data set
Maldon
Worse than Essex average
No difference to Essex average
Better than Essex average
Basildon, Tendring and Harlow are consistently those areas where multiple factors are worse than average
(shown as red in the matrix). All three have higher numbers of recorded under 18 conceptions, drug misuse ,
and people generally reporting their health as bad or very bad than the rest of the county.
Infant Mortality: crude rate, <1 year, 3 year average
3.9
2.9
4.7
2.1
6.7
2.9
4.0
2.7
4.4
2.3
6.2
5.5 4.1
Low Birthweight births: percent,
6.9
7.1
6.4
5.7
6.7
6.7
7.3
6.9
7.3
6.5
6.4
8.1 5.5
Under 18 conceptions
28.3
39.5
21.1
19.4
29.7
20.4
35.1
24.4
40.6
31.0
17.6 39.7 12.9
Excess weight in 4-5 year olds
20.4
20.8
20.4
20.3
21.8
20.5
18.6
19.4
22.6
23.7
18.4 21.4 18.5
Excess weight in 10-11 year olds
30.8
31.6
31.2
27.7
31.7
29.5
29.5
31.1
34.7
33.1
28.6 31.7 30.3
Hospital admissions caused by unintentional and
deliberate injuries to children and young people
973.0 928.8 1,034.4 976.9 835.1 1,063.8 978.7 995.5 1,142.6 1,039.0 810.2 871.1
Hospital admissions caused by unintentional and
deliberate injuries in children (aged 0-14 years)
85.8
87.5
93.0
63.2
62.4
97.8
97.8
91.3
78.0
86.7
People reporting their health as bad or very bad
4.8
5.5
4.4
4.0
5.7
3.6
4.2
4.6
5.4
4.8
People reporting they have a long term limiting
illness or disability
17.1
17.4
16.4
15.6
19.0
14.4
15.8
15.7
17.1
17.4
Oral health in children: experience dental decay:
percent, 5 years, annual,
20.6
-
-
-
21.2
24.9
22.4
Increasing and higher risk drinkers
22.7
21.3
23.8
23.5
22.3
23.4
23.6
22.6
20.7
24.0
5.1
7.9
2.8
3.2
4.4
3.7
7.4
3.3
9.9
2.4
Drug misuse
18.1
-
-
969.
7
76.2 82.6 73.4
4.3
7.6 3.3
17.0 25.5 13.6
15.5 26.8 15.5
23.1 21.0 24.7
3.2
6.8 2.6
WHAT DO WE KNOW? – VIEWS OF PROFESSIONALS
Consultation with front line practitioners across Essex highlights the effect of poverty on all aspects of family life (reflected below),
reiterating the high impact on family finances, health, environment, relationships and overall development of children.
Community
Priorities
Stigma of unemployment
Peer Support to get loans, drugs and
clothes
Incidence of domestic abuse
Feelings of isolation in the community in
urban and rural areas
Difficult personal relationships increase
the value of material items
Societal pressure on material items
Health
Are children the first priority?
Parents have poor role models
Some parents aspire to celebrity
lifestyle
Limited income goes on
cigarettes, alcohol, phone credit
and drugs
Parents expect to be able to have
iPhones, iPads
The physical health of parents mirrored in children
Low level mental health is increasingly a problem
Depression and anxiety are prevalent
Emotional health prevents parents from seeking work
Emotional health of parents limits family intervention
High rates of smoking in areas of greatest deprivation
Young Carers supporting parents with drug or alcohol issues
Smoking, drugs or alcohol as a coping mechanism
Housing
Families
presenting at
risk of eviction
or homeless
No basics such
as carpets and
bedding
Damp
conditions
No ability to
wash clothes
Physical and
emotional
health issues
non
attendance at
school
Isolation
What families in Essex are
experiencing
Family Finances
Ease of access to credit and levels of
problem debt
Separated families forced to live together
Lack of education around budgeting
Ease of online spending, gambling
Irrelevance of Credit Unions locally
High costs of childcare
Low paid employment and zero hour
contracts
School
Need to know the families in poverty
Costs of getting children to school
Support for children and families in School holidays
Importance of Local Delivery Groups in developing
wrap around support
Where do we find support?
Impact on young carers
Families isolated in
more affluent
areas
Migrant workers
with families
unable to claim
benefits with low
pay in privately
rented
accommodation
Parents living on
the edge of
poverty are most
vulnerable
Access to regular
and affordable
public transport in
rural areas
WHAT DO WE WANT TO DO?
WHAT DO WE WANT TO DO? – THE JOURNEY TO SUCCESS
Continuous system change and the introduction of new, targeted schemes or interventions are unlikely to result in the desired improvement in
outcomes for children and families. It is essential that collectively we respond to the ‘deeper reasons’ for child poverty, we listen to families
and make an impact on lives rather than structures. Initially creating conditions favourable to success through working to raise ambitions and
self confidence, developing positive peer and parental relationships. Addressing the personal challenges that form the barriers to raising
attainment, skill levels and aspirations can increase family income and stability.
Responding
to the
‘deeper
reasons’
rather than
structures or
schemes
Building Peer
Support
Networks
Building on
family
strengths
Engaging
with the
needs and
capabilities
of local
families
Harnessing
the assets
and energies
of individuals
of parents
FAMILIES
Support
based on
empathy and
building
relationship
capability
AT THE
HEART OF
Fostering
community
relationships
Addressing
adult and
family
Isolation and
loneliness
CO-DESIGN
Building
family
relationships
Working with
families and
young
people to
ensure
emotional
wellbeing
WHAT DO WE WANT TO DO? - WHAT DOES SUCCESS LOOK LIKE?
Through tackling the personal barriers outlined on the previous page, families can find capacity and develop resilience to make informed
decisions with longer term consequences for them and their children. By being less focused on daily challenges and more outward looking,
families have a more stable platform from which to accept or seek support not previously accessed, in turn empowering them to address
employment, skills and family income which form the key determinants of poverty.
If work with families and communities is successful it will create the right conditions to achieve long lasting improvements in family life,
reduce the negative impact of poverty on children’s development and serve to break the generational cycles of poverty.
What success looks like
• Fewer children living in poverty in Essex particularly where levels are high
• Local people have appropriate skills matched to the needs of the local labour market
• Businesses grow and innovate and provide higher paid jobs to local people
• A local employer-led skills system improves access to skills for work and growth
• Families experiencing an acceptable standard of living
• Coordinated and effective early action to tackle and support people affected by the conditions
which contribute to people living in poverty – including physical and mental health and wellbeing,
substance misuse, disability, poor educational attainment and family dysfunction
• Families experiencing difficulty know who to turn to for appropriate and timely support
• Families have the skills and knowledge to prevent themselves falling into poverty
• Shared knowledge and consistent understanding across all agencies working with families that
supports a collective responsibility for the provision of support for families in need
"Relationships are
the asset which can
get us through good
times and bad.
Relationships bring
variety and richness
to lives, they bring
resilience and they
bring opportunities’
Chris Martin
Director for
Integrated
Commissioning
and Vulnerable
People
Essex County
Council
HOW CAN THIS BE ACHIEVED IN ESSEX?
HOW CAN THIS BE ACHIEVED IN ESSEX?
In order to achieve the success reflected on the previous page there is a need to work with individuals, with families and communities
through small achievable stages overcoming challenges, raising confidence and developing resilience. Only by investing in the development
of positive community relationships can the progress be made and engagement on this journey be maintained.
There are three clear stages to this approach which are mirrored through successful, Countywide interventions including Family Solutions and
the work of the DWP Social Justice Coaches. The 3 stage model as follows:
Working
with the
most
vulnerable
Building
individual,
family and
communit
y resilience
Reducing
worklessn
ess and
low
income
With increasing pressures on public finances any discussion in relation to an Essex approach to addressing poverty have been open and
honest about the fact that there will be no additional funding or resource to deliver this strategy. There is agreement across Essex that Child
Poverty is everybody’s business and the key is to success is ‘working smarter’ and working in collaboration. By getting the best outcomes
from integrated provision and making every contact with families count, the model described above can develop the trust and relationships
with families that support parents to consider and improve the longer term future of the family
BY WORKING WITH THE MOST VULNERABLE FAMILIES
• Use local knowledge, current data and relationships with families to determine
local needs and support effective sharing of information between professionals
• Ensure that families living in poverty are identified by professionals as part of their
on-going responsibilities to identify and support families in need and with
vulnerabilities and that they are referred to appropriate services to support them
A Targeted Approach
In order to reduce the 16.1% of children living in
low income families to an aspirational target
closer that proposed by Government, we need to
concentrate on supporting the most vulnerable
• Ensure a consistent understanding, across all agencies, regarding the linkages
children and families in the areas where poverty is
between child poverty and other issues (such as housing, health and education) in persistent and where worklessness is entrenched
particular the contributory impact these issues are likely to have on the financial well
across the county.
being of the family
HOW CAN THIS BE ACHIEVED IN ESSEX?
• Identify opportunities to intervene early and support families on the cusp of poverty, where sudden changes in circumstances (loss of
employment, bereavement, health) could cause the family to fall into poverty.
• To work collectively and share responsibility for improving outcomes for the most vulnerable families, utilising ‘touch points’ to effectively
work with families who may be experiencing difficulties
WHERE ARE WE ALREADY MAKING A DIFFERENCE - ESSEX CASE STUDIES
Family Nurse Partnership
(FNP)
• Covering Harlow, Tendring, Colchester and Braintree a team of family nurses provides regular visits
to support vulnerable parents through pregnancy and continues to offer postnatal support until the
child reaches the age of two supporting development and parenting through the formative years
and laying the foundations for good parenting and longer term wellbeing
MESCH
• Currently delivered in South Essex, soon to be rolled out across all of Essex, this early intervention
service aims to provide comprehensive health visiting services and identify and support additional
need where it exists
Food Banks
• Clacton food bank have recently acquired a centralised storage system thanks to Salvation Army
volunteers enabling a much improved stock check system and therefore better targeted requests for
donations.
• Braintree food bank has recently been voted by the public to win the Lloyds bank community grant
(£3k) – helping them to maintain great work in the area.
• Colchester food bank has issued 2937 food boxes, which equates to 3300 people being fed and over
800 children in the last 12 months. Food vouchers have been issued by nearly 80 different agencies
HOW CAN THIS BE ACHIEVED IN ESSEX?
BY BUILDING INDIVIDUAL, FAMILY AND COMMUNITY RESILIENCE
• Equip families with the knowledge and transferrable skills in order that they have the ability to resolve their own problems whatever issues
arise, or seek appropriate, timely help, as well as working with families to identify and address personal barriers to progress including
aspirations, ambitions, attainment, learning and employment
• Help local communities to be self-supporting, building relationships that enrich the lives of families. Drawing on the resources already
within local communities to create community and peer support networks overcoming isolation and loneliness.
• Provide people with the knowledge and skills to prepare them to identify issues that arise, preventing situations of poverty occurring or
resolving problems drawing on community resources as they arise.
• Work with families to recognise next steps through effective multi agency working – maintain their trajectory through appropriate services
in order that they continue to progress positively through personal / family challenges to meet their potential.
WHERE ARE WE ALREADY MAKING A DIFFERENCE - ESSEX CASE STUDIES
Essex Young
People’s Drug and
Alcohol Service
(EYPDAS) - Safe in
Essex Project
• Delivered in West and South West Essex this is a pilot scheme providing awareness and intervention options for
children and young people. Specifically targeting those who are runaways, persistently absconding from care or
truant from education, sexually exploited or engaged in risky sexual behaviour, experiencing domestic and
relationship violence. The project aims to develop informative resources for professionals and parents/carers
and to reduce the risk taking behaviours by children and young people and improve their future outcomes.
Access to Wrap
Around Support –
Schools
• Provide a safe, nurturing space to support children and strengthen resilience.
• Breakfast Clubs, After school activities Swimming/Sports, After School Clubs
• 1-1 Relationship Building
MPACT
• Research tells us that there are millions of children living with substance misusing parents. They are often
isolated, filled with conflicting feelings and likely to suffer disadvantage. The MPACT programme is made up of
10 sessions, this includes an individual family assessment, eight consecutive weekly core sessions and a family
review session. The programme is run by experienced professionals who work with young people aged 10-17
and parents to reduce the harmful impact that parental substance misuse and addiction has on family life.
HOW CAN THIS BE ACHIEVED IN ESSEX?
BY REDUCING WORKLESSNESS AND LOW INCOME
•
Lobby government to increase local, employer-led, co-commissioning of employment and skills provision in Essex
•
Develop pipelines of appropriately skilled and work ready young people and adults to meet employer needs
•
Support employees to up-skill and re-train to secure better paid and more sustainable employment
•
Remove barriers to accessing employment and skills to our most vulnerable residents to poverty
•
Enhance information, advice & guidance to raise aspirations and awareness of the local labour market
WHERE ARE WE ALREADY MAKING A DIFFERENCE - ESSEX CASE STUDIES
Social Justice Coaches (DWP)
• Breaking away from the traditional role of Job Centre Plus these teams of Social Justice Coaches
are unique to Essex. Maintaining a Work First focus this team has a smaller than normal caseload
and take a holistic approach to supporting the most vulnerable adults.
• With space to work with those where worklessness is most entrenched, SJCs support individuals
who have multiple barriers to work or one significant issue. There is an understanding that these
issues, be they; addiction, insecurity of tenure, living conditions, transport, food, mental or
emotional wellbeing are addressed, they inhibit any intervention that is purely focused on a work
outcome.
• Embedded across the County with front line Family Solutions teams, the joint focus on unblocking
the path of vulnerable families is generating positive outcomes
South East Local Economic
Partnership
• Working to specifically target European Social Fund investment to support those who are most
vulnerable to poverty. Concentrating on work based outcomes that support Lone Parents, Care
Leavers, adults with learning difficulties and disabilities as well as 16-19 year olds Not in Education
Employment or training (NEET) to enter sustainable, higher paid and fulltime work through
assisting with skills development and job creation.
Child Poverty Action Group –
Uttlesford Children’s Partnership
• Working with the Citizens Advice Bureau and TESCO to place signs on shopping trolleys that read ‘
Got kids and working 16 hours or more a week? Renting? Need help to check your benefit
entitlement? Give us a call on 01799 618840.
• A conference for Head Teachers and professionals to highlight the complexity of Child Poverty Dunmow (October 2014)
WHO IS RESPONSIBLE?
A holistic approach to tackling child poverty should be adopted, rather than it being, for example, the sole responsibility of the local
authority. From central government to individuals in families, everyone can play a part in successfully tackling poverty.
Through developing family friendly policies
at a national level; growing the economy to
improve standards of living.
National
Locality
Community
Through adopting a countywide strategy
thus providing an environment through
effective commissioning strategies so the
local authority and other agencies can
provide optimum support for families.
Lobbying government if appropriate.
Utilising existing partnerships. Working
with schools to identify those at risk and
ensure they receive access to the same
opportunities as their peers.
Through developing resilience and the
capacity of the community to support itself
to include coaching through peer support
and identifying people within communities
themselves that could ‘inspire’ change.
Individual
Through ‘coaching’ people through a range
of issues, enabling access to appropriate
services. Encouraging better spending
decisions, and inspiring realistic aspirations
that people can achieve themselves.
HOW WILL WE MEASURE SUCCESS
This strategy will not include lists of actions as in previous version. Working closely with internal and external partners the collective view
taken is that the document sets the context and a clear set of principles around which we can move the agenda forward together through
existing partnerships. There will be a key role for Children’s Locality Partnerships to drive action through local decision making and
intervention based on a collective understanding of the locality and the needs of families.
This Strategy is committed to implementing systems via which local areas can measure the impact of their activity and the collective impact.
This will be achieved through a range of activities including soft measures coupled with a more rigorous methodology that ensures regularly
updated and accurate data is available centrally and that this is made easily available to localities around a series of indicators.
Quantifying progress
Monitoring risk indicators and drivers
Together with the existing measures of child
poverty (low income, absolute income and
material deprivation), the government are
proposing to introduce a new target of
persistent poverty (currently in consultation,
with a target to be set at 7%) to be recorded
centrally through the British household panel
survey – the responsibility for the measure is
not being cascaded to LAs, but we will monitor
progress alongside our counterparts.
We have recently developed a measure of
compound issues in our Child Poverty Needs
Assessment which aims to give a more holistic
picture based on a range of known risk factors,
or drivers of poverty such as maternal
employment, numbers of larger families, parental
qualifications, mental health factors, together
with low income data. This will continue to be
developed and maintained to give a full picture
of issues in Essex.
Providing centralised reports to localities
Report regularly on progress made locally and
support the development of any specific locality
actions emerging as part of developing this
strategy
Working with Locality Children’s Partnerships
and appropriate forums maintain momentum
against impact on local poverty pressures
points.
Practical support and commissioning
Monitoring commissioning decisions and
support localities to develop within the
framework of the strategy to maintain
momentum on addressing child poverty
PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THIS STRATEGY
Lead Commissioners
Barbara Herts
Chris Martin
- Director for Integrated Commissioning and Vulnerable People
- Director for Integrated Commissioning and Vulnerable People
Lead Members
Cllr Dick Madden
Cllr Ray Gooding
- Cabinet Member for Children and Families
- Cabinet Member for Education
Officers
Peter Fairley – Head of Policy and Strategy (People), Benjamin Mann – Senior Policy and Strategy Advisor (People), Ellie
Sapsed – Senior Policy and Strategy Adviser (People) Nicola Park – Senior Policy and Strategy Advisor (People), Craig
– Senior Policy and Strategy Advisor (Place), Jane Richards - Assistant Director of Public Health, Victoria Wiens –
Commissioning Intelligence Officer, Maresa Beazley – Research and Analytics Officer
Elliot
VERSION CONTROL
1.6
13/08/14
Ellie Sapsed
Update, additions and edit
1.7
15/08/14
Benjamin Mann
Revisions following discussion with
Peter Fairley
1.8
18/08/14
Benjamin Mann
Taking on board responses from Chris
Martin and Barbara Herts
1.9
19/08/14
Benjamin Mann / Ellie Sapsed
1.10
20/08/14
Benjamin Mann
Including scheme for actions
1.12
21/08/14
Ellie Sapsed, Benjamin Mann, Craig
Elliot
Revisions prior to circulation to
commissioners
1.13
21/08/14
Benjamin Mann
Revised Diagram
1.14
3/09/14
Ellie Sapsed
Revisions to content and diagrams
1.15
1/10/14
Benjamin Mann
Revisions ahead of consultation
This report has been prepared by
Essex County Council’s Place/People Commissioning and STC
functions
If you have any questions on this report please contact
Ellie Sapsed
By email at:
ellie.sapsed@essex.gov.uk
Or by post at:
Essex County Council,
PO Box 11, County Hall, Chelmsford, Essex CM1 1QH