CAERPHILLY COUNTY BOROUGH CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE S FRAMEWORK SINGLE PLAN FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE NEEDS ASSESSMENT

Transcription

1 CAERPHILLY COUNTY BOROUGH CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE S FRAMEWORK SINGLE PLAN FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE NEEDS ASSESSMENT Caerphilly Children and Young People s Partnership

2 CONTENTS Introduction... 3 Core Aim Have a flying start in life and the best possible basis for their future growth and development 1.1 Introduction Is healthy at birth and through early years Is well nourished Achieves developmental milestones Has any special needs addressed Makes good and secure attachments Consultation with Caerphilly Parent Network Core Aim Have access to a comprehensive range of education, training and learning opportunities, including acquisition of essential personal and social skills 2.1 Introduction Achieves early learning goals Engages in full-time education Achieves their full learning potential Early identification and removal of barriers to learning (not in the text) 2.5 Every pupil and young person (16-19 years) engages in purposeful formal and informal education, training or employment Consultation with Caerphilly Parent Network Core Aim Enjoy the best possible physical and mental, social and emotional health, including freedom from abuse, victimisation and exploitation 3.1 Introduction Has a healthy lifestyle Adopt healthy sexual behaviour Have access to specialist services Data on vulnerable children in Caerphilly Safe and protected from abuse, victimisation and exploitation Consultation with Caerphilly Parent Network Core Aim Have access to play, leisure, sporting and cultural activities 4.1 Introduction Engages in appropriate play Participates in sport, leisure and cultural activities Has barriers to participation in play, leisure, sport and cultural activities identified and removed Is able to achieve their potential 4.5 Consultation with Caerphilly Parent Network

3 Core Aim Are listened to, treated with respect and are able to have their play and cultural identify recognised 5.1 Introduction Engages in meaningful decision making on issues that affect their lives Knows about their rights and how to obtain them Is valued and respected as a member of society Is able to freely express their cultural identity and race Consultation with Caerphilly Parent Network Core Aim Have a safe home and a community that supports physical and emotional well-being 6.1 Is safe from crime and the effects of crime Is safe from injury and death resulting from preventable accidents Is safe from environmental pollution Lives in a decent home Consultation with Caerphilly Parent Network Core Aim Is not disadvantaged by child poverty 7.1 Introduction Is free from poverty due to low income Consultation with Caerphilly Parent Network Conclusion (to follow) Appendix 1 - Caerphilly County Ward Boundaries Appendix 2 - Caerphilly Middle Layer Super Output Areas Appendix 3 - Caerphilly Social Services Commissioning Strategy - Development of Framework Priorities Appendix 4 - Lower Layer Super Output Areas Caerphilly Appendix 5 - Caerphilly County Borough with Communities First and Ward Boundaries Appendix 6 - Caerphilly Parent Network-List of Consultations Appendix 7 - Caerphilly Equalities Ward Profiles(double click on text at appendix 7 to access full text) 2

4 Introduction 1 The needs assessment takes as its framework the seven core aims, as set out by the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG). They are as follows: to ensure that children and young people: have a flying start in life have a comprehensive range of education and learning opportunities enjoy the best possible health and are free from abuse, victimisation and exploitation have access to play, leisure, sporting and cultural activities are listened to, treated with respect and have their race and cultural identify recognised have a safe home and a community which supports physical and emotional well-being are not disadvantaged by poverty 1. 2 The sections which follow are organised against these aims, and include national data and analysis of local sources to establish needs in each of he seven areas. The local sources include: key strategic documents (Community Strategy, Single Education Strategy, Social Services Commissioning Strategy, Health Social Care and Wellbeing Strategy [HSCW] for example) needs assessments already completed (HSCW 2003 and 2007) and other frameworks for organising the description and analysis of need (Cymorth Plan, for example) service evaluations, and operational plans material on consultation with children, young people, parents and carers descriptions of current services in Caerphilly the Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation 2005 and How it Relates to Caerphilly County Borough. 3 Some of the data and documents are relatively recent (2006 or 2007) but some date from 2003 and 2004 (some of the Sports Council for Wales (SCW) for example). The speed of development in some areas will mean that more recent data may soon be available in some parts of the needs assessment which is therefore a snapshot of currently available trends and issues, and will need to be updated on a regular basis. 4 Geographies Used The geography of choice, used where possible, is that of lower layer super output areas (LSOAs) of which there are 110 in Caerphilly distributed across 33 wards. A list of LSOAs is given in Appendix 4 for ease of reference. In some cases, data is provided at ward level, and a map of the ward boundaries is also included in the appendix. In one case, the Assessment of Childcare Sufficiency (draft ACSD for ease of reference) which analyses supply and 1 WAG Planning and Guidance Shared Planning for Better Outcomes

5 demand issues for childcare in Caerphilly, uses middle layer super output areas (MSOAs). A map of MSOAs is therefore also included in Appendix 2. 5 Existing Needs Assessment Analyses and Frameworks Some documents already contain substantial needs assessments in some areas of activity, or have frameworks which pre-date the WAG seven core aims framework. For example, there are two versions of the HSCW needs assessment (2003 and 2008). The second of these has informed the yet to be published HSCW Strategy This needs to be taken into account when reading this current needs assessment. Further, the Cymorth Plan Update (2006-7) (CPU) identifies a framework for organising needs assessment and the development of services in Caerphilly. The themes within the framework are as follows: family support play, leisure and recreation learning, education and development children and young people with additional needs information, empowerment and choice participation, involvement and children s rights childcare health. These themes have now been endorsed by the Caerphilly Framework and will shape service delivery across all service areas for the next five to ten years 2. It is clear that these themes support and contribute to the National Assembly for Wales seven core aims for children and it is important that any areas of duplication and overlap are identified. A fuller description of the themes is to be found in Appendix 3. 6 Caerphilly A Profile 3 4 Caerphilly Country Borough is a group of 50 relatively small mainly former coal mining communities stretched across 25 miles north to south and taking in the valleys of the rivers Rhymney, Sirhowy and Ebbw. The population is 170,000 of whom 54,318 are aged The population in total is relatively stable although now showing a slight decline. This hides some specific factors including: 7.6% decline in population in the upper Rhymney valley ( ) 4.4% increase in the Caerphilly basin( ) 20% fall in number of children aged 0-4 ( ) 5 40% increase in 80+ population in same period seventh highest proportion of 0-24 population in Wales at 32% in Caerphilly is the fourth largest unitary authority in Wales. In Appendix 7 another profile of Caerphilly is included which contains detailed information on Equalities issues( male/female split;age groups; Welsh 2 CPU Development of Framework Priorities 3 Caerphilly Community Strategy Social Services Commissioning Strategy HSCW Health Needs Assessment Children and Young People 2006 (HNA 2006) 4

6 speakers;permanently sick or disabled people;ethnic minorities) Data is available for each ward and the information can be used to supplement deprivation and Communities First sources. 7 As stated in the Social Services Commissioning Strategy 2006 (see note 4): The County Borough suffers from a variety of serious and significant socio-economic factors which have a profound impact on the nature and scale of the task facing the Authority as a whole. These include: - a reducing and ageing population - deteriorating local networks of family and natural carer support - poor match of needs to available housing - low levels of education achievement - high levels of chronic and life limiting ill health (19.4% as compared to 16.4% all Wales average) - low levels of income - high rates of long term unemployment (30.7% as compared to 26% all Wales average) - a significant proportion of the 76,000 economically active people in the area commute outside the borough to work - lone parent households constitute 4.3% of all households which is above the 3.98% all Wales average - high rate of teen age pregnancies ( nearly 1 in 10 of its year old young women become pregnant) - high levels of violent crime and substance misuse. 8 The picture of deprivation in Caerphilly is not uniform, but rather gives the impression of pockets of intense deprivation. The Welsh Index of Deprivation (Caerphilly) Report 7 maps the levels of overall deprivation in the borough. 7 WIMD 2005 Caerphilly County Borough Analysis 5

7 Figure 1 - Overall Index of Multiple Deprivation for Caerphilly county borough 9 The LSOAs which fall within the top 10% most deprived in Wales are as follows: Twyn Carno Bargoed 4 St James 3 Hengoed 2 Bedwas, Trethomas and Machen 6 New Tredegar 3 Penyrhoel 4 Darren Valley 2 Moriah 3 6

8 Newbridge 2 Aberbargoed 2 St James 4 There are a further 20 LSOAs which fall within the next 20% most deprived in Wales. In all 30% of LSOAs in Caerphilly fall within the top 20% most deprived in Wales. However, 28 LSOAs (or 25.5% of the total) fall within the 50% least deprived in Wales. 10 A way of showing deprivation and its connection with vulnerable children and young people is to map the children in need population on to the LSOAs in Caerphilly which fall within the 20% most deprived in Wales 8. Figure 2 - Children in Need as at 31 st March 2007 Top 10% most deprived LSOAs in Wales Next 10% most deprived LSOAs in Wales This shows a close correlation between the distribution of the children in need population and those LSOAs which are most deprived in Caerphilly. The exception is the cluster in Risca East, around the Ty Sign housing estate. As the CCSP report points out 9 : Many of those cases [of children in need] are located on estates that are either described as poorly designed social housing estates, or 8 Caerphilly Children s Services Profiling 2007 (CSSP), p27 9 CCSP p34 7

9 isolated social housing estates in the Caerphilly Community Strategy (Lansbury Park, Graig y Rhacca, Ynys Las, Glffach Fargoed, Brtynhyfrd, Gelligeaer, Trinant, Pantside, Ty Sign, Ty Coch and Philipstown) 11 The deprivation indices in the WIMD cover key domains regarding health, employment, income, education skills and training, housing, physical environment and access to services. For children and young people, and their experiences of access to play, fear of crime, lifestyle and health, these are part of a wider picture of regeneration and community development which are the subject of corporate community strategies. It is not possible to divorce individual quality of life issues from the wider issues which face vulnerable communities. 12 A model for mapping need The needs which emerge from this assessment are very different in both nature and intensity. They will range from needs for more specialist services through to campaigns to reduce obesity and ensure that all children have access to appropriate play. A way of organising these needs is to adopt the Hardiker levels of need triangle HSCW 2007 p13 8

10 Figure 3 - Hardiker Levels of Need Crisis intervention Acute intervention Level 4 Rehabilitation services Children & families in crisis needing urgent attention including those were children cannot be protected or treated in their own home. Level 3 Specialist services Children & families needing intensive assistance Early intervention Level 2 Targeted services Children & families needing extra support Level 1 Universal Services Universal for all children & families at sometime Level 4 Level 3 Typical services Foster & Residential Homes, specialist Education Provision, Youth Offending & Child Protection Services Social Services, Core assessments, Careplans, SEN, Respite Care, CAHMS, Intensive Parenting Caerphilly provision Heol Aneurin, Foster Carers, IRO s, Assessment & Care Management Teams (CPR & LAC). Assessment & Care Teams (CIN), Rapid Response Teams, Children with Disabilities, NCH Family answers, Family Centres (Assessments) Level 2 Level 1 Voluntary sector and community projects, Early intervention projects, Speech & language services, Young carers projects Health, Education, Leisure, Early Years, Voluntary Projects NCH FIT, NCH Children s Centre, NCH Family support (Rhymney Bargoed), Llamau Mediation, Womens s Aid,Young Carers, Homestart, Right from the Start, GOFAL, NCMA, Barnado s Mentoring. Health, Education, Leisure, Early Years, Voluntary Projects 9

11 13 In the conclusion to this needs assessment the needs identified are allocated to one of these four levels. This does not necessarily indicate an order of priority, but rather the degree of specialism required to make an impact. For example, family support services can be delivered at high intensity through therapeutic intervention, or at a lower level through practical and emotional support to groups of parents. By adapting the Hardiker Triangle in this way we attempt to look at different intensities of intervention across the whole spectrum of needs within the seven core aims. 10

12 Core Aim 1 Have a flying start in life and the best possible basis for their future growth and development 1.1 Introduction This section of the Needs Assessment concerns children aged 0-7, and is organised under five headings as follows: [The Child] is healthy at birth, and through the early years is well nourished achieves developmental milestones has any special needs addressed makes good and secure attachments The purpose of the section is to describe and analyse the needs of children 0-7 with a view to the results then being used, alongside the service mapping exercise, to establish what service gaps, if any, exist and what the priority areas for development are There are two main strands in the evidence outlined here; and in subsequent sections: national and comparative data local evidence from current and recent plans, research and evaluation documents The section will also refer to, but not repeat in detail, the overall pattern of significant pockets of deprivation within certain wards in Caerphilly, as well as referring to issues about health, poverty and safety. Although the seven aims have to be separately treated, there are significant overlaps between many of them, and some priorities may not eventually fit neatly in one box. For example, research reports regularly connect low birth weight statistics with a cohort of indicators in respect of teenage lifestyle (smoking, nutrition), sexual behaviour and educational attainment Is healthy at birth, and through the early years Low birth weight babies The National Public Health Service for Wales (NPHSW) had the following statement in the most recent version of its Health Needs Assessment Report (HNA 2006); The evidence of the link between singleton low live birth weight and poor lifestyle during pregnancy is strong. Specifically, low birth weight is associated with poor maternal general health, a low level of 11 Monitoring Poverty and Social Exclusion in Wales, JRF,

13 education, poor nutrition, alcohol consumption and smoking both preconceptually and during pregnancy. 12 There are also links between low birth weight and some chronic diseases in adulthood The chart below shows the percentage of singleton live birth weight babies for each Local Health Board (LHB) over the period Figure 4-9 Singleton live born low birth weight babies proportion (%), LHBs, Compared with Wales Data source: ONS ADBE Significantly Higher Higher Low er Significantly Low er Proportion (%) Wales = 5.9% 0 Monmouthshire Powys Ceredigion Pembrokeshire Wrexham Gwynedd Flintshire Swansea Carmarthenshire Neath Port Talbot The Vale of Glamorgan Conwy Cardiff Bridgend Caerphilly Torfaen Rhondda Cynon Taff Isle of Anglesey Denbighshire Newport Merthyr Tydfil Blaenau Gwent Any singleton child born below 2,500 gms (5.5lbs) is described as having a low birth weight The charts show Caerphilly as having the eighth highest rate in Wales for the period , at 6.2%. Applying that rate to the number of live births in Caerphilly in 2006 (2,167 live births) 15 means that there were 124 low birth weight babies born in that year. The Wales average is 5.9% for the period, which is very close to the figure for England The map below shows the distribution of low birth weight babies ( ) across the middle super output areas (MSOAs). 12 HNA NPHSW (2006 version 26 March 2007) 13 HNA NPHSW (2006) 14 HNA NPHS (2006) 15 Stats Wales 12

14 Figure 5 - Percentage of singleton live born babies with low birth weight in Caerphilly borough MSOAs: Although overall numbers are quite low, the level of need generated from even a small percentage of these babies is likely to be significant. Both Risca East and Rhymney score higher than the rest of Caerphilly The trend in Wales ( ) shows only a minor increase. 16 NPHSW Population and Health Caerphilly (2006) 13

15 Figure 6 - Low birth weight babies proportion (%), Wales, Data source: ONS ADBE 10 All Singleton live birth Proportion (%) Is well nourished Two national indicators are used as proxies for the above: breastfeeding at birth level of tooth decay in children aged 0-5 years Breastfeeding at birth There is much research evidence (reported widely in NPHSW documents and in the JRF research already mentioned) to show that breastfeeding has both short and long term benefits, and makes an important contribution towards reducing infant mortality. These benefits are manifest both in the health of the child and the health of the mother. For the child, breastfeeding has an important role in preventing gastroenteritis, respiratory infection, juvenile onset diabetes and obesity. Women who do not breastfeed are more likely to develop ovarian cancer and pre-menopausal breast cancer and to retain body fat built up in pregnancy. The decision to start breastfeeding is influenced by a range of factors including: maternal age and level of education socio-economic and marital status provision of supportive environments both within the home and in the workplace attitudes of partners, parents and peer groups The chart below gives the breastfeeding rate at birth by LHB in

16 Figure 7 Breastfeeding at birth, by LHB area Percentage Cardiff Vale of Glamorgan Gwynedd Conwy Powys Ceredigion Pembrokeshire Anglesey Bridgend Carmarthenshire Denbighshire Monmouthshire All Wales average Wrexham Rhondda, Cynon, Taff Swansea Flintshire Newport Merthyr Tydfil Torfaen Neath Port Talbot Caerphilly Blaenau Gwent This shows that Caerphilly had the second lowest rate of Wales (but equal to Neath Port Talbot) at 30%. The Wales average at that time was 52% More recent research 17 suggests an increase in breastfeeding across the UK, with percentages as follows for 2005; England 78% Scotland 70% Wales 67% Northern Ireland 63% Applying the increase from 2004 in the Wales average would give a figure for Caerphilly of 39% Level of tooth decay in children aged 0-5 The main oral disease in children is dental caries (tooth decay). The prevalence of dental caries is measured using the decayed, missing or filled tooth index ( dmft for first teeth and DMFT for permanent teeth). The table below gives the main number of dmft in LHB for years 2001/2 and 2003/4. 17 NHS Infant Feeding Survey

17 4.0 Figure 8 Mean number decayed,missing or filled deciduous teeth in children aged 5 years, Wales LHBs, Source: WOHIU 2001/ / Mean dmft per child Flintshire The Vale of Glamorgan Monmouthshire Powys Bridgend Pembrokeshire Denbighshire Ceredigion Cardiff Conwy Gwynedd Swansea Isle of Anglesey Torfaen Newport Neath Port Talbot Carmarthenshire Wrexham Rhondda Cynon Taff Caerphilly Blaenau Gwent Merthyr Tydfil In 1998 the Wales Assembly Government set targets for the prevalence of caries in its publication Better Health Better Wales. Although since repealed, it originally stated that no more than 48% of all 5 year old children in Wales should have any caries by the The results in the table (left) of a 2003/04 survey show that the all Wales figure level of 5 year olds with a dmft>0 was 54.43%. Only four Local Health Boards achieved the Assembly target figure and Caerphilly had the third highest level of children with dmft, at 68%, a figure that had increased since the 2001/02 survey The table shows Caerphilly with the third highest dmft rate in Wales, at 3.2 per child in 2003/4 (a higher level than in 2001/2, along with 12 other LHBs). Comparatively speaking, Wales fares poorly in respect of dental health for 5 year olds. The NPHSW dental health report 18 quotes a report from the British Fluoridation Society which sets out the performance of the 311 Primary Care Trusts and Health Boards in England, Scotland and Wales in a league table. A half of the Wales LHBs are positioned in the bottom 30 places of the league table. 18 NPHSW Health Needs Assessment Dental Health

18 1.3.9 Within Caerphilly, the Upper Rhymney Valley is identified as having an increasing prevalence of oral disease, coupled with low patient registration and decreasing practitioner provision Achieves developmental milestones The importance of early years development and educational opportunities for children is well documented in many research reports ( 20 and 21 for example). Key messages include: the quality of development and the family background at 22 months is a predictor of academic achievement at 26 years pre-school experience enhanced the all round development in children those starting pre school showed a better intellectual development disadvantaged children benefit significantly from good pre school experience The supply of childcare places in Caerphilly (as at 4 Oct 2006) and including nursery school places was as follows: Child minder 677 Full day care 690 Crèche 90 Sessional care 686 Out of school (registered) 779 Out of school (unregistered) 229 Total The total population of children aged 0-14 in Caerphilly (2006 and mid year estimates) was 32,339, with 14,756 aged 0-7 years. This gives a rate of just under 9.4 childcare places per 100 children aged 0-14, or the fifth lowest in Wales (see chart below) NPHSW Health Needs Assessment Effective Provision of Pre-School Education Project Leon Feinstein Inequality in the Cognitive Behaviour of British Children (1970 cohort) Assessment of Childcare Sufficiency Draft (ACSD) 17

19 Figure 9 - Registered Childcare Places in Wales In addition, an inverse peak has been established between poverty and the availability of child care. Melyn Consulting 23 mapped this link to show that the most deprived areas have the least number of childcare places. 23 Analysis of Supply of Registered Childcare Places

20 Figure 10 Number of Childcare Places by Deprivation Scores This relatively low level of childcare availability is acknowledged in the Caerphilly Cymorth Report ( ) where, as part of the conclusion, it states that: The number of childcare and nursery places available in Caerphilly Count Borough are lower than national averages, as are available qualified and unqualified nursery assistants. Levels of childcare are comparatively low within the borough, and there is a need to address both the quantity, and to raise standards generally, if Caerphilly County Borough is to provide a flying start in life for all its children and young people In addition to a relatively low level of supply, the availability of provision is uneven across Caerphilly. The graph below maps childcare provision, by availability, across MSOAs. Some localities have almost no provision at all, whilst one has over 450 places. 19

21 Figure 11 Availability of Childcare Places This graph represents availability of child care places across the age range (0-14) and when correlated with local populations of children, very different rates are evident (0.5 places per 100 children in Newbridge MSOA as opposed to 30 places per 100 children in Ystrad Mynach) This general pattern is replicated when considering early years provision (for children under 5). Whilst the rate of childcare provision is higher than the Wales average for this age group (11 places per 100 children in Caerphilly, as opposed to seven places per 100 children in Wales), the distribution is not consistent, with rates varying between less than one place per 100 children to over 40 places per 100 children. The graph below (again set out using MSOAs) illustrates the point well. 24 ACSD 20

22 Figure 12 - Early Years Childcare Places per 100 children aged 0 to The availability of early years childcare places when mapped on to local populations of children aged 0-4 gives another insight into the range involved. Of particular notes is the relatively low level of supply in the north and east of the county borough. 25 ACSD 21

23 Figure 13 - Early Years Childcare Places per 100 children aged 0 to The main problem regarding childcare provision concerns services for younger children. The Assessment of Childcare Sufficiency Draft Report has the following recommendations in this regard: There is a mismatch between the supply of childcare to young children and demand. A number of specific areas have gaps in provision and there is evidence to suggest that there is strong enough demand for more group day care to be sustainable. In particular, areas with low supply and high demand are: Pengam; St Cattwg; Blackwood; Newbridge; Abercarn; Risca East and West; and Aber Valley. Childcare in these areas should be sustainable through the market, but it may require short-term support and stimulation to develop There may, therefore, be a need for a more coordinated commissioning approach to look at supply/demand issues particularly in the more deprived areas of the county borough. 26 ACSD 22

24 1.5 Has any special needs addressed This part of the needs assessment concerns children with disabilities. The needs of children with disabilities, and their families, are currently under review, with a plan to deliver an integrated service by 1 April Much is known and written about the pressures and stresses which disabled children and their families live with. There are psychological, emotional and physical demands to be met daily in situations where isolation and social exclusion are never far away. A Review of the Caerphilly Children and Disabilities Team carried out internally in 2006 undertook a Matching Needs and Services (MNS) exercise which grouped the needs of a sample of 69 children (and their families) under three headings, which graphically highlight these demands. The headings are as follows: Family Relationships - adults to resolve conflict - family relationships to improve Parenting - practical support at home - to be more like other children - manage behaviour better - much better care at home Emotional Needs - to reduce the impact of trauma - parents to come to terms with the emotional problems of parenting a disabled child The same report identified the difficult circumstances in which families with disabled children were living. 25% single mothers 25% experiencing emotional and mental health problems 25% experiencing unresolved feelings of loss or grief 33% struggling to manage the child s behaviour. This needs to sit alongside the health, education and social care needs of the children themselves, including according to the report already cited, significant levels and volume of behavioural problems The numbers of children (and families) deemed to be disabled is always difficult to estimate, but SSIW estimated that there are around 1700 disabled children in Caerphilly (Inspection Report 2004). This includes between children with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD). Although not all of the 1700 will have serious disabilities, that number will certainly be higher than the 204 children known to the Children and Disabilities Team. Fore example, the Children s Centre (see Tribal Report 2007 (7)) sees in the region of 1000 children per year. What is certain is that there is a high level of unmet need. The SSIW report (cited in the Review mentioned above) highlighted in 2004 that: 23

25 There is no multi-agency forum to plan services for disabled children. As there seems to be so much unmet need, this seems a crucial omission as a group could assist in optimising the use of current resources, prioritising needs and developing services to meet needs A plan to integrate services for children with disabilities is now in hand, with a proposed start date for the re-modelled service set for April 2009 as identified in the 2006 Task and Finish Report The need for integration, and improvement of commissioning arrangements has thus been fully recognised. The questions which may need to be addressed in the CYYP include: how far will integration go (where with health, education and the voluntary sector fit in) will integration also include connecting more closely with adult social services (as highlighted in the Review of the Children with Disabilities Team) what will integration mean in terms of identifying and beginning to meet the high levels of unmet need identified in the SSIW (2004) Report how well are early years childcare services geared up to receiving disabled children. The ACSD Report (previously quoted) suggests that, overall, only 20%-30% of childcare settings at present receive disabled children). 24

26 1.6 Make good and secure attachments Figure 14 - % of Looked After Children adopted Total Percentage % of LAC adopted No.of LAC adopted 0 Vale of Rhondda Glamorgan Cynon Neath Taff Port Talbot Denbighshire Flintshire Anglesey Torfaen Blaenau Gwent Newport All Wales Merthyr Tydfil Bridgend Caerphilly Ceredigion Monmouthshire Swansea Cardiff Wrexham Conwy Carmarthenshire Powys Gwynedd Pembrokeshire 0 25

27 1.7 Consultation with Caerphilly Parent Network Core Aim 1 Every child should have a Flying Start in life and the best possible basis for their future growth & development. Question 1.1 If you know of any services that work around this aim, what are they and what do you think about them? National Childminding Association are very good Law yn Llaw very good as they helped getting help for children with special needs Nursery and school White Rose Primary Nursery half day provided for 3 yr olds and over very good Health visitor provide great help they recommended going on a Surestart programme with was very helpful and learnt a great deal Children s Centre based at White Rose Primary had to pay for childcare and found it very good Caerphilly Birth Centre is first Class Children s advisory service useful but limited No leisure for under 3 s e.g. dancing and trampolining at local leisure centres especially joint initiatives with parents Midwifery services Flying Start groups Bookstart CIS Mother and Toddler groups Parent Network give out information Question 1.2 What other services or actions do you think we need to achieve this aim? Special needs unit for children with learning difficulties to be placed at White Rose Health centre there are plenty of rooms unused More Health Visitors More mid-wives More doctors specialising in children Father and Baby groups non-existent Wider variety of parent and toddler activities List of what activities are on for who and at what ages they can start More for under 3 s More information on websites and need to keep websites up to date Dietary advice/ cookery lessons Forest schools More opportunity for out-door play (x2) 26

28 Soft play available in community centres or specialist groups More healthy living groups More opportunities for play with parents and children Music and dance groups More information for dads 27

29 Core Aim 1 Have a Flying Start in life and the best possible basis for their future growth and development Priority Outcome Outcome Measure Current Performance (Score in parentheses measured against other LA s) 1.1 Is healthy at birth and through the early years Additional Local outcome Measures Low birth weight rate per 1000 population (ONS) Breastfeeding rates at birth LHB figures Tooth decay at 5yrs old WOHIU, LHBs British Fluoridation Society % of all births (15/22) 30% 2004 (21/22) 3.2 dmft per child (20/22) 68% dmft > (20/22) Local Targets Responsibility 1.2 Is well nourished Local outcome Measures 1.3 Achieves Developmental Milestones Local Outcome Measure 1.4 Has any special needs addressed Local Outcome Measures 1.5 Makes good and secure attachments Additional Local Outcome Measures % of Looked After Children adopted (SSD A903) 14% LAC adopted (11/22) 28

30 Core Aim 2 Have access to a comprehensive range of education, training and learning opportunities including acquisition of essential personal and social skills 2.1 Introduction There is much research evidence which links educational opportunity and achievement with better job prospects, more social mobility, higher income and better health. In this way, education is linked in to the themes of tackling poverty and deprivation, and providing greater health and wellbeing which ran through the needs assessment overall The education, skills and training domain of the Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation (2005) Caerphilly report (WIMD Caer 27 ) highlights the variation in educational achievement across the borough. Figure 15 Education, Skills and Training Domain in Caerphilly County Borough 27 WIMD Caer

31 2.1.3 The indicators used to measure this deprivation domain are highly relevant to children and young people and are as follows: proportion of pupils achieving the Key Stage 2 Core Subject Indicator proportion of pupils achieving the Key Stage 3 Core Subject Indicator Key Stage 4 average points score proportion of adults with low or no qualifications secondary school absentee rates proportion of 17 and 18 years olds not entering further or higher education As explained elsewhere, LSOAs are ranked (with 1 being the most deprived) across Wales. For education 16 LSOAs in Caerphilly(or 14.6%) are ranked in the most deprived 10% in Wales. A further 20 (18.2%) are ranked in the next 10%. In total 32.8 of LSOAs are ranked in the 20% most deprived in Wales On these pre 2005 figures therefore, the following areas are likely to be the most educationally deprived: Twyn Carno 1 Pontllanfraith 2 Hengoed 2 Aber Valley 2 New Tredegar 3 Penyrheol 4 St James 4 Darren Valley 2 Crumlin 3 Bedwas T+M 6 Bargoed 4 Risca East 2 Aberbargoed 1 Penyrheol 8 St James 3 Argoed The nine underlined LSOAs appear in the 12 most deprived overall for Caerphilly (taking account of other domains including income and employment) The identification of these areas, and their location, underlines the perception that Caerphilly has a number of small highly deprived neighbourhoods where there are multiple factors at work which feed into (and off) one another. The schools within these areas are more likely to suffer from low levels of pupil attainment, and have a lower level of performance overall. 2.2 Achieves early learning goals The national outcome measures identified to measure attainment in respect of early learning goals related to achievements at Key Stages 2 and 3. The table below summarises attainment at Key Stage 2 from

32 Figure 16 - Attainment at Key Stage 2; 2006 Percentage achieving Core Subject Indicator The Vale of Glamorgan Newport Powys Pembrokeshire Wrexham Gwynedd Monmouthshire Flintshire Carmarthenshire Cardiff Isle of Anglesey Conwy Ceredigion Swansea Rhondda, Cynon, Taff All Wales Average Bridgend Denbighshire Caerphilly Neath Port Talbot Merthyr Tydfil Torfaen Blaenau Gwent Boys Girls All Pupils WAG National target by 2007 WAG National target by The table shows the following scores for Caerphilly For all pupils = 70.7% (fifth lowest) For girls = 74.3% (third lowest) For boys = 67.3%(fourth lowest) It is possible to identify trends using Stats Wales data as follows (including years 2005, and 2007 alongside 2006), for all pupils Caerphilly score 72.5 (fifth lowest) (fifthlowest) (third lowest) Wales average For both Wales (on average) and Caerphilly the trend is slightly down over the three years. 31

33 2.2.4 The results for Key Stage 3 (2006) are given in the table below, and show the following scores for Caerphilly; For all pupils = 53.4% (fourth lowest) For girls = 59.6% (fifth lowest) For boys = 47.2% (fourth lowest). Figure 16 - Attainment at Key Stage 3; 2006 Percentage achieving Core Subject Indicator Powys Monmouthshire The Vale of Glamorgan Carmarthenshire Conwy Gwynedd Flintshire Ceredigion Pembrokeshire Denbighshire Swansea Newport Bridgend All Wales Average Isle of Anglesey Wrexham Neath Port Talbot Cardiff Torfaen Caerphilly Rhondda, Cynon, Taff Merthyr Tydfil Blaenau Gwent Boys Girls Pupils WAG National target by 2007 WAG National target by The above table is taken from the National Curriculum Assessment data on the ONS website and measures the percentage of pupils achieving level 5 or above at KS3. The trend figures below (for years 2005, 2006 and 2007) are extracted from the Stats Wales data and measure the percentage of children achieving the expected level. The figures show a slight variation from those in The trends for KS3 are as follows: 2005 Caerphilly score 54.7 (fifth lowest) (fourth lowest) Wales average

34 (third lowest) As with KS2 results, there is a decline, overall, in both the Wales average scores and those for Caerphilly. 2.3 Engages in full time education The following tables identify national comparative data, with some trend information, regarding absenteeism and attendance at both primary and secondary schools. The first table charts overall levels of absenteeism, and the percentage which was unauthorised Overall levels of absenteeism The table below gives the overall level of school sessions missed due to absence, and the proportion of unauthorised absences for the year Figure 18 - Percentage of absences unauthorised by local authority area Percantage of absences by local education area; 2005/06 All absences Unauthorised absences % of absences unauthorised % of school session missed due to absence Cardiff Torfaen Rhondda Cynon Caerphilly Swansea Newport Conwy Denbighshire Wrexham Bridgend All Wales Blaenau Gwent Pembrokeshire Merthyr Tydfil Ceredigion Vale of Gwynedd Anglesey Monmouthshire Powys Neath Port Flintshire Carmarthenshire 35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% % of all absences unauthorised The table shows Caerphilly as having the sixth highest level of absence overall (at just under 10%) and the fourth highest level of unauthorised absence as a percentage of overall absence, at 11%. 33

35 2.3.4 The table below identified Caerphilly as having (equal with three other local authorities) the fifth lowest attendance level in primary schools in at 91.9%. There is no trend information available. Figure 19 % Pupil Attendance in Primary Schools; 2005/ Monmouthshire Gwynedd Conwy Powys Wrexham Vale of Glamorgan Flintshire Anglesey Ceredigion Pembrokeshire Torfaen All Wales average Newport Denbigshire Cardiff Swansea Neath Port Talbot Bridgend Caerphilly Rhonda Cynon Taff Blaenau Gwent Merthyr Tydfil Carmarthenshire The table below shows the percentage of pupil attendance at secondary schools in Caerphilly for At 89.08% Caerphilly scores third lowest. 34

36 Figure 20 - % Pupil Attendance in Secondary Schools; 2005/ Flintshire Monmouthshire Vale of Glamorgan Wrexham Powys Torfaen Conwy Neath Port Talbot Gwynedd Pembrokeshire Wales Bridgend Carmarthenshire Ceredigion Blaenau Gwent Swansea Newport Rhondda Cynon Denbighshire Anglesey Caerphilly Merthyr Tydfil Cardiff The trend data available for years and show that Caerphilly has a very slightly lower attendance percentage now than three years ago. The full figures are: 2004 = 89.43% 2005 = 89.72% 2006 = 89.08%. These differences are marginal and may not be significant, other than that there has been no significant improvement between and The span across the whole range of local authorities is also very small, just over two percentage points at most As far as permanent exclusions from secondary schools in Caerphilly (2005-6) are concerned, the rate is four pupils per 1000, the fourth highest in Wales. There is no trend data available. Figure 21 35

37 Permanent Exclusions per 1,000 pupils in Secondary Schools; 2005/ Conwy Isle of Anglesey Gwynedd Caerphilly Cardiff Newport Ceredigion Powys Denbigshire Neath Port Talbot Bridgend All Wales average Carmarthenshire Wrexham Swansea Flintshire Merthyr Tydfil Monmouthshire Torfaen Vale of Glamorgan Blaenau Gwent Pembrokeshire Rhondda Cynon Taff For looked after children (LAC) two tables give the level of attendance at primary schools and secondary schools for

38 Figure 22 % attendance of Looked After Children in Primary Schools 2005/ Pembrokeshire Ceredigion Flintshire Carmarthenshire Conwy Vale of Glamorgan Merthyr Tydfil Cardiff Blaenau Gwent Denbighshire Swansea All Wales average Caerphilly Rhondda Cynon Taff Torfaen Monmouthshire Newport Anglesey Wrexham 37

39 Figure 23 % attendance of Looked After Children in Secondary Schools 2005/ Flintshire Merthyr Tydfil Torfaen Vale of Glamorgan Cardiff Monmouthshire Conwy Ceredigion Swansea Wrexham All Wales average Carmarthenshire Blaenau Gwent Pembrokeshire Caerphilly Anglesey Denbighshire Rhondda Cynon Taff Newport The primary school table shows Caerphilly performing close to the Wales average, whilst the secondary school table shows Caerphilly as having the fifth lowest attendance rate in Wales for (3% below the Wales average) The next graph gives the percentage of days lost due to fixed term exclusions in It shows Caerphilly as being close to the Wales average for secondary schools, but with the second highest rate for primary schools. However the percentage numbers are very low, and a judgement will need to be made as to how significant this figure is for primary schools. 38

40 Figure 24 % of days lost due to Fixed Term Exclusions 2005/06 Secondary exclusions %age Total exclusions %age Primary exclusions %age Seconday Schools and Total Exclusions % % % % % % % % Conwy Anglesey Wrexham Newport Merthyr Tydfil Denbighshire Neath Port Caerphilly Swansea Blaenau Gwent Monmouthshire All Wales Cardiff Flintshire Pembrokeshire Torfaen Bridgend Powys Rhondda Cynon Ceredigion Vale of Gwynedd Carmarthenshire % % % % % % % % Primary School Exclusions The next table charts the percentage of young offenders serving community penalties in education, training or employment, for and The nature of the service means, in this case, that the Caerphilly figures are combined with Blaenau Gwent. For these LEAs, there are a sharp percentage increase in placements in education, training and employment over the two years (from just over 50% to 80%). 39

41 Figure 25 - % of young offenders serving community penalties in education, training or employment , , (missing) % of young offenders serving community penalties in education, training or employment 2004/ / / % 90.0% 80.0% 70.0% 60.0% 50.0% 40.0% 30.0% Monmouthshire and Torfaen Gwynedd and Anglesey Rhondda Cynon Taff Neath Port Talbot Carmarthenshire Wrexham Conwy & Denbighshire Flintshire Merthyr Tydfil Swansea Bridgend Vale of Glamorgan Cardiff Newport Caerphilly & Blaenau Gwent Pembrokeshire 2.4 Achieves their full learning potential Two indicators are used to provide evidence of learning potential at school leaving age. These are: a) the average points score for all qualifications for pupils aged 15+; and b) the percentage of pupils leaving full time education without an approved qualification. The table below sets out the average points score per 15 year old for all approved qualifications. There is not trend data available for this item. 40

42 Figure 26 Average Pts score per 15 yr old for all approved qualifications; 2005/ Vale of Glamorgan Ceredigion Gwynedd Powys Pembrokeshire Monmouthshire Flintshire Carmarthenshire Neath Port Talbot Isle of Anglesey Wrexham All Wales average Cardiff Bridgend Conwy Torfaen Newport Rhondda Cynon Taff Denbighshire Caerphilly Swansea Blaenau Gwent Merthyr Tydfil Caerphilly scores fourth lowest with an average points score of 311 (Wales average is 337) The second table gives the percentage of those leaving full-time education without an approved qualification (2005-6). Caerphilly scores seventh highest with a score of 2.6% (Wales average is 2.1%). The trend data gives the same scores across the three years, and the same overall position occupied by Caerphilly. 41

43 Figure 27 % Pupils leaving full time education without an approved qualification; Torfaen Merthyr Tydfil Cardiff Rhondda Cynon Taf Swansea Denbighshire Caerphilly Blaenau Gwent Conwy Bridgend Newport All Wales Average Neath Port Talbot Monmouthshire Isle of Anglesey Carmarthenshire Powys Wrexham The Vale of Glamorgan Flintshire Gwynedd Pembrokeshire Ceredigion The final graph in this sequence gives the same information in respect of leaving school without an approved qualification, but for LAC. The numbers are small for Caerphilly (around 16) but the percentage without a qualification is high (nearly 20%). However, this is close to the Welsh average. 42

44 Figure 28 Looked after Children leaving full-time education without qualification 2005/06 LAC without qualifications LAC in education Percentage Number of pupils Percentage Carmarthenshire Torfaen Isle of Anglesey Rhondda Cynon Bridgend Conwy Cardiff Denbighshire Newport Caerphilly Wales Wrexham The Vale of Merthyr Tydfil Powys Neath Port Swansea Gwynedd Flintshire Ceredigion Pembrokeshire Blaenau Gwent Monmouthshire Special educational need assessment (not found, not sent) 2.5 Every pupil and young person (16-19) engages in purposeful formal and informal education, training or employment The table which follows highlights data formerly on LAC with which the local authority is in contact, and known to be in education, employment or training (ETE). This shows that Caerphilly is in contact with 25 young people, 33% of whom are in ETE, below the Wales average of 44%, but similar to 13 other local authorities. 43

45 Figure 29 % of young people aged 19 formerly looked after with whom the local authority is in contact, known to be in education, training or employment; 2006/07 No. of young people % known to be in ETE No. LAC at 16 known to be in ETE Anglesey Pembrokeshire Newport Monmouthshire Powys Merthyr Tydfil Torfaen All Wales Swansea Vale of Rhondda Cynon Cardiff Gwynedd Flintshire Carmarthenshire Neath Port Ceredigion Denbighshire Wrexham Caerphilly Blaenau Gwent Conwy No. LAC at 16 with whom the authority is still in contact % in ETE 44

46 2.6 Consultation with Caerphilly Parent Network Core Aim 2 Have access to a full range of education, training and learning opportunities. This includes the development of personal and social skills. Question 2.1 If you know of any services that work around this aim, what are they and what do you think about them Don t now of anything other than schools There are very few services for kids in the area more funding all round Basement counselling service Book start Flying Start Language and play HUB SYDIC Youth Clubs Youth Forum Question 2.2 What other services or actions do you think we need to achieve this aim? More youth clubs which are organised by paid, trained staff Bring back apprenticeships Practical skills building for non-academic pupils Different options for young people like the Alternative curriculum Not everyone fits neatly in to a box support with those who have additional needs More access to Counselling opportunities 45

47 Core Aim 2 Have access to a comprehensive range of education, training and learning opportunities, including acquisition of essential personal and social skills Priority Outcome Outcome Measure Current Performance 2006/07 Financial 2005/06 Academic 2.1 Achieves early learning goals Additional Local Outcome Measures 2.2 Engages in full time education % of pupils achieving Key Stage 2 CSI (National Performance Indicator (EDU/S/F/003/01-003) % pupils achieving Key Stage 3 CSI (NPI EDU/S/F/004/01-004) Local Targets Financial Year 70.7% 73% in 2007/ % in 2008/ % in 2009/ % 56% in 2007/ % in 2008/ % in 2009/10 % of pupil attendance in primary schools (EDU/007) 91.9% 92.5% in 2007/08 93% in 2008/09 93% in 2009/10 % of pupil attendance in secondary schools (EDU/001) Permanent exclusions per 1000 pupils for secondary schools (EDU/008) % attendance of looked after pupils whilst in care in primary schools (SCC/022a) % attendance of looked after pupils whilst in care in secondary schools (SCC/022b) % of days lost due to fixed-term exclusions - (EDU/010) % of young offenders serving community penalties in education, training or employment (YOTs) 89.1% 90% in 2007/ % in 2008/09 91% in 2009/ in 2007/ in 2008/ in 2009/10 Social Services Social Services Primary 0.02% Secondary 0.18% Local Primary % in 2007/ % in 2008/ % in 2009/10 Secondary 0.135% in 2007/ % in 2008/ % in 2009/10 Responsibility 46

48 Additional Local Outcome Measures 2.3 Achieves their full learning potential 2.4 Early identification and removal of barriers to learning Additional Local Outcome Measures 2.5 Every pupil and young person (16-19) engages in purposeful formal / informal education, training or employment Additional Local Outcome Measures Average points score per 15 year old pupil for all qualifications approved for pre-16 use in Wales to improve year on year (EDU/011) % pupils leaving full time education etc. without an approved qualification (NPI EDU/S/F/002/01-002(i) % pupils who are in care leaving full time education etc. without an approved qualification (LA) (EDU 002 ii) % of final statements of SEN issued within 26 weeks (EDU/015). % of young people aged 19 formerly looked after with whom the local authority is in contact, known to be in education, employment or training. (Children FirstSCC/033c) % of young people in the Youth Offending Service to be ETE % 2% in 2007/08 1.5% in 2008/09 1.5% in 2009/ % New Indicator 2007/08 33% (19/22) 53.6% 47

49 Core Aim 3 Enjoy the best physical and mental social emotional and emotional health including freedom from abuse, victimisation and exploitation 3.1 Introduction The overall picture of health in Caerphilly can be understood by looking at a small number of higher levels of analysis for the population overall. The Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation (WIMD 2005), for Caerphilly, shows that nearly 31% of LSOAs fall within the 20% most deprived in Wales in respect of health. Figure 30 Health Domain for Caerphilly Borough Council WIMD Caerphilly, p20 48

50 3.1.2 The Welsh Health Survey produces measures of physical and mental health status based on self-reporting questionnaires. From the most recent survey in , the scores were as follows: Physical component summary score Mental component score Wales average Caerphilly Rank out of th 19 th The Welsh Health Survey also asked about mental illness in its questionnaire. The data showed that Caerphilly ranked nineteenth in Wales, with 11.8% of adults reporting being treated for a mental illness, compared to the average of 9.3% for Wales overall 30. The table below sets out the percentages for adults who reported being treated for a mental illness for Wales as a whole. 14 Figure 31 - Caerphilly Needs Assessment Age standardised % Wales average = Gwynedd Powys Pembrokeshire Isle of Anglesey Monmouthshire Flintshire Wrexham Carmarthenshire Conwy Ceredigion The Vale of Glamorgan Newport Neath Port Talbot Denbighshire Cardiff Swansea Torfaen Bridgend Caerphilly Blaenau Gwent Rhondda Cynon Taff Merthyr Tydfil This table is included because the availability of mental health services to children and young people remains an issue in Caerphilly, and the prevalence amongst adults suggest a continuing high degree of problem in this area. 29 Caerphilly Needs Assessment 2007 (NPHSW) 30 Caerphilly Needs Assessment Caerphilly Needs Assessment

51 3.1.4 Life expectancy in Caerphilly is amongst the lowest in Wales, for both men and women. Figure 32 - Life Expectancy at Birth Males Females Years Monmouthshire Ceredigion Isle of Anglesey Powys Gwynedd Pembrokeshire Cardiff Torfaen Conwy Flintshire Carmarthenshire The Vale of Glamorgan Swansea Denbighshire Newport Bridgend Neath Port Talbot Rhondda, Cynon, Taff Caerphilly Merthyr Tydfil Blaenau Gwent The remainder of this section concentrates on issues concerning: healthy lifestyle healthy sexual behaviour access to specialist services freedom from abuse and exploitation In the light of these themes it is important to note the health social care and wellbeing strategy priorities in this regard 32 to tackle smoking, especially in the young to address poor diet and low levels of physical activity to tackle excess consumption of alcohol and other substance misuse to tackle infections (sexually transmitted, healthcare acquired, vaccine preventable, dental decay) to promote mental wellbeing. 32 HSCWBS

52 3.1.6 These priorities are currently being reviewed, as the next Strategy ( ) is now being prepared. The content of this section may, therefore need to be amended. 3.2 Has a healthy lifestyle The topic most referred to in research literature and local strategies include: nutrition obesity smoking alcohol consumption/binge drinking tooth decay For many of these, there is no reliable local data. However surveys of adult behaviour (beginning at 18+, therefore including a proportion of the age group) and some national comparisons are available Nutrition and obesity The graphs below (all taken from the Health Needs Assessment 2006 (Children and Young People)) 33 give a comparison between Wales and a selection of countries (including England and Scotland) concerning: breakfast consumption eating fruit eating vegetables all for boys and girls aged 13 dissatisfaction with body weight pre-obesity 33 HNA 2006 CYP 51

53 Proportion (%) Figure 33 Proportion of young people aged 13 years who eat breakfast every school day: 2001/2 Lowest: Slovenia Data source: HBSC survey Girls England Wales Scotland Highest: Portugal Boys 60 Figure 34 Proportion of young people aged 13 years who eat fruit every day: 2001/2 Data source: HBSC survey Girls Boys 50 Proportion (%) Lowest: Estonia Wales England Scotland Highest: Israel 52

54 60 50 Figure 35 Proportion of young people aged 13 years who eat vegetables every day: 2001/2 Data source: HBSC survey Girls Boys Proportion (%) Lowest: Spain Wales England Scotland Highest: Belgium (Flemish) 60 Figure 36 Proportion of young people aged 13 years dissatisfied with their body weight, 2001/2 Data source: HBSC survey Girls Boys Proportion (%) Lowest: Russian Federation England Scotland Wales Highest: Germany 53

55 Figure Proportion of young people aged 13 years who are pre-obese: 2001/2 Data source: HBSC survey Girls Boys 25 Proportion (%) Lowest: Ukraine Scotland England Wales Highest: Malta Proportion (%) Lowest: Ukraine Figure 38 Proportion of young people aged 13 years who are obese: 2001/2 Data source: HBSC survey Girls Boys Scotland England Wales Highest: Malta Wales scores at a very similar level to England and Scotland as regards breakfast consumption, but considerably lower in respect of daily consumption of fruit and vegetables. As regards body weight, levels are again similar, but the percentage is generally high across the whole graph. It appears that, in Wales, over 40% of girls and over 30% of boys aged 13 are dissatisfied with 54

56 their body weight. The pre-obesity table puts Wales above both Scotland and England with scores of 15% for girls and 18% for boys The graph below 34 shows the percentage of adults who are obese, by local authority, with Caerphilly sixth highest at 58.8%. Figure 39 - Percentage of adults who were overweight or obese: 2003/ Welsh average = 54.1 Age standardised % Ceredigion Monmouthshire Denbighshire Conwy Powys Gwynedd Isle of Anglesey Swansea Flintshire Cardiff The Vale of Glamorgan Newport Carmarthenshire Pembrokeshire Torfaen Neath Port Talbot Caerphilly Wrexham Bridgend Merthyr Tydfil Blaenau Gwent Rhondda Cynon Taff Smoking The graph below gives the average age at onset of smoking for 15 year olds who have ever smoked Caerphilly Needs Assessment Caerphilly Needs Assessment

57 Figure 40 - Average age at onset of smoking for 15 year olds who have ever smoked: 2001/ Years Youngest: Lithuania Scotland Wales England Eldest: Greece Note: truncated y-axis This shows Wales, England and Scotland to be at an approximately similar level. As elsewhere, more girls than boys smoke daily (21.5% for girls, as opposed to 12.7% for boys, aged 15 in ) The adult smoking levels are set out in the graph below, with Caerphilly seventh highest at 28.3% The 2003 Needs Assessment included some material on young smokers (aged 11-16) based on the Communities that Care Audit (2002). This may have influenced the inclusion of tackling smoking amongst young people as one of the priorities in the HSCWB strategy. It is clear that a number of initiatives have been undertaken (or are ongoing) 36. A part of the work in preparing the CYP will be to review the success of these initiatives, and what status of need smoking amongst young people now has Alcohol consumption/binge drinking The table below sets the percentage of young people who drink any alcoholic drinks weekly (2001-2), which shows Wales scoring above both Scotland and England in respect of 15 year olds. 36 Caerphilly Needs Assessment

58 Figure 41 - Percentage of young people who drink any alcoholic drink weekly: 2001/ year olds 13 year olds 15 year olds Girls Boys Girls Boys Girls Boys Lowest Country Greenland TFYR Macedonia Portugal Scotland Wales *54.4 *58.0 England *24.8 * Highest Country Italy *Denotes country with the highest percentage The CNA report 2007 also refers to the Communities that Care Audit (2002) which reported that 40% of year olds in Caerphilly where binge drinking (defined as at least five alcoholic drinks in a row in the past four weeks). There may still be a need to test this evidence, but this topic remains a concern in developing appropriate support and services in this area Tooth decay The section which covered the early years already identified tooth decay amongst five year olds as a significant problem. This continues into the teenage years. 37 Caerphilly Needs Assessment

59 90 Figure 42 Percentage of 14 year olds with dental caries (DMFT>0), Wales LHBs, 2004/05 Data source: WOHIU 80 Pecentage Welsh average = Cardiff Conwy The Vale of Glamorgan Bridgend Ceredigion Denbighshire Monmouthshire Pembrokeshire Flintshire Isle of Anglesey Carmarthenshire Rhondda Cynon Taff Swansea Gwynedd Wrexham Neath Port Talbot Powys Torfaen Newport Caerphilly Merthyr Tydfil Blaenau Gwent Immunisation rates The table below shows the immunisation rates , Caerphilly ranks sixth highest in Wales as regards average take-up over the range of immunisations. 58

60 Figure 43 - NHS immunisation rates, by Local Health Board, MMR (i) (ii) Rank Diptheria Rank Tetanus Rank Whooping Cough Rank Polio Rank Cervical cancer (iii) Rank Breast cancer (iv) Rank Dental visits (v) Torfaen Flintshire Isle of Anglesey Caerphilly Rhondda Cynon Taff Newport Blaenau Gwent The Vale of Glamorgan Cardiff Bridgend Conwy Neath, Port Talbot Monmouthshire Wrexham Ceredigion Powys Swansea Denbighshire Gwynedd Carmarthenshire Merthyr Tydfil Pembrokeshire Wales Rank Average rank 59

61 3.3 Adopts healthy sexual behaviour Teenage conceptions As highlighted in the CNA 2007 report: Generally as a group, teenage mothers and their children suffer poor health, social and economic outcomes. Lack of education and training may reduce the long term potential among teenage mothers to improve their socio-economic conditions Teenage mothers may also have problems in relation to poor nutrition, smoking and unstable living conditions. There is also a link to low birth weight babies (with a higher proportion being born to teenage mothers) The rates for teenage conceptions to girls aged 16 and under and 20 and under are given below. Figure Teenage conception rates, females <16, LHBs, p Source: Office for National Statistics Rate (per 1,000 females aged 13-15) Welsh average = Powys Monmouthshire Pembrokeshire Isle of Anglesey P Data for 2004 are provisional The Vale of Glamorgan Ceredigion Gwynedd Carmarthenshire Flintshire Denbighshire Swansea Cardiff Newport Neath Port Talbot Bridgend Caerphilly Conwy Merthyr Tydfil Torfaen Rhondda Cynon Taff Wrexham Blaenau Gwent 38 Caerphilly Needs Assessment

62 Figure 45 Teenage conception rates, females <20, LHBs, 2004 Source: Office for National Statistics Rate (per 1,000 females aged 15-19) Wales = Ceredigion Monmouthshire Powys Carmarthenshire The Vale of Glamorgan Gwynedd Cardiff Flintshire Swansea Isle of Anglesey Pembrokeshire Conwy Bridgend Denbighshire Neath Port Talbot Blaenau Gwent Caerphilly Newport Wrexham Rhondda Cynon Taff Merthyr Tydfil Torfaen The Needs Assessment 2003 reported a conception rate for under 16 year olds in the borough of 13.5 per 1000 females aged for , an average number of 46 per year. This falls to 8.5 for (see table above) with an average annual number of 30. For , Caerphilly was ranked third highest in Wales, but in this falls to seventh highest. For conceptions in under 20 year olds the figure remains fairly stable, at around 74 per 1000 females the sixth highest in Wales The reduction in conception rates for under 16 year olds is shown in the table below, along with the significant reduction in terminations Caerphilly Needs Assessment

63 Figure 46 - Conception rates in under 16 year olds by outcome: and Rate per 1,000 females aged Maternities Abortions Caerphilly Wales 3.4 Have access to specialist services Sexual health The Caerphilly Needs Assessment Report 2007(CNA 2007) and subsequent strategy make clear that there is no local Genito Urinary Medical Clinic (GUM) in Caerphilly. Neither is it clear what level or type of specialist help is available to teenagers with sexual health problems [there may be a document or reference missing] Mental health The 2003 Health Needs Assessment for Caerphilly (and the HSCWB Strategy ) highlight the need to improve Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). The 2007 Health Needs Assessment does not contain the same level of detail on CAMHS as the previous report, and does not explicitly identify CAMHS as a priority However, the CAMHS Strategy Group 40 has produced a very recent strategy and action plan (2007) which re-presents the issues raised in the 2003 Needs Assessment: high levels of need (conservative estimate of 4,500 children and young people in Caerphilly with some form of mental disorder) a consistently disproportionately small allocation of mental health resources to children and young people (who make up 26.6% of the population of Caerphilly) high rates of referrals to clinical psychology and psychiatry contacts with primary mental health team in 2002 of 1,187 (of which 287 were requests for help from other professionals) Questions which may arise in the preparation of CYYP plan include: 40 Caerphilly CYYP Partnership CAMHS Strategy Group, A Three Year Strategy and Action Plan 62

64 what is the timescale introducing the services changes what precise service changes are envisaged how will they directly benefit the large number of children and young people with a mental disorder what level and nature of partnership working is envisaged? Services to children with disabilities These services have already been highlighted under Core Aim 1, and are part of both the Needs Assessment and Strategy documents produced from the HSCWS. The same questions arise regarding: the level and nature of integration (how far health, education, social services and the voluntary sector wish to go, and to what end) the timescale the benefits to children and young people. 3.5 Is safe and protected from abuse, victimisation and exploitation This section summaries the main points for Caerphilly as regards children identified as vulnerable Children in Need (CIN), Looked After Children (LAC) and Children on the Child Protection Register (CPR). The following are examined in turn: numbers and trends geographical distribution of vulnerable children in Caerphilly service needs identified by Caerphilly Social Services Numbers and trends The following figures taken from the Data Unit identify the following numbers and trends for Caerphilly over the four year period CIN LAC CPR For the year 2006, Caerphilly s ranking in comparison to other Wales authorities was as follows: CIN LAC CPR = third highest = fourth highest = third highest The trend is particularly marked when looking at the CPR numbers. The four year tend in percentage compared to Wales overall is as follows: 63

65 CIN Caerphilly Wales LAC Caerphilly Wales CPR Caerphilly Wales (base numbers) % ± In addition the recent Data Unit Publication on CPR 41 identifies Caerphilly as having the second highest rate per 10,000 population aged under 18 (ie the rate of children in child protection registers) at 57 per 10, Whist trends for Caerphilly are significantly up over the four year period, they show a large increase in respect of CPR Geographical distribution The Social Services Commissioning Strategy 42 provides the following estimates of numbers of children in need, and at risk of significant harm. The wards are all in the Communities First areas, and number 17 in all (about half the total number of wards in Caerphilly). They follow pre 2005 boundaries and do not match, in all cases, the current disposition of wards. The ward names, and estimated numbers, are as follows: Caerphilly Wards Estimated number in need Estimated at risk of significant harm Aberbargoed Aber-Valley Argoed Bargoed Cefn Forest Darren Valley Gelligaer/Penybryn Gilfach Graig Y Racca Hengoed Lansbury Park Moriah New Tredegar Pontlottyn Tirphil/Glanynant LGDU Local Authority Child Protectino Registers Wales 42 SSCS

66 Trinant/Pentwyn Twyn Carno TOTAL These numbers are considered to be conservative estimates 43 but the total need number exceeds by some distance the CIN figure for Caerphilly overall (1260). Further, these figures are restricted to one half of the wards in Caerphilly. This picture is in line with overall view of Caerphilly, that need and deprivation are highly evident in very specific areas, that it is possible to pinpoint Service needs identified by Caerphilly Social Services Within the Commissioning Strategy, a number of priorities are identified as follows: the lack of timely access to psychological assessment for parents with learning difficulties or mental health problems impacts on effective assessment and care management there are a limited number of family support services targeted at families to improve their parenting skills, to manage challenging behaviour or to prevent family breakdown there is a limited supply of foster carers for year olds there service for children with disabilities is not sufficiently integrated with partners to provide a true multi-agency service there is a limited effective service for children who are affected by domestic abuse In addition (and this may connect with the limited supply of foster care to year olds) Caerphilly continues to spend about 5million from its 16million children s services budget on out of borough placements for LAC Plans are being put in place to manage these service gaps, including the development of a Family Support Strategy, due to be implemented in SSCS p16 65

67 3.6 Safe and protected from abuse, victimisation and exploitation a)the child has been seen by a social worker NB No data available for Bridgend, Caerphilly, Carmarthen, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Gwynedd, Monmouthshire for first two graphs. Figure 47 No. Initial Assessments where the child has been seen by the Social Worker The number of initial assessments that took place during the year %age of initial assessments where the child has been seen by the Social Worker 2, ,000 1,500 1, Conwy Merthyr Tydfil Wrexham Swansea Neath Port Talbot Anglesey Ceredigion Powys Blaenau Gwent No. of Initial Assessment Gywnedd All Wales average Torfaen Newport Pembrokeshire Vale of Glamorgan Cardiff Rhondda Cynon Taff %age seen by Social Worker

68 b) The child has been seen alone by the Social Worker 2006/07 44 NB No data available for Bridgend, Caerphilly, Carmarthen, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Gwynedd, Monmouthshire Figure 48 No. of initial assessments where the child has been seen alone by the Social Worker No. of initial assessments that took place during the year %age of initial assessments where the child has been seen alone by the Social Worker. 2, ,600 1, Wrexham Neath Port Talbot Powys Conwy Anglesey Ceredigion Merthyr Tydfil All Wales average Blaenau Gwent Swansea Vale of Glamorgan Torfaen Pembrokeshire Rhondda Cynon Taff Cardiff Newport No. of Initial Assessments %age of Initial Assessments National and Core Set Indicators 2006/07 SCC/011, Welsh LGDU 67

69 Figure 50 - The percentage of initial assessments carried out within 7 working days 2006/07 45 ; No. of initial assessments completed in fewer than 8 working days. No. of referrals received during the year %age of initial assessments carried out within 7 working days 2, No. of Initial Assessments 2,000 1,500 1, %age of Initial Assessments Cardiff Bridgend Blaenau Gwent Denbighshire Merthyr Tydfil Pembrokeshire Gywnedd Wrexham Carmarthenshire Torfaen All Wales Powys Flintshire Caerphilly Monmouthshire Conwy Rhondda Cynon Newport Anglesey Swansea Ceredigion Vale of Neath Port National and Core Set Indicators 2006/07 SCC/008, Welsh LGDU 68

70 b)the average time taken to complete initial assessments that took longer than 7 working days to complete 2006/07 46 NB No information recorded for Gwynedd and Conwy Figure 51 Total number of initial assessments that took longer than 7 working days to complete. Average time taken to complete initial assessments that took longer than 7 working days 1, No. of Initial Assessments taking more than seven days to complete Neath Port Talbot Monmouthshire Powys Merthyr Tydfil Vale of Glamorgan All Wales Average Ceredigion Flintshire Denbighshire Rhondda Cynon Taff Newport Torfaen Carmarthenshire Swansea Wrexham Pembrokeshire Anglesey Caerphilly Cardiff Bridgend Blaenau Gwent Average no. days needed for completion 46 National and Core Set Indicators 2006/07 SCC/011, Welsh LGDU 69

71 a) The percentage of required core assessments carried out within 35 working days 2006/07 47 NB No data recorded for Neath Port Talbot Figure 52 No. of required core assessments completed in fewer than 36 working days No. of required core assessments required during the year %age of required core assessments carried out within 35 working days No. of Required Core Assessments %age 0 Blaenau Gwent Merthyr Tydfil Gwynedd Torfaen Conwy Denbighshire Caerphilly Vale of Glamorgan Monmouthshire Carmarthenshire Cardiff Bridgend Newport Wales Pembrokeshire Powys Flintshire Ceredigion Wrexham Swansea Rhondda Cynon Taff Anglesey National and Core Set Indicators 2006/07 SCC/009, Welsh LGDU 70

72 b) The average time taken to complete those required core assessments that took longer than 35 days 2006/07 48 NB No data recorded for Conwy, Gwynedd, Monmouthshire and Neath Port Talbot Figure 53 Total number of required core assessments that took longer than 35 working days to complete. Average time taken to complete those required core assessments that took longer than 35 days Cardiff Rhondda Cynon Taff Bridgend Wrexham All Wales average Anglesey Carmarthenshire Newport Ceredigion Torfaen Vale of Glamorgan Powys Swansea Denbighshire Pembrokeshire Flintshire Caerphilly Merthyr Tydfil Blaenau Gwent No. of required Core Assessments No. of days required for completion 0 48 National and Core Set Indicators 2006/07 SCC/009, Welsh LGDU 71

73 a) The percentage of open cases of children with an allocated social worker 49 Figure 54 %age of Open Cases of children allocated to a social worker in each group Children on the child protection register Children looked after Children in need Gwynedd Wrexham Anglesey Denbighshire Torfaen Monmouthshire Carmarthenshire Flintshire Conwy Blaenau Gwent Bridgend Powys All Wales average Neath Port Talbot Merthyr Tydfil Swansea Cardiff Vale of Glamorgan Newport Ceredigion Rhondda Cynon Taff Caerphilly Pembrokeshire 49 National and Core Set Indicators 2006/07 SCC/013, Welsh LGDU 72

74 b) The percentage of open cases of children allocated to someone other than a social worker 50 Figure 55 Child Protection Register Looked After Children Children in Need No. of open %age No. of open %age No. of open cases cases cases No. allocated to someone other than a social worker No. allocated to someone other than a social worker No. allocated to someone other than a social worker Anglesey Blaenau Gwent Bridgend Caerphilly 1,062 1, Cardiff ,422 2, Carmarthenshire Ceredigion Conwy Denbighshire Flintshire Merthyr Tydfil Monmouthshire Neath Port Talbot Newport ,086 2, Pembrokeshire Powys Rhondda Cynon Taff ,125 2, Swansea Torfaen Vale of Glamorgan Wrexham All Wales average ,068 2, ,070 16, %age 50 National and Core Set Indicators 2006/07 SCC/013, Welsh LGDU 73

75 3.7 Consultation with Caerphilly Parent Network Core Aim 3 Having the best possible physical, mental, social and emotional health (this includes to be free from abuse, unfair treatment and exploitation) Question 3.1 If you know of any services that work around this aim, what are they and what do you think about them? Children referred to Community Paediatrician and then to Child and Family Psychology services Some of the healthy living projects provided in areas are fairly good but usually short lived GP s restricted by lack of services to refer on to counselling, therapies and community nursing Creative play/adventure play really good - would like to see more of this Youth Health clinics CAB Free swimming CAHMS Healthy eating projects/ Food Co-ops Question 3.2 What other services or actions do you think we need to achieve this aim? To have councillors and psychologist at hand when needed Counselling for adults (parents) rather than medication that doesn t work (ref recent news) Help parents to help young people maybe information shops in schools or out in the community Work along side other agencies in a combined approach More subsidised play opportunities in leisure centres and more out door spaces Opportunities to be creative areas such as dancing, music writing etc. Advocacy services 74

76 Core Aim 3 Enjoy the best possible physical and mental, social and emotional health, including freedom from abuse, victimisation and exploitation Priority Outcome 3.1 Has a healthy lifestyle Local Outcome Measures Adopt healthy sexual behaviours Additional Local Outcome Measures Have Access to specialist services Local Outcome Measures 3.2 Safe and protected from abuse, victimisation and exploitation: Outcome Measure Current Performance Immunisation Rates: MMR LHB figures 94.9% (6/22) % 17yr olds who have visited a Dentist in the past three years LHB figures Dental caries in 14yr olds WOHIU Teenage conceptions <16, (ONS) % of initial assessments that took place during the year where there is evidence that: a) The child has been seen by the Social Worker b) The child has been seen alone by the Social Worker (SCC/011) a) The percentage of initial assessments carried out within 7 working days; b) The average time taken to complete initial assessments that took longer than 7 working days to complete. (SCC/008) a) The percentage of required core assessments carried out within 35 working days 70.5% (6/22) 72% DMFT > (16/22) Not available Not available 50% (13/22) 14 days (4/22) 65% (7/22) Local Targets Responsibility 75

77 Additional Local Outcome Measures b) The average time taken to complete those required core assessments that took longer than 35 days (SCC/009) a) The percentage of open cases of children with an allocated social worker in each of the following groups; b) The percentage of open cases of children allocated to someone other than a social worker where the child is receiving a service in each of the following groups; i) Children on the child protection register ii) Children looked after iii) Children in need (SCC/013) 50 days (3/22) a i 100% (= 1/22) a ii 100% (= 1/22) a iii 40% (21/22) b i 0 b ii 0 b iii 100% all figures

78 Core Aim 4 Have access to play, leisure, sporting and cultural activities 4.1 Introduction There is much evidence to suggest that sport and active play and leisure activities are beneficial to children and young people from both the standpoints of physical and emotional well-being From a physical point of view, research suggests 51 that regular participation in sport at an early age (and into adult years) has a long term benefit in respect of, for example, minimising problems in late life regarding: obesity cardiovascular disease osteoporosis. Physical activity is a key component of daily energy expenditure and, therefore, has an integral role to play in preventing the development o obesity among children. Similarly, a poor level of aerobic fitness has been repeatedly associated with multiple risk factors for the development of cardiovascular disease. Putting these together, it seems safe to suppose that physical activity, fitness and body fatness are interrelated and that the whole complex can be assumed to be a risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease. Osteoporosis, in normal circumstances, occurs only in older people. But there is substantial evidence available to suggest that peak bone mass in young adults is a major determinant of peak bone mass in later life and, therefore, that the risk of osteoporosis may be profoundly affected by events in youth and childhood. Research quoted in the Sports Council update suggests that exercise is the single most important environmental determinant of peak bone mineral density, exercising a greater effect than both smoking and calcium intake The Sports Council update (op cit) also makes the connection between quality of life and psychological factors, and the amount of physical activity undertaken. Higher levels of physical activity have been associated with a reduced incidence of depression amongst both adults and children, and other research quoted suggests that providing a safe and engaging environment for participation in physical activity might help to reduce the incidence of antisocial behaviour and crime among youth There is also much research to underline the importance of play, and the consequences of being deprived of play. Research reviewed by Play Wales 52 suggests the following consequences: 51 Sports Council for Wales Sports Update No 58 May 2006, see pp7-8 for discussion 52 Play Deprivation 2003 Play Wales 77

79 if normal play experiences are absent throughout a child s life, that child is more likely to become highly violent and anti-social, regardless of demography if children are kept in, and not allowed out to play, they experience play deprivation and are likely to manifest symptoms ranging from aggression and repressed emotions and social skills, to an increased risk of obesity when children are chronically play deprived as one aspect of a life of almost continuous sensory deprivation, they suffer symptoms ranging from depression and withdrawal to a gradual loss of electrical activity in the brain The Play Wales paper also reflects on where in a society, play deprivation is most likely to occur. There are two tentative conclusions: children whose parents can afford to transport their children to and pay for out of school activities and who want to see their children gainfully employed outside school hours, are less likely to be play deprived however the presence of material deprivation alone is not the only factor. Chronic violence, neglect/abuse and material/cultural poverty (which occurs across social classes) all contribute to play deprivation The issue of not having an adult to help access to play may be an issue in Caerphilly. Mention is made elsewhere in the report of isolated housing estates, isolated communities and the patchiness of provision for children. In the Report on Consultation with Children 53 one of the conclusions from children s views about play was the following: children are reliant on their parents to support them in accessing leisure facilities. 4.2 Engages in age appropriate play The table below identifies the level of extra curricula leisure activity for 7-11 year olds 54. Extra curricular sports activity is reported further below. The data is now quite old (2003) but gives the most up to date national picture available, and is useful to benchmark any progress since that date. 53 Report on consultations with children to inform county-wide and national policy plans CCBC Report on consultations with children to inform county-wide and national policy plans CCBC

80 Figure 56 - Participation in extra curricular activity local authority The table shows Caerphilly as performing fourth lowest in terms of activity at any time in the year and sixth lowest in terms of regular activity Consultations with children carried out by Caerphilly County Borough Council reveal some of the continuing problems in accessing safe play and leisure facilities. The following quotation summarises the situation: Play in the children s spare time (5-11 year olds). Children tend to play in their house or garden, or if they are able on the street where they live. Their pastimes include riding their bikes, watching TV, playing on their computers and playing with their siblings. Many of the children rely on their parents to transport them or supervise them to take part in sports clubs, cinema or bowling. The children stated they were only allowed to play close to their homes, and in many cases there were no safe places to play, or the had few friends near to where they lived to play with. In one area, the children explained that they were constantly moved on by residents, shopkeepers or the police resulting in them only having a roundabout in the middle of the street to play on. 55 Sports Council for Wales Update

81 It is apparent that teenagers inhibit children s play either through bullying them or vandalising what little play equipment that is available in the few play areas they have. It was pointed out that there is nowhere for children to go in the evenings, such as youth clubs and after putting it to the vote, 100% of children consulted stated that they would go to such provision if it was available at least once to see if they liked it. In summary, the main issue for children is the lack of spaces to play safely, with their friends. Children are reliant on their parents to support them in accessing leisure provision. (CCBC report-op cit) There is clearly an issue in Caerphilly regarding the extent and accessibility of play provision. This is being addressed through the Caerphilly Play Strategic Plan [draft]. The first three recommendations in the current draft, under the heading Encouraging More Play Provision are as follows: 1. A great deal of research and consultation has already been carried out in Caerphilly Borough; these results need to b coordinated to identify gaps in provision. As a result of the findings, further audits can be carried out to give a full current picture of provision across the borough. 2. This information would benefit from being electronically mapped to identify the spread and type of provision across the borough. 3. Gaps identified as a result could then be given priority for future development, linking to local development plans, regeneration and community first. 4.3 Participates in sport, leisure and cultural activities The Sports Council for Wales (op cit) provides extensive national comparative data on the use of extra curricular sports facilities and leisure centres. Although the data is relatively old, it gives an available benchmark for Caerphilly to measure progress. The first charts map activity (and inactivity) for children aged 7-11 years The first chart shows the level of sporadic and regular extra curricular sports activity for 7-11 year olds. It shows Caerphilly as being eighth highest in Wales for any (or sporadic) activity and close to the Wales average for regular activity. 80

82 Figure 57 - Percentage taking part in extracurricular sports 2003 children aged Any extracurricular Regular extracurricular Blaenau Gwent Rhondda Cynon Taff Merthyr Anglesey Torfaen Vale of Glamorgan Bridgend Ceredigion Neath Port Talbot Swansea WALES Newport Cardiff Monmouthshire Flintshire Caerphilly Denbighshire Wrexham Conwy Powys Gwynedd Pembrokeshire Carmarthenshire Figure 58 - Percentage using Leisure Centres 2003 children aged Ever used Leisure Centre Regular user Conwy Merthyr Swansea Newport Bridgend Pembrokeshire Torfaen Denbighshire Gwynedd Rhondda Cynon Taff Neath Port Talbot Blaenau Gwent WALES Cardiff Wrexham Caerphilly Vale of Glamorgan Flintshire Anglesey Carmarthenshire Ceredigion Monmouthshire Powys Figures for extracurricular and leisure centre activity for 2004, provided by the Sports Council for Wales, are included here for comparative purposes, and relate only to primary school age children (7-11). There is very little difference between the 2003 figures and those for

83 Extracurricular Activity year olds in Caerphilly Any activity 84.7% (rank 8) 85.0% (Wales average) 2003 rank = 8 Regular activity 57.0% (rank 13) 58.0% (Wales average) 2003 rank = 14 Leisure Centre Activity year olds Any activity 86.5% (rank 8) 85.0% (Wales average) 2003 rank = 14 Regular activity 5.6.6% (rank 8) 55.0% (Wales average) 2003 rank = For inactivity (defined as failing to complete at least an hour exercise in any day of the week) Caerphilly scores sixth lowest (or sixth best) with a score of 9% (less than one half of the top score of Torfaen). Figure 59 - Inactivity percentage failing to complete at least an hour s exercise on any day of the week children aged Torfaen Bridgend Swansea Gwynedd Neath Port Talbot Wrexham Newport Blaenau Gwent Anglesey Powys Vale of Glamorgan Flintshire Pembrokeshire WALES Cardiff Monmouthshire Carmarthenshire Caerphilly Rhondda Cynon Taff Denbighshire Ceredigion Conwy Merthyr For secondary school children (age years) Caerphilly scores third highest for sporadic participation and highest for regular participation in extra curricular sports. Figure 60 - Percentage taking part in extracurricular sports 2003 children aged

84 Any extracurricular Regular extracurricular Torfaen Wrexham Conwy Merthyr Cardiff Ceredigion Bridgend Denbighshire Powys Flintshire WALES Monmouthshire Anglesey Swansea Vale of Glamorgan Neath Port Talbot Carmarthenshire Newport Rhondda Cynon Taff Pembrokeshire Caerphilly Blaenau Gwent Gwynedd For the same age group, Caerphilly scores seventh lowest for sporadic use of leisure centres (but the values are very close across the majority of authorities). With respect to regular use, Caerphilly scores close to the average for Wales. Figure 61 - Percentage using Leisure Centre 2003 children aged Ever used Leisure Centre Regular user Merthyr Wrexham Bridgend Flintshire Denbighshire Conwy Caerphilly Cardiff Swansea WALES Carmarthenshire Newport Anglesey Torfaen Gwynedd Monmouthshire Powys Rhondda Cynon Taff Neath Port Talbot Vale of Glamorgan Pembrokeshire Ceredigion Blaenau Gwent The following table gives the most recent figures from the Sports Council for Wales (2006 update - op cit, see note 51) for extracurricular activity across the 22 local authorities. The figures are very similar to the 2003 data detailed earlier in this report. 83

85 Participation and regular participation in extra-curricular activity at different local authorities across Wales Base: children at primary schools aged 7-11 years and young people at secondary schools aged years The next table gives another perspective on the level of sports activity in Caerphilly, and is also extracted from the 2006 Sports Council for Wales Update (op cit). The table highlights the levels of curricular activities in both primary and secondary schools. Caerphilly scores well on both counts, and is at or well above average for both primary and secondary schools. 84

86 Average number of curricular activities undertaken in different local authorities Base children at primary schools aged 7-11 years and young people at secondary schools aged years The inactivity table shows a marked difference from the equivalent primary school table, with Caerphilly scoring sixth highest (or sixth worst) with over 25% of secondary school children failing to complete at least an hour s exercise on any day of the week. 85

87 Figure 62 - Inactivity percentage failing to complete at least an hour s exercise on any day of the week children aged Swansea Cardiff Torfaen Anglesey Merthyr Caerphilly Bridgend Monmouthshire Flintshire Pembrokeshire Gwynedd Ceredigion Denbighshire WALES Vale of Glamorgan Conwy Neath Port Talbot Wrexham Powys Blaenau Gwent Rhondda Cynon Taff Newport Carmarthenshire 4.4 Has barriers to participation in play, leisure, sport and cultural activities identified and removed Mention has already been made of the barriers to accessing appropriate play, and the existence of a draft strategic play strategy to address the removal of those barriers. As regards sports activity specifically (and for year olds in particular), the Sports Council for Wales identified the following barriers to increase sports/leisure centre use in Caerphilly in In response to a questionnaire sent to all teenagers, the main barriers were identified as follows: no one to go with 22% already go enough 20% transport problems 12% too far away 10% not interested 8% too expensive 6% no suitable activities 4% no reason/not answered 20% Many of the barriers among teenagers appear to be about personal preferences and the availability of others in their peer group to participate with. The substantial barriers which have a practical solution (transport, distance, expense) will require more work to understand how best to tackle them. 86

88 4.5 Consultation with Caerphilly Parent Network Core Aim 4 Ensure that children and young people have access to Play, Leisure, Sporting and Cultural Activities Question 4.1 If you know of any services that work around this aim, what are they and what do you think about them? Children registered with CHIPS which is a local organisation which work in partnership with councils and Children s Centre - they run sports and leisure activities in the holidays Football Clubs are very good Cubs are very good Adventure play generally very good Parks slides too hot in the summer and wet most of the winter MUGA Parks are lovely when they are kept clean and tidy Water play in parks Question 4.2 What other services or actions do you think we need to achieve this aim? More outdoor playing areas Better Leisure Centres More Joint, family activities at leisure centres Less expensive activities with family options Keep Youth Clubs open in school holidays when they are needed Stop developing green spaces so children can use them Stop vandalism of local park Run more clubs and keep youth clubs open More welsh groups to encourage use of language outside school More groups for younger children 5-8 Opportunities to develop music, arts Opportunities to take children, young people and their families to amenities outsides of the county Play opportunities for older children and young people 87

89 Core Aim 4 Have access to play, leisure, sporting and cultural activities Priority Outcome Every Child and Young Person.. Outcome Measure National Targets Current Performance (last year of validated data) Local Targets Responsibility 4.1 Engages in age appropriate play Local Outcome Measures 4.2 Engages and participates in sport, leisure and cultural activities 4.3 Has barriers to participation in play, leisure, sport and cultural activities been % 7-11 and year olds visiting leisure centres/frequency of visits (SCW) % 7-11 and year olds participating in extra curricular sports (SCW) % 7-11 and year olds who are inactive (SCW) Local Outcome Measures 7-11 year olds using leisure centre = 88% (8/22) regular use 52% (11/22) year olds using leisure centre = 89% (16/22) regular use 55% (17/22) 7-11 year olds participating in extra curricular sport 85% (15/22) regular basis 58% (11/22) year olds participating in extra curricular sport 76% (3/22) regular basis 50% (1/22) 7-11 year old less than one hour s exercise on any day 9% (6/22) year old less than one hour s exercise on any day 26% (17/22) 88

90 identified and removed Local Outcome Measures 4.4 Is able to achieve their potential Local Outcome Measures 89

91 Core Aim 5 Children are listened to, treated with respect, and are able to have their race and cultural identify recognised 5.1 Introduction This core aim is concerned with: advocacy services consultation with children, young people and their parents the ability of children and young people to access, as appropriate, Welsh language services. 5.2 Engages in meaningful decision making on issues that affect their lives Knows about their rights and how to obtain them Is valued and respected as a member of society These three headings are taken together because they encapsulate issues concerned with both advocacy and consultation. As regards advocacy the present situation in Caerphilly is that there is a freely available independent advocacy service, funded by social services, and run by the National Youth Advocacy Service 56. The service provides an independent advice and support service, and an independent visitor service. It includes an enhanced service for children with disabilities. Following a review in 2002/3, the service was strengthened, providing an improved service for children looked after and care leavers. The service was also extended to children and young people involved in the child protection process, children with disabilities and children in need. The Welsh Assembly Government is currently consulting on widening the extent and remit of the advocacy service Other key aspects of the aims outlined in paragraph 5.2 above (meaningful decision making, children know their rights, being valued and respected) are dealt with under the heading consultation. Consultation is well developed in Caerphilly and there are significant examples for both primary and secondary school children The report summarising consultations with younger children to inform countywide and national plans and polices 57 has already been mentioned (see Core Aim 4). The consultation summaries are the result of engagement with 200 children aged 5-11 in Caerphilly during The topics covered were extensive and are as follows: play having a say information learning child care health 56 Social Services Commissioning Strategy, p74 57 Report on consultations with children (op cit) 90

92 complaints bullying The relevant findings from these consultations (as with play in Core Aim 4 for example) have been inserted under the relevant Core Aim throughout the document There are also many examples of involvement of older children in a variety of consultation and feedback projects. These include: Barnardo s Caerphilly Services which runs a representatives group for young carers. 16 members are involved at anyone time, aged Barnardo s Caerphilly Services is also part of the national Young Carers Network. Some advocacy work is also carried out across both services via individual support to service users by the project workers. The Hub Youth Participation Project provides a youth engagement/outreach project in Communities First areas in the borough, with the aim of developing positive relationships with young people,, and help them become actively involved in the community through participation. Numerous opportunities for consultation with this group of young people aged mainly between 11 and 17 years. Examples of consultations include: o Local action plan o Community First targets o design of cyber café o holiday provision o Welsh Assembly Government In addition, the following paragraph summarise an analysis of the end of year Hub questionnaire exercise (the year in question being 2006). 80 young people responded to the questionnaire which was concerned with risk taking behaviour and the influence of the Hub project on those engaged in such behaviour. Risk taking behaviour was defined as including the regular use of alcohol, truanting and the use of drugs. 52% of the respondents were involved in risk taking behaviour, and a further 15% in illegal or criminal behaviour. The influence of the Hub project was considerable with 72.5% of respondents saying that they had learned something from the Hub sessions, and 52.5% saying that their behaviour had changed. Caerphilly County Borough Youth Forum. The aim of the Youth Forum is to provide opportunities for young people in Caerphilly to have a voice in issues that affect them, and to become actively involved in local and national decision making. Young people aged years from across the borough are involved, with 99 registered as representatives in However, many more are involved through the consultations that the Youth Forum are commissioned to conduct. These consultations include: o doctor's roles and responsibilities towards children and young people (new draft guidance) o website consultation suitability of design from a young person s perspective o Nelson Community Council skate park (proposed provision) 91

93 o community safety survey and viewpoint panel (to gain better understanding of community safety issues) o Childcare Act 2006 consultation about the duty to review the supply of childcare by local authorities A number of consultation and quality initiatives have been undertaken, or are on the point of taking off, in the education and youth service sectors. These include: Extending entitlement survey This survey has been conducted with year olds and year olds in a small number of schools. The main questionnaire headings are as follows: o awareness of rights o involvement in activities o education, training and basic skills o information, advice and support o participation o services o views of rights. Because the sample is at present small, it is not yet possible to identify trends across the range of school age children. However one issue - the need of a high number of children to seek advice and support in respect of what goes on their school, particularly in respect of the curriculum and how it is taught, may be relevant to the setting up of the next intiative in this sequence, namely the pupil learning and teaching forum Pupil Learning and Teaching Forum This is a new forum, due to start in March As the preamble states: The ultimate aim of the Pupil Learning and Teaching Forum is to allow pupils to have a say regarding the way in which they are taught. The Forum will provide students with the opportunity to talk to and work more closely with teaching staff within their own schools, helping them develop new approaches to learning and teaching. The Forum will also allow its members to talk directly to representatives from Learning, Education and Inclusion, helping them to gain an awareness of up-to-date classroom pedagogy, technology and methodology Youth Consultations Youth consultations have been carried out in a number of wards, and localities including: Ystrad Mynach Hengoed Aber Valley Cefn Fforest Van. The main headings covered by the questionnaires are as follows: community safety young people s future plans issues and problems facilities and activities help and advice healthy living. 92

94 The questionnaire responses are a valuable source of local intelligence as regards the needs of young people, and can be fed into the local plans across the Core Aims in the Single Plan. A number of themes are common to the small number of questionnaires so far completed, namely: generally high levels of attachment and loyalty to the area in which the young people live concerns about vandalism, poor or underused sports and leisure facilities, drug taking and people hanging around - a general lack of purpose and focus high levels of personal aspiration for the future in terms of jobs a high degree of awareness of health related problems concerned with smoking, drinking and poor diet and the potential influence of significant adults on the perceptions of young people Quality Mark Handbook This Quality Mark Handbook has just been launched and provides a means by which youth support services can have the quality of their youth support provision recognised, celebrated and recorded. It also acts as a mechanism by which the Young People s Partnership can be sure it is meeting its responsibilities in ensuring that quality standards and statutory requirements in respect of youth support services are being met. The Quality Mark is progressively being introduced to providers (having started in September 2007 with full enactment by September 2008) The final part of this section concerns a proposal to set up an advocacy and support network for parents and families in Caerphilly and the results of consultations with the Caerphilly Parent Network.. This proposal aims at setting up a Parent Representative Panel in Caerphilly with the aim of: providing information and training empowering parents and carers to make informed choices about the kinds of support and activities they would like to have developed monitoring and evaluation the different aspects of these projects ensuring parents and carers are equal partners in developing family policy in Caerphilly Family Support is identified as one of social services key strategic priorities (see Commissioning Strategy) and in Core Aim 1 a significant group of parents (of disabled children) were identified as having considerable health and psychological problems. In this context, the proposal cited is an example of the type of project which, if funded, would contribute to the establishing of a support network for vulnerable parents Consultation with parents on matters relevant to children and young people Consulting with parents on issues concerning the needs of children and young people within the context of the Single Plan, is an important process in the development of appropriate services. The Caerphilly Parent Network was consulted about each of the Core Aims, and provided detailed feedback in each of the seven areas. This feedback is included towards the end of each of the relevant sections in this Needs Assessment. The comments from parents 93

95 are very specific, and will need to be followed up in the work programmes which are developed to make progress in each of the Core Aim areas In addition to consultations on the Single Plan, the Caerphilly Parent Network has been involved in following consultation activities: speech and language information for parents self-harming consultation with Youth Forum Speak Easy (in conjunction with the Family Planning Association) consultation on flying start leaflets statementing or something better speech and language review play opportunities for children with disabilities health, social care and well-being strategy consultation the National Attendance and Behaviour Review. These activities took place between 2006 and the present, and fuller details of main subject areas under each topic are given in Appendix Is able to freely express their cultural identity and race The issue faced by many Welsh local authorities is keeping pace with an increasing use of Welsh as a first language and the need to ensure that, for the purposes of this document, the needs of children and young people are addressed in this regard The increasing use of Welsh in local authorities is illustrated in the following table, which shows Caerphilly increasing from 6% to 11.2% of Welsh speakers between 1991 and Welsh Language Use Survey

96 Figure 63 - Welsh Speaking/Able to Speak Welsh, draft Welsh speaking Able to speak Welsh Change Local authority Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent Isle of Anglesey 41, , , Gwynedd 78, , Conwy 31, , Denbighshire 23, , Flintshire 18, , , Wrexham 15, , , Powys 23, , , Ceredigion 36, , , Pembrokeshire 19, , , Carmarthenshire 89, , , Swansea 28, , Neath Port Talbot 23, , Bridgend 10, , , Vale of Glamorgan 7, , , Rhondda; Cynon; Taff 20, , , Merthyr Tydfil 4, , , Caerphilly 9, , , Blaenau Gwent 1, , , Torfaen 2, , , Monmouthshire 1, , , Newport 2, , , Cardiff 18, , , Wales 508, , , Figures taken from the Welsh Education Scheme report 59 suggest a total in Caerphilly of 16.4% of the population with some knowledge of Welsh At the present time there are nine primary schools and one large comprehensive school which have Welsh medium provision. The primary school number is set to increase to ten during the current year. The current Single Education Plan 60 suggests that there is adequate provision of Welsh medium places in both the primary and secondary sectors [see page 9] The draft Assessment of Childcare Sufficiency (op cit see page 60) in reporting the views of parents and carers, suggests a level [unspecified] of unmet demand for both Welsh medium and bi-lingual services. This may require clarification in respect of the nature and extent of this unmet demand In addition, an audit was carried out in regarding The needs of young Welsh speakers and the issues surrounding the level of Welsh medium provision and participation opportunities under the aegis of the Young People s Partnership. 300 young people were consulted, the majority aged 59 CCBC Welsh Education Scheme (draft) 60 CCBC Single Education Plan

97 11-15 years. The audit was conducted in the context of an acknowledged lack of Welsh medium youth services provision The main themes to emerge from the audit were as follows: positive effect of consultation on personal development and confidence of young Welsh speakers and an acknowledgement that Welsh is often used only in formal and specifically organised activities severe lack of information available to Welsh speaking young people regarding volunteering opportunities, youth provision and specialist advice through the medium of Welsh. This lack of specialist advice includes advice on health matters, counselling and speech therapy for example welcome development of availability of support for Welsh speakers in local and national youth organisations need to establish a special Welsh centre as a focus for Welsh medium information and advice, along with the development of a Welsh speaking young people s reference group to enable young people to work along side particular services. 96

98 97

99 5.4 Consultation with Caerphilly Parent Network Core Aim 5 Children & Young People should be listened to, treated with respect, and have their race and cultural identity recognised Question 5.1 If you know of any services that work around this aim, what are they and what do you think about them? Don t know of any Don t know of any in the area Committees in special schools limited VALREC Parent Network help by informing parents to Children and Young People with their rights Question 5.2 What other services or actions do you think we need to achieve this aim? Don t know what is needed Make sure those with communication problems are asked and assisted in responding to alternative ways e.g. using pictures/symbols Need to let children, young people, and parents be aware of their rights and responsibilities and impact of actions on others Opportunities to mix with children/young people of other cultures Good work is being done in primary schools in developing confidence in children in expressing their views which can be seen as challenging once they go to Comprehensive Schools 98

100 Core Aim 5 Children are listened to, treated with respect and are able to have their play and cultural identity recognised Priority Outcome Every Child and Young Person. 5.1 Engages in meaningful decisions making on issues that affect their lives 5.2 Knows about their rights and how to obtain them 5.3 Is valued and respected as a member of society 5.4 Is able to freely express their cultural identity and race Outcome Measure Current Performance (last year of validated data) Independent Advocacy freely available (NSF 2.6) Additional Local Outcome Measures Local Outcome Measures Local Outcome Measures Children and young people receiving services are involved in reviewing them in their preferred language (NSF 2.2) Local Targets Responsibility Additional Local Outcome Measures 99

101 Core Aim 6 Have a safe home and community that supports physical and emotional wellbeing 6.1 Is safe from crime and effects of crime The Community Safety Audit 61 provides valuable information on the level of crime in Caerphilly. This data relates to the year , and may need to be updated. There is no specific local data available at present from the Youth Justice Board on numbers of young people entering the youth justice system, or on levels of re-offending The following table 62 gives a comparison of recorded offences per 1000 population for the year Recorded offences by number per 1000 population in Figure 64 Caerphilly county borough Gwent Wales England and Wales Total Violence against the person Sexual offences Robbery Total violent crime Burglary Theft and handling of stolen goods Fraud and forgery Criminal damage Drugs and other offences Theft of and from vehicles The overall level of crime in Caerphilly is similar to Wales overall, and lower than the rate for England and Wales taken together. However, in some areas, particularly violent crime, the figures are higher for Caerphilly. This is partly due to new ways of recording crime and inclusion of less serious assaults within this category (the Community Safety Audit suggest that 94% of violent crime in Caerphilly is made up of these less serious assaults) The chart below gives the crime hotspots, by ward, of the areas that were above the borough average per 1000 population by offence type. 61 Caerphilly County Borough Community Safety Document (CSA) 62 CSA 100

102 Figure 65 Offence type Caerphilly Wards Drug offences Drug trafficking Fraud forgery Theft handling Disorder Violent crime Theft of a vehicle Theft from a vehicle Domestic Other crimes Burglary dwelling Burglary other Aberbargoed X X Bargoed X X Darran Valley Gilfach X X X Moriah X X X X New Tredegar X X X X Pontlottyn Twyn Carno Bedwas, T and M X X X St James X X X X Argoed X X X X Blackwood X X Cefn Fforest X X X X X Pengam Penmaem Pontllanfraith Ynysddu Aber-Valley Morgan-Jones X X X X X X X Penyrheol St Martins Abercarn Crosskeys Crumlin X Newbridge X Risca East Risca West X X X X Hengoed X Llanbradach Maesycwmmer St Cattwg Nelson X X Ystrad Mynach X There are seven wards which have four or more types of offence which are above the Caerphilly average. These are: Moriah 101

103 New Tredegar Argoed St James Cefn Fforest Morgan Jones Risca West. Morgan Jones, which includes Caerphilly Town, predictably has the highest number of offence types above the overall average. For all types of crime, the peak in terms of age is between 18-22, with the figures for young men being far in excess to those of young women. 6.2 Is safe from injury and death resulting from predictable accidents There are two sets of data which indicate the level of severity of injury as they affect children and young people in Caerphilly. The first comprises both serious (KS1) and all injuries across the years ; 2001; 2002 and 2003, in respect of road safety Serious All injuries Caerphilly does not stand out from any other local authority in Wales, the figures being close to average for both categories of injury The second set of data relates to people aged 0-24 admitted to hospital on an emergency basis for injury and poisoning (rate per 1000 population) in Child Road Safety 2006 Table HNA

104 Figure 66 EASR per 100, People aged 0-24 admitted to hospital on an emergency basis for injury or poisoning, EASR per 100,000, LHBs, 2005 Data source: PEDW The Vale of Glamorgan Wales rate = 1209 Cardiff Bridgend Newport Powys Carmarthenshire Monmouthshire Torfaen Wrexham Neath Port Talbot Ceredigion Caerphilly Compared with Wales Rhondda Cynon Taff Significantly Higher Higher Flintshire Pembrokeshire Swansea Denbighshire Isle of Anglesey Low er Significantly Low er Gwynedd Conwy Blaenau Gwent Merthyr Tydfil This table shows Caerphilly is scoring exactly at the Wales average of 1209 per 100,000 which would give a total of 665 young people admitted to hospital on an emergency basis in Caerphilly in Is safe from environmental pollution The Community Strategy (2006) highlights a number of issues concerning the environment, including: relatively high levels of waste generated in Caerphilly accounting for 13.9% of solid waste in South East Wales (for 12.5% of the population of the area) river quality in the county borough is amongst the worst in Wales. In 2001, under half of its main rivers and canals were rated as good flooding is a growing concern as we experience more extreme weather conditions air quality complies with national regulations, but Caerphilly and Blackwood town centres and some industrial sources are monitored closely A more comprehensive picture of the physical environment is given in WIMD Caerphilly Report (2005) 65. Figure 67 -Physical Environment Domain in Caerphilly County Borough 65 WIMD Caerphilly Report

105 (WIMD report p28) The indicators used to measure the physical environment domain are as follows: air quality air emissions living within 1km of a waste disposal site proportion of people living within 1km of an Environment Agency regulated industrial source proportion of people living in an area with a significant risk of flooding In total, 12 LSOAs (or 10.9% of the total for Caerphilly) fall within the 10% most deprived in Wales, and a further 12 in the next 10% most deprived. 104

106 6.3.5 The most deprived LSOAs were as follows: Ystrad Mynach 2 Morgan Jones 3 Crumlin 4 Maesycwmmer St Cattwg 5 St Cattwg 4 Morgan Jones 4 Morgan Jones 2 Crumlin 1 Risca West 3 St Cattwg 1 Crumlin 2 None of these LSOAs appear within the 10% most deprived in terms of overall deprivation, and may represent more heavily industrialised areas of Caerphilly. 6.4 Lives in a decent home The overall picture, provided by the WIMD Caerphilly report suggests that poor housing is less of an issue for Caerphilly than for other local authorities. There are no LSOAs in the top 10% (most deprived) in Wales, and only one (Risca East 2) within the next 10% most deprived. The measures in this domain are however limited to: lack of central heating overcrowding (excluding student households) The Housing Conditions Survey (1998) is still used as a reference in planning and strategy documents. The percentage of unfit housing identified in that report for Caerphilly was 6% (which equated to around 3800 dwellings). The Wales average for unfit dwellings, from the same report, was 8.5% As regards families with dependent children living in unfit housing, the Housing Condition Survey figures would suggest that overall in Caerphilly there are 1200 houses or flats which are unfit. However this data is now ten years old and may need to be used with care. More recent assessments which cover only part of the borough suggest much higher numbers of dwellings which are unfit. For example, the neighbourhood renewal assessment for Rhymney indicated that 17.4% of dwellings were unfit As regards young people formerly looked after and known to be in a suitable non-emergency accommodation figures are only available for , as follows: percentage of young people formerly looked after with whom the local authority is in contact who are known to be in suitable non-emergency accommodation Wales average = Caerphilly = (seventh lowest) No national data is, as yet, retrievable on families with dependent children in temporary accommodation. Figures supplied for 2007 for Caerphilly (since 1 st April 2007) give the following: 66 Health Social Care Wellbeing Needs Assessment

107 in hostel accommodation bed and breakfast foundation housing = 44 (no breakdown) = 107 (33 families, 30 with children, 3 pregnancies, 67 couples/singles, 7 16/17 year olds) = 37 (no breakdown) The Local Housing Market Assessment(LHMA),carried out by Fordham Research for Caerphilly in 2007,gives an overview of the current issues regarding the state of the housing sector.in relation to this needs assessment,main points of interest include the following; o The LHMA distinghishes between 3 housing areas in Caerphilly(south,middle,north),with the south being characterised by higher levels of income and owner occupation. Issues facing communities are poor leisure facilities and a lack of quality retail outlets,and the need for further regeneration in the north. There is a severe shortage of affordable housing especially for people with support needs. There are strong links to Cardiff from the point of view of migration and travel to work,due to high prices in the city,and improved transport links.this affects property prices in Caerphilly,making them less affordable to existing residents on low incomes The issue of affordability is critical for Caerphilly with market level entry into the housing market at 300% of the current social rent level.60% of Caerphilly households have gross incomes of 20k or less. Of parents with children,the most vulnerable group identified in the LHMA report in Caerphilly are lone parent families,who are more vlikely to be on low incomes,and to live in unsuitable accommodation in the rented sector 106

108 6.5 Consultation with Caerphilly Parent Network Core Aim 6 Have a safe home and community which supports physical and emotional wellbeing Question 6.1 If you know of any services that work around this aim, what are they and what do you think about them? Fire safety check Police (but limited in what they can do) Llamau Housing Associations Question 6.2 What other services or actions do you think we need to achieve this aim? Continue funding for fire safety checks Support families and remove violent/abusing member from house rather than child from family Parenting programmes available to all parents Compulsory parenting classes for parents of young offenders Links between communities and Police, fire, YOT, SS etc Support, not blame, for parents More intergenerational links to dispel fears and foster respect Look at ways of helping children and young person to express emotions such as anger. 107

109 Core Aim 6 Have a safe home and a community that supports physical and emotional well being Priority Outcome Every Child and Young Person 6.1 Is safe from Crime and the effects of Crime 6.2 Is safe from injury and death resulting from preventable accidents 6.3 Is safe from environmental pollution Outcome Measure Current Performance (last year of validated data) Number of children and young people entering the youth justice system at reprimand and above (YJB) Frequency and seriousness of re-offending for children and young people already within the youth justice system (YJB) Additional Local Outcome Measures Rate of child pedestrian injuries (Eradicating Child Poverty in Wales- Measuring Success) Additional Local Outcome Measures Local Outcome Measures 6.4 Lives in a decent home % of young people formerly looked after with whom the local authority is in contact known to be in suitable non-emergency accommodation age 19 (LA) (SCC033b) No of families with dependant children living in temporary accommodation. (LA WHO 12) Additional Local Outcome Measures Child road safety all casualties = 126 (17/22) 2003 = 103 (20/22) 2006 = 57 (17/22) 83.3% (16/22) Local Targets Responsibility 108

110 Core Aim 7 Is not disadvantaged by poverty 7.1 Introduction As the Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation states 67 : The financial component in any overall scale of deprivation is of great significance For Caerphilly as a whole, the WIMD report identifies 11 LSOAs which fall within the 10% most deprived category in Wales in respect of income deprivation. They are as follows: St James 3 Twyn Carno 1 Bedwas, T and M 6 Bargoed 4 Penyrheol 4 Hengoed 2 New Tredegar 3 Penrheol 8 St James 4 Moriah 3 Blackwood 2 67 WIMD Caerphilly Report 109

111 Figure 68 Income Domain for Caerphilly County Borough (WIMD Caerphilly) In addition, there are a further 18 LSOAs which fall within the next 20% most deprived in Wales. So in total, 26.4% of LSOAs in Caerphilly fall within the 20% most deprived in respect of income. The indicators for this domain are as follows: income support claimants (including children and partners) income based job seekers allowance working families tax credit disabled person s tax credit The map reveals, as elsewhere, pockets of income deprivation, but also many areas of relative wealth (37.3% of LSOAs are ranked in the bottom 50% in Wales for example. 110

112 7.1.5 As highlighted in the Introduction, the 11 most deprived LSOAs in the income domain, put together with those in the employment and education domains, produce a list of 25 LSOAs where, from the evidence of WIMD report, the majority of the most pressing problems for populations, including children, in respect of deprivation and poverty, are to be found. 7.2 Is free from poverty due to low income As regards children, two indicators are looked at here: uptake of free school meals proportion of children aged 0-15 living in families claiming out of work benefits For primary schools, the following graph based on the average, shows the proportion of schools in the highest 20% of schools in Wales with the highest take-up of free school meals. Figure 69 - Proportion of primary schools with high proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals Caerphilly scores just under 30%, and is tenth highest in Wales For secondary schools, primary data extracted from the Estyn Reports on Caerphilly (but over a numbers of years, ) for 13 establishments for which data was available show the following: Secondary school free meals take-up national average 15.7% Caerphilly average 18.0% Six secondary schools above Caerphilly average 111

113 - Bedwas High 19% - Blackwood 20% - Heolddu Comprehensive 25% - Lewis Girls 22% - Rhymney Comprehensive 28% - Risca Comprehensive 19% There are two sets of data relating to Caerphilly in respect of children living in families claiming out of work benefits. The first table gives a national comparison for the above (2005) based on JRF research; 40 Figure 70 Proportion of children aged 0-15 living in families claiming out of work benefits, Wales LHBs, 2005 Source: Joseph Row ntree Foundation Proportion (%) Wales = 25% 0 Monmouthshire Powys Gwynedd Flintshire Ceredigion Conwy The Vale of Glamorgan Wrexham Denbighshire Pembrokeshire Isle of Anglesey Carmarthenshire Bridgend Torfaen Swansea Newport Cardiff Caerphilly Neath Port Talbot Rhondda Cynon Taff Blaenau Gwent Merthyr Tydfil Caerphilly has the fifth highest rate at 30.5% against a Wales average 25%. This would give a number of children in Caerphilly of (aged 0-15) At a local level, and using Joseph Rowntree data 68, it is possible to identify the approximate number, and the percentage of children by ward in Caerphilly who live in household dependent on out of work benefits. Figure 71 - Children living in households depending on out of work benefits by Ward - Caerphilly 68 JRF Poverty Survey

114 Ward name Children dependent on workless benefits aged 0-15 Children on child benefit % 0-15 dependent on wordlessness benefits Twyn Carno Hengoed New Tredegar Pontlottyn Bargoed Moriah St James Aberbargoed Darren Valley Argoed Cefn Fforest Aber-Valley Pengam Gilfach Newbridge St Cattwg Penyrheol Pontllanfraith Bedwas, T and M Abercarn Risca East Ynysddu Nelson Risca West Crosskeys Morgan-Jones Crumlin Blackwood Maesycwmmer Llanbradach Penmaem Ystrad Mynach St Martins This work, by JRF, was conducted partly in England, so the England/Wales average is 20.9% as opposed to Wales average of 25% identified in the national table. The average for Caerphilly matches the national table at 30.6%(see above-para 7.10). There are, however, 14 wards with a score above the average, with the ward containing the highest number of children in this category, 66% above the Caerphilly average. A total of 8 wards in the top scoring 10 are amongst the 12 most deprived in Caerphilly. 113

115 7.3 Consultation with Caerphilly Parent Network Core Aim 7 All children and young people should not be disadvantaged by poverty Question 7.1 If you know of any services that work around this aim, what are they and what do you think about them? Don t know Credit Union Debt Counselling Question 7.2 What other services or actions do you think we need to achieve this aim? Provide more funding for children with SEN Direct Payment to Leisure services Improved public transport Free music/dance lesson for children on low income families After school homework clubs free internet access etc Transport across the valleys not just down the valleys Better use of community centres to bring in culture Better access to computers through schools so not disadvantaging young people and children without computers and internet access Better travel opportunities More information on free/low cost activities Recycling projects for old/unused toys, books clothes etc Fund to help students access out of school trips Would you like to tell us anything else? Talk more to local people each area needs different things e.g. Rhymney needs are different to Caerphilly. 114

116 Core Aim 7 Is not disadvantaged by Child Poverty Priority Outcome Every Child and Young Person Outcome Measure Current Performance (last year of validated data) Local Targets Responsibility 7.1 Is free from poverty due to low income % of Children living in workless households (Labour Force Survey) (National Target: 13.5% by 2010/11) % of children in families claiming out of work benefits 2005 = 30.5% (18/22) % of lone parents in employment (Labour Force Survey) (National Target: 70% employment rate by 2016*) Both measures to be available at local level end 2007 Additional Local Outcome Measures 115

117 Conclusion 116

118 Appendix 1 Caerphilly County Borough Ward Boundaries 117

119 Appendix 2 - Caerphilly Middle Layer Super Output Areas 118

120 APPENDIX 3 Development of Framework Priorities-Cymorth Plan Update The work of the Children and Young People s Framework (comprising the Framework Partnership, Children s Partnership and Young People s Partnership and referred to here as the Framework) is organized around 8 thematic groups referred to here as the Local Priority Theme Groups (LPTGs). The groups reflect the 8 Local Priority Themes of the Framework listed below. Family support Play, Leisure and Recreation Learning, Education and Development Children and Young People with Additional Needs Information, Empowerment and Choice Participation, Involvement and Children s Rights Childcare Health. These are intended to provide a structure to enable the Framework to gather and organise all the information it needs to make coherent and joined up plans for children and young people in Caerphilly County Borough. These themes emerged from considering the priorities contained within the Community Plan and identifying how these impacted on the Framework. These went to the Children s, Young People s and Framework Partnerships for discussion and approval. Gaps were identified and the themes were amended and added to. The themes have now been endorsed by the Caerphilly Framework and will shape service delivery across all service areas over the next 5-10 years. These themes have been informed by, and contribute to, the objectives contained within the Community Plan, and represent the Framework s response to the Community Plan with respect to children and young people aged They also support and contribute to the National Assembly for Wales 7 Core Aims for Children, as identified in Early Entitlement, and 10 Entitlements identified in Extending Entitlement (see Appendix 1). Local Priority Themes Theme 1: Family Support The provision of a range of both universal and targeted services will be provided to support strong, positive and beneficial family functioning. The role of parents* in supporting the healthy development of children and young people, allowing them to reach their potential, is recognised as a key factor in maximising their opportunities to benefit from the services provided directly for children and young people. * All references to parent in these documents should be read as including mothers, fathers, carers and any other significant adults, including those with responsibility for Looked After Children. 119

121 Theme 2: Learning, Education and Development Children and young people are biologically predisposed to learn from the wide range of experiences they encounter as they grow. This theme seeks to encompass the broadest definitions of the above terms, and recognises the importance of formal teaching and learning experiences, often facilitated by professionals, such as those offered by schools, colleges, childcare providers, etc., as well as the informal learning inherent in child:child interaction via play, sport and recreational activities. Theme 3: Information, Empowerment and Choices The provision of relevant, accurate information, in accessible and understandable formats and media, facilitated by appropriate personnel, supports children, young people and their carers in making informed lifestyle choices, which impact on their current and future life chances. The aim of this theme is to ensure the provision of such information to support, promote and improve the holistic health and well being of children and young people. Theme 4: Play, Recreation and Leisure Activities Referring to all and any freely chosen activities children and young people engage in outside of the hours they are involved in formal education, childcare, etc. The Framework will concentrate on three main areas, namely: direct provision of activities (including play, arts and cultural, and sporting activities); improving access by seeking to reduce or remove barriers relating to cost, transport, inclusion, etc.; and raising awareness and promoting positive attitudes to children and young people s rights to engage in play, recreation and leisure, for example by ensuring local planning processes fully recognise the importance of the provision of physical space which is welcoming, accessible and meets children s and young people s needs. Theme 5: Children and Young People with Additional Needs Many children and young people face specific difficulties and disadvantages that make accessing their entitlements in relation to the 7 core aims and 10 entitlements particularly difficult. For these groups additional support is needed to ensure that they too have access to a flying start in life and the opportunities to maximise their potential. These groups will have specific, assessed; high level needs requiring specialist interventions. Currently this groups covers disabled children and young people and their families, children and young people heavily involved with crime or anti social behaviour, children, young people and their families with additional emotional and behavioural issues and children and young people who are in the looked after system. Theme 6: Participation, Involvement and Children s Rights All children and young people have the right to have their views and opinions heard and acted upon regarding issues that affect them. Mechanisms such a school councils, youth fora, and involvement in local planning partnerships are part of this process, but there is still much to do in developing systems which place the rights of children and young people at the heart of developing and shaping the services and facilities they access. The Framework is committed to ensuring all agencies working with children and young people develop truly participative approaches, and value children and young people as partners. Theme 7: Childcare 120

122 The provision of high quality, accessible, affordable childcare services benefits children, families and communities. Childcare offers children opportunities for socialisation, formal and informal learning opportunities, contact with trained, child centred staff, and access to a wide range of stimulating activities. Parents are supported to return to work or training, confident that their children are receiving high quality care. Childcare benefits communities by supporting employment and regeneration, both directly by providing employment opportunities, and indirectly by supporting other parents, and enriching community life. However, current provision is patchy, market led, and cost and other barriers prevent universal access. Theme 8: Health This theme addresses the needs and rights of all children and young people to the best possible physical, metal, emotional and psychological health and well-being. It addresses both universal services, such as children and young people s contact with health visiting services, GP s surgeries, dentists and other non-referred or nonspecialised services, as well as the needs of children in hospital and other health care settings. It is clearly closely linked with the Information, Empowerment and Choice theme, as it relates to health promotion, and to the Children and Young People with Additional Needs theme as it relates to children and young people who are disabled or who have life-limiting illness. Cross-Cutting Themes The Community Plan explicitly identifies equality of opportunity as a cross cutting theme, and this seeks to ensure to remove barriers to allow all children and young people to access activities and services. In addition these priorities are underpinned by principles of inclusion and a commitment to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. 121

123 Appendix 4 List of Areas Within Lower Layer Super Output Areas (LSOAs) 122

124 123

125 124

126 125

127 126

128 Appendix 5 - Caerphilly County Borough with communities first and ward boundaries 127

129 Appendix 6 Caerphilly Parent Network Consultations/Activities Undertaken The Parent Network can only comment on consultations and work undertaken with parents on the Network. Consultations Flying Start (February 2006) - parents were involved in the original consultation and this was fed back to WAG via the Framework Partnership response. Speech and Language Information for Parents (October 2006) - The Caerphilly Language Strategy Steering Group consulted with the Parent Network with regards to information leaflets for parents surrounding Speech and Language services in schools. The feedback informed the final leaflet. Self Harming (December 2006) the Educational Psychology department consulted with a group of parents concerning information going out to parents with regards to self harming by teenagers. This consultation informed the final document. Consultation with Youth Forum (December 2006/Jan 2007) - the Parent Network consulted with the Youth Forum on resources for parents of teenagers and what information they would like their parents to have. This resulted in resources being produced for parents of teenagers around the Ten Entitlements. Speak Easy (fpa) (Spring 2007) as a result of consultation with parents on the Network, it was identified amongst a group of parents that they would like information/training regarding talking to their children around sex, and sexual health. Five parents attended the Speak Easy training by the Family Planning Association and two parents have gone on to do the Train the Trainer training. Plans are in place to deliver the course to some more parents in the future. Flying Start Leaflets (May 2007) - Parents were asked their opinion on draft information leaflets for parents regarding Flying Start services. This informed the final leaflet. Statementing or something better (June 2007) parents from the Network with children with special educational needs attended a WAG regional consultation event to discuss proposed changes to the Statutory Assessment process. There has been no feedback to date regarding any proposed amendments resulting from the consultation. Speech and Language Review (October 2007) parents from the Network were asked to attend a consultation regarding parents experiences of Speech and Language therapy services within CCBC. We are awaiting feedback. 128

130 Play opportunities for Children with Disabilities (October 2007) a group of parents with children with disabilities were consulted on what they felt to be the barriers to accessing play opportunities. The consultation will inform a report scheduled to be produced in spring Health, Social Care and Wellbeing Strategy consultation (November 2007) the consultation document was sent out to all members of the Parent Network and an information session was held. The National Attendance and Behaviour Review (Current) the Parent Network is involved with the National Attendance and Behaviour Review through Children in Wales. The group is looking at ways to improve attendance and behaviour in schools. Questionnaires were sent out to all parents on the mailing list (around 120) and feedback was gathered from parents and carers about their experiences. This is currently ongoing as the closing dates for returns are the 16th of January. Results will be collated by the review panel and presented to WAG. Additional information The Parent Network has representatives on the Children s Partnership and the Young People s Partnership this allows parents to have an input at a strategic level. Parents from the Network also attend, and input into, the following meetings: Integrated services for Children with Disabilities EYDCP Voluntary Sector Network Children s Information Service Steering Group Caerphilly Language Strategy Steering Group Fforwm Magu Plant (Children in Wales) Communities First Partnerships Communities That Care Staff representation at the following meetings: Framework Partnership Flying Start Working Group Childcare Theme Group Safer Homes and Community Theme Groups Voluntary Sector Steering Group Flying Start tender for Childcare a panel of parents from the Network were invited to take part in the interview process as part of the process for the Flying Start Childcare tender. Parent Panel the parent panel meets monthly and the purpose of this group is to look at resources and information for parents, children and young people and to 129

131 comment and discuss. This is then fed into the Newsletter Group or issues are taken to the appropriate individual/organisation. Newsletter Group this looks at articles and information that parents would like to be included in the monthly newsletter. It is a newsletter for parents by parents. 130

132 Appendix 7 - Ward Equalities English 131

133 132