Previous Reference: Minute 64 (2015/16)

The Better Start Bradford programme is the result of a successful £49 million Big Lottery Fund bid led by Bradford Trident, for a 10 year early intervention and prevention programme. The Programme is in its second year.

The programme is being delivered in 3 disadvantaged wards (Bowling and Barkerend, Bradford Moor and Little Horton) but aims to embed what works across the district. For example, specific attachment training for our early years workforce (including volunteers) is being rolled out and the Baby Buddy phone app is now used across the district to provide information to mums-to-be and encourage use of mainstream services.

The Strategic Director, Children’s Services will submit Document “Z” which provides an update on early implementation of the Better Start Bradford programme, outcomes, impact and the implications for the district.

Recommended-

That the report be noted and Ward Councillors receive regular updates.

                                                            (Michaela Howell – 01274 513227)

Previous Reference: Minute 64 (2015/16)

The Better Start Bradford programme was the result of a successful £49 million Big Lottery Fund bid led by Bradford Trident, for a 10 year early intervention and prevention programme. The Programme was in its second year.

The programme was being delivered in 3 disadvantaged wards (Bowling and Barkerend, Bradford Moor and Little Horton) but aimed to embed what worked across the district. For example, specific attachment training for early years workforce (including volunteers) was being rolled out and the Baby Buddy phone app was now used across the district to provide information to mums-to-be and encourage use of mainstream services.

The Strategic Director, Children’s Services submitted Document “Z” supported by a presentation which provided an update on early implementation of the Better Start Bradford programme, outcomes, impact and the implications for the district.

It was reported that 10 of the 22 planned projects were now up and running in the Better Start area (detailed in paragraph 4.3 of Document “Z”).

Members were informed that partners had identified a number of key areas at district wide level which had been informed and influenced by the learning from the BSB Programme.

Members commented on a number of issues which included:

·         Some programmes were well established; how did the programme reach out to people whose first language was not English?

·         Born in Bradford was a huge experiment; how did the research benefit the community? what had changed as a result of it?

·         Needed to see the success and outcomes of the programmes; how involved were health visitors? how well was it all working?

·         A lot of issues were based on financial crisis in families; what support was being provided to these families?

·         Were third sector and voluntary groups involved? needed to ensure children’s centres reach included churches and voluntary sector.

·         Were efforts being made to contact the Eastern European community?

·         A further report be provided to the Committee on the impact on services provided to other areas of the district and the work being undertaken.

In response to Members questions it was reported that:

·         Language barriers were considered as part of the design process of a programme.

·         Focus on early years would make children home school ready and develop their vocabulary.

·         There were lots of progress that were working well; there was interaction between health, midwifery and children’s centres; referral from one service to another and its consistency needed improving; weakest area was community engagement; the Better Start Board was made of communities and other representatives.

·         Work on Better Start Bradford had to focus on outcomes for children; poverty and debt advice had not been looked at.

·         Some projects started early as partners were in a position to start them such as personalised midwifery; other projects were delayed such as Baby Steps Project as the NSPCC would no longer be running it and needed to be commissioned.

·         Work was being undertaken with Eastern European communities in relation to midwifery; children’s centres were effective in engaging these communities; the midwifery programme was not reaching everyone but work was ongoing to make it widely available; if midwifery became mainstream, the money remaining from the project would be allocated to a new project.

Resolved-

That a further report be presented to the Committee in 12 months time which includes information on the  work being undertaken in the three Wards and the impact of the projects in the other parts of the District.

Action:           Strategic Director, Place