Transforming life chances

How serious are we?

Nigel RichardsonDirector of Children’s Services

Only one question…

What’s it like to be a child or young person growing up in Leeds…...and how do we make it better ?

@child_Leeds

Changing Families• Lowest marriage rate in 150 years• % of no-earner households doubled• Most couples cohabit before marriage• Highest teenage pregnancy rate in Western

Europe• Lone parenthood trebled in 20 years• 4/10 babies born outside marriage• 6-fold increase in divorce since 1960• 2million + ++ children living in poverty• Estimated cost of family breakdown - £5

billion +++

www.leeds.gov.uk/ChildFriendlyLeeds

Risk factors

@child_Leeds

• Poor parental supervision• Harsh/erratic discipline• Parental conflict• Separation from a biological

parent• Anti-social parent• Low income• Poor housing

Risks for young people

www.leeds.gov.uk/ChildFriendlyLeeds

• Leaving school with no qualifications

• Involvement in crime• Alcohol & drugs• Poor mental health• Homelessness• Pregnancy/fatherhood

Protective factors

@child_Leeds

• Social bonding• Clear standards of positive behaviour• Involvement in family, school &

community• Positive role models• Clear, high expectations• Social & thinking skills• Recognition & praise

Or put another way…

www.leeds.gov.uk/ChildFriendlyLeeds

• Experience of the education system and labour market

• Society and culture in which they grow up

• Relationships with parents and families

• Experiences with peers and in leisure time

What if?...

• Harnessed the common wealth of Leeds ?

• A Citywide imperative ?• A new Social Contract ?• Recognise ‘family’ as the most

important but most underused ‘utility’ of the 21st century ?

uiu

Leeds

• 180K children and young people• One vision • One partnership • One Plan• Five outcomes• 12 priorities and 3 obsessions • 25 clusters : 3 behaviours• Schools at the heart of communities • 75k people

@child_Leeds

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www.iirp.edu

Four key statements of intent:

‘The default behaviour of children’s services in Leeds in all its dealings with local citizens/partners/ organisations will be a restorative one – high support with high challenge’.

@child_Leeds

Agreed Policy Framework

www.leeds.gov.uk/ChildFriendlyLeeds

Agreed Policy Framework

‘Children’s services in Leeds will ensure that families whose children might otherwise be removed from their homes are supported to meet and develop a safe alternative plan before such action is taken’.

‘For all other families where a plan or decision needs to be made to help safeguard and promote the welfare of a child or children the family will be supported to help decide what needs to happen’.

@child_Leeds

Agreed Policy Framework

www.leeds.gov.uk/ChildFriendlyLeeds

Agreed Policy Framework

‘All local schools will be seen as community assets and children’s services will have a clear role in holding those institutions – no matter what the governance arrangements – to account for the contribution they make to the well being of the local population’.

www.leeds.gov.uk/ChildFriendlyLeeds

Common language

Better diagnosis

Better intervention

Better outcomes

www.leeds.gov.uk/ChildFriendlyLeeds

Changing patterns

So what?

@child_Leeds

www.leeds.gov.uk/ChildFriendlyLeeds

So what?

Behaviour ExclusionsAttendanceAttainmentAchievementResilienceCommunityCapacityFamilyCrimePride/Hope

• Behaviour • Exclusions• Attendance• Attainment• Achievement• Resilience• Community• Capacity• Family• Crime• Pride/Hope

Thank you for listening.