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Induction packWelcome Pack for Children, Young People and
Families Consortium Representatives
1. Introduction - Welcome and contact details
2. Children, Young People and Families (CYP&F) Consortium - Overall aims- Background and member benefits
3. Your role as a CYP&F Consortium Representative- Role Description- Responsibilities: what we expect from you- Support: what you can expect from us- Benefits of being a Representative- Election process
4. Rotherham’s strategic partnerships- Structure
5. Our representation- Representatives’ and contact information
6. Feedback – acting as a representative- How to give us your feedback
Updated: 6 June 20141
Section one: Introduction
Welcome and contact details
First of all thank you for volunteering to become a Children, Young People
and Families (CYP&F) Consortium representative. By taking up this position,
you are helping Consortium members from the voluntary children, young
people and families sector to get their voice heard and gain greater
recognition for the work they do.
This pack has been designed to give you a brief introduction to the CYP&F
Consortium, the strategic partnerships it engages with and to the role you
have volunteered for as a representative. We hope it will be a useful reference
document and provide you with essential information you need to fulfil your
position as a rep…but please bear in mind that some of the things you will
learn about the role can only come from the experience of doing so and from
talking to other reps!
Being an effective CYP&F Consortium representative requires a long-term
perspective; working at a strategic level often takes time and the impact of
what you are doing is seldom immediate. By taking on this role, you are
helping our members to have a voice on Rotherham’s strategic partnerships
and influence decisions made there. You will be working to ensure the best
possible voluntary sector contribution to improving the lives of children, young
people and families across the borough.
The role of the CYP&F Consortium is to support its representatives; if at any
point during your term as a rep, you feel you need more information or any
training in particular matters relating to your role, please don’t hesitate to
contact us.
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Maria Langham
Development Worker
Children, Young People and Families Consortium
TEL: 01709 83782 or 07714 560094
Email: [email protected]
I am based at: Riverside House
1A, Standards and Development Team
Main Street
Rotherham S60 1AE
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Section two: Children, Young People and Families (CYP&F) Consortium
Overall aims
We are a diverse group of voluntary sector service providers (large and small) who
work together to improve the lives of children, young people and families in
Rotherham.
Consortium members work together to:
increase knowledge, good practice and capacity among members
represent the views of its members and their service users to statutory
partners and engage with them as effective partners
develop innovative, cost-effective, collaborative projects and services.
Membership is open to all voluntary sector providers working with children,
young people and families in the borough. We have a growing membership
which includes both small local community groups and some of the bigger
voluntary organisations. You can see a full list of our members at:
www.cypfconsortium.org.uk/member_directory
Background and member benefits
The Consortium was formed in 2003 by a group of voluntary sector organisations
(large and small) all of whom provide services for children, young people and families
in Rotherham. It is controlled by its members, who are committed to collaboration and
partnership – working to improve outcomes for children, young people and families in
Rotherham.
The Consortium is supported by RMBC Children and Young People’s Service and by
members’ subscriptions. It makes an effective contribution to Rotherham’s CYP&F
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Partnership arrangements and provides a strong, accessible link between statutory
partners and the CYP&F voluntary sector. Its members receive the following benefits:
Fast access to comprehensive information and a forum for discussion
Networking – building knowledge, trust, good practice and contacts
Part of an on-line ‘single point of contact’ for VCS providers
www.cypfconsortium.org.uk/member_directory
Increased public profile through collective publicity and marketing
Access to funding, contracts and other resource opportunities
Amplified unified voice and influence when campaigning for change
Shared membership in local, regional and national forums and groups
Support to develop organisational and workforce capacity
Partnership in joint initiatives, projects and new service developments
Safeguarding section 11 audit; recognition by LSCB & commissioners
Use of a shared e-learning platform and other learning resources
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CYP&F Consortium Representative role description
Representatives have the opportunity to:
Ensure that the Consortium is at the forefront of decision making and is
making a real difference to the lives of children, young people and
families in Rotherham
Offer independent challenge as a critical friend, ensuring the views of
children, young people and families are central in any discussion
Use and enhance your skills, knowledge and experience
Raise the profile of the Consortium and your organisation
Support provided
There will be a short induction for Consortium Representatives
You will receive support from other Representatives, the Chair/Vice
Chair of the Consortium and the Consortium staff
You will have information relevant to children, young people and
families in Rotherham from members and partners
Person specification
A good understanding of the Consortium and how it works
A commitment to the principles, values and aims of the Consortium
A commitment and ability to work in partnership within the Consortium
and between sectors
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An understanding of and commitment to confidentiality, inclusion and
equal opportunities
Good communication and negotiation skills
Experience of working at a senior level in a multi-agency environment
Responsibilities
To take part in the induction and review process
To undertake any training identified to support the role
To abide by the Consortium’s principle and values
To represent the Consortium’s collective views/comments and
suggestions
To report back using the mechanisms agreed
To present the views of the Consortium as a whole within meetings and
not purely your own or your own organisation’s view
To commit to the role of representative for at least one year and to
notify the Consortium of any change in circumstance
To attend and read the papers of the relevant meeting
To ensure my apologies are sent if unable to attend a meeting
Terms:
If three consecutive meetings are missed or a majority of the
meetings in one calendar year without any legitimate reason or
apologies the appointment will be reviewed.
Overall appointments and the role will be reviewed at least annually
Safeguarding Representatives of the Local Safeguarding Children
Board and its subgroups are required to attend six-monthly work plan
review meetings held at the Safe and Well group (see Safe and Well
terms of reference).
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Consortium values
The Consortium’s values adhered to by our representatives can be seen in
the way members behave and speak:
Acceptance – members are given equal respect and standing
Mutual support and co-operation – members share and collaborate for
the good of each other, CYP&F and the wider community
Responsibility and integrity – members expect themselves and others
to act with integrity and not exploit their privileged access to
information, opportunity and support
Justice, truth and knowledge – the Consortium advocates for those
without a voice or facing discrimination, searches out and defends what
is true, and builds knowledge and understanding
Interests of service users come first – taking a passionate and holistic
approach to improving the safety and wellbeing of CYP&F
Non-patronising attitude towards delivering high quality services –
members are expected and encouraged to achieve the highest quality
standards that they can reach
Equality, diversity, inclusion and anti-discriminatory practice is pursued
by members – in relation to CYP&F, the workforce and the wider
community
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How you feedback information
You will need to give feedback using the feedback form found on page 26 on
the 19th of each month. Email your completed form to
Please make sure in your feedback you put the name of the strategic group
and add the date of the meeting it refers to, to facilitate co-ordination.
We then feedback your information using our monthly members’ briefing
paper so members can read the information in advance of our monthly
meetings, and then be ready with any questions when we discuss them.
When giving feedback, please avoid jargon and spell any acronyms out in full
the first time you use them so everyone can understand your work area. It is
easy to get lost in acronyms when we get more used to our particular areas of
work. Please do this for written and verbal feedback. We want to make sure
everyone can be engaged with your particular area of expertise.
For any urgent information that needs actioning by members and/or cannot
wait until the next full members’ meeting, you need to feedback this
information as soon as possible to the Development Worker.
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Carrying out your role
Whilst the work of representatives is unpaid, we hope you will gain from
performing this role at both a personal and an organisational level, as well as
contributing to the sector.
Being a CYP&F Consortium representative is sometimes a difficult and
frustrating role. Unlike many representatives from other partners who speak
for a single organisation, you are expected to speak not for your own
organisation but on behalf of a whole raft of very different voluntary sector
providers of services for children, young people and families, which together
make up the CYP&F Consortium. We appreciate that this can be an
uncomfortable task on occasions and accept that, whilst other partners may
not always understand this position, you are presenting a view from the
sector, not the view!
To be effective in this role, you will need to use the contacts and networks you
already link with in order to tap into thinking amongst other organisations on
particular issues.
You can find contact details of all our members at:
www.cypfconsortium.org.uk/member_directory
You can find contact details of organisations outside of the CYP&F
Consortium on the GISMO directory at: www.rotherhamgismo.org.uk
We ask that your contact details (usually your email address) are publicised
on the CYP&F Consortium webpages and printed contact sheets so that you
can be contacted by other member organisations or partners, as appropriate.
Our representatives are expected to apply a whole range of skills whilst
engaged in their representation activity. You will need to exercise tact and
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diplomacy, strategic thinking and communication skills whilst keeping in mind
the wider picture of our members and the needs of their service users.
Most representatives often say that understanding how strategic partnerships
work and how to perform the task of being a rep is a slow process so we ask
you to commit to this task for the minimum of one year. This ensures that you
can become effective in the role and at the same time the sector gets the
benefit of your experience.
Networking and building relationships with others
Being a Representative also means that you will make contact with a wide
range of people from other organisations and expand your opportunities to
network with other partners. Through your presence at meetings and the
comments you make, you can raise the profile of your organisation and the
work it does in the borough.
However this does not mean that you can use meetings as opportunities to
petition for resources specifically for your organisation or to raise grievances
with other organisations – this MUST take place outside of the meetings
where you are acting as a representative. Otherwise you could damage the
reputation of the Consortium and the sector as a whole.
Support: what you can expect from us
You have been selected as a CYP&F Consortium representative because you
bring lots of the skills and experience needed to perform this task. You can
also expect support from Maria Langham, the Consortium Development
Worker, other CYP&F Consortium members and representatives as and
where appropriate. This will include a short induction to go over the
requirements of the role, processes and support available.
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The Development Worker Maria Langham and Administrator Janet Milnes can
also support you to canvas opinion from other CYP&F Consortium member
organisations on some of the issues you raise from these meetings, and any
relevant consultations. This may involve supporting you to raise an issue at a
Consortium members meeting, and creating a short survey for members not
present at the meeting and publishing it on our website. We can also help you
to give feedback and hold pre-meetings, if required, on key topics.
We will review your role with you on an annual basis. This will include any
support needs you may have, feedback on carrying out the role and relevant
meetings, how feedback mechanisms are working and meeting attendance.
Election process
Our representative roles are reviewed annually. When a vacancy arises,
these are advertised openly to all CYP&F Consortium members. Individuals
from member organisations can complete a standard expression of interest
form for representative roles (appendix pg 16). Applications are approved by
the Board of Trustees in line with the information given in the expression of
interest form and the role requirements set out in the role description and
CYP&F Consortium values. Members ratify the decision following approval.
A panel elected by specialist subgroups may also review applicants before
they go to the Board of Trustees, where appropriate. There may also be an
informal meeting to learn more about interested members who would like to
become involved.
We welcome members to become involved in our representative roles and
becoming a representative is a supportive process. If you do not meet all of
the requirements of the role, we would still encourage you to apply to see if
we can support you to meet the requirements of this role in the future.
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Section four: Rotherham’s strategic partnerships
Structure diagrams
This section contains structure diagrams for the various main strategic
partnerships the Children, Young People and Families Consortium is engaged
with. This includes:
Rotherham Children, Young People & Families Partnership
governance structure.
Structure of the Rotherham Local Children Safeguarding Board and its
subgroups
You can view the full terms of reference for the Safeguarding subgroups in the
resources section of the CYP&F Consortium website.
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Rotherham Local Safeguarding Children Board
Sub Group Chairs
CDOPSub
SeriousCaseReview Sub
Learning &ImprovementSub
QualityAssuranceSub
PerformanceMgtSub
Child SexualExploitationSub
Practice Review Group and Audit Task & Finish Groups
Health Economy—Safeguarding Health
Voluntary &Community Sector—Safe and Well Group
SRP—Domestic Abuse Priority Group
Youth Cabinet
Corporate Parenting
Think Family Steering Group
Children, Young People and Families Partnership
CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE’S PLAN
Think Family Steering Group **EARLY HELP STRATEGY
Rotherham Local
Safeguarding Children Board
100 Families Steering GroupFRP Steering GroupFNP BoardP&EI / Poverty Task GroupsMulti-agency transition group (disabled young people)Early Years PartnershipsInspire Rotherham Board
Rotherham School Improvement Partnership
TRL PARTNERSHIP PLAN & RoSIP MISSION
KT?
Health & Wellbeing
BoardHEALTH & WELLBEING STRATEGY
Relationships w
ith adult services & other parts of the system
, including Safer R
otherham Partnership
ROTHERHAM CHILDREN, YOUNG PEOPLE & FAMILIES PARTNERSHIP GOVERNANCE RELATIONSHIPS
Chart KeyAll-ageAdultsC, YP & FamiliesTransition & Agenda linksStatutoryAccountable for delivery of Community Strategy project **
Wid
er S
take
hold
er E
ngag
emen
tVo
ice
& In
fluen
ce –
Par
ent C
arer
For
um /
Yout
h C
abin
et /
LAC
Cou
ncil
Chief Executive Officers Group
DT/CE
Rotherham Local Strategic Partnership Board
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Section five: our representation
Rotherham Children, Young People & Families Partnership
Name and email Role Organisation Strategic group About group
Tracy [email protected]
CYP&F Consortium Representative(interim)
Sheffield YWCA Fleming Gardens Project
Rotherham Children, Young People & Families Partnership
This partnership oversees the strategic development of the Children and Young People’s plan.
Early Help
Name and email Role Organisation Strategic group About group
CYP&F Consortium Representative(interim)
Sheffield YWCA Fleming Gardens Project
Early Help Panel This group focuses on individual cases in relation to vulnerable families whose needs exceed those that can be met within universal provision but are below the threshold of children’s social care, and other statutory complex or acute services.
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Tracy [email protected]
CYP&F Consortium Representative(interim)
Sheffield YWCA Fleming Gardens Project
Think Family Steering Group
Oversees and holds Early Help services accountable. This includes Early Years and the Family Nurse Partnership (FNP).
Integrated Youth Support Service
Name and email Role Organisation Strategic group About group
Sue Barratt [email protected]
CYP&F Consortium Representative
GROW Integrated Youth Support Partnership Group
Acts as an Advisory Forum on all matters relating to the ongoing development of Integrated Youth Support in Rotherham.
Racheal [email protected]
CYP&F Consortium Representative(deputy)
Rush House Integrated Youth Support Partnership Group
As above
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Special Educational Needs (SEN)
Name and email Role Organisation Strategic group About group
Maria Langham [email protected]
CYP&F Consortium Representative
CYP&F Consortium SEN Strategy group representative
Provides strategic direction to the SEN reform agenda in Rotherham.
Maria Langham [email protected]
CYP&F Consortium Representative
CYP&F Consortium SEND Transformation Commissioning Group
New group – awaiting full terms of reference
Safeguarding
Name and email Role Organisation Strategic group
About group
CYP&F Consortium Representative
Rotherham Women’s Refuge
Rotherham Local Safeguarding Children Board
The Children Act 2004 requires Children's Services Authorities to establish Local Safeguarding Children Boards (LSCBs) involving key local partners. The RLSCB is Rotherham's response to these statutory requirements and is independent of all the agencies involved.
It aims to co-ordinate what is done by each person or body represented on the Board to safeguard and promote
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the welfare of children and young people in Rotherham and ensure the effectiveness of that work. You can learn more about the board and its members at www.rscb.org.uk/info/4/about_the_board
Safe and Well Chair
Rotherham Women’s Refuge
Safe and Well Safe and Well is a voluntary sector special interest group of the Rotherham Local Safeguarding Children Board, which reports to and is run by the Rotherham VCS Children, Young People and Family Consortium. View the full terms of reference at http://www.cypfconsortium.org.uk/documents/safeguarding_issues
Maria [email protected]
CYP&F Consortium Representative
Multi-Agency-Safeguarding-Hub (MASH) steering group
Awaiting full terms of reference for group. The MASH aims to co-locate a number of key professionals from partner agencies (including Children’s Social Care, South Yorkshire Police, Health, Probation, Education and the Voluntary Sector) to provide a central point of contact for all safeguarding and domestic abuse concerns.
VACANT CYP&F Consortium Representative
Quality Assurance Subgroup of RLCSB
This remit of this group includes the development of a Quality Assurance Framework for the monitoring of the effectiveness of the work undertaken by Rotherham Local Safeguarding Children Board and partners in relation to the protection of children from harm and promotion of their welfare. You can read the full terms of reference at http://www.cypfconsortium.org.uk/documents/safeguarding_issues
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VACANT CYP&F Consortium Representative
Performance Subgroup of RLCSB
This subgroup’s role is to receive relevant safeguarding children performance data (national and local indicators) from all partner agencies and, when appropriate, any other organisation contributing to the safeguarding of children and their families in Rotherham. It will analyse and look at the story behind received data and to advise on ways to improve on its presentation and circulation; and on improving services by challenging single and multi-agency working. Details of its full remit can be found on its terms of reference published at http://www.cypfconsortium.org.uk/documents/safeguarding_issues
CYP&F Consortium Representative
GROW Learning and ImprovementSubgroup of RLCSB
This subgroup has responsibility for ensuring that the Local Safeguarding Children Board maintains a shared local learning and improvement framework across those local organisations working with children and families (WT 2013). You can access the full terms of reference detailing its full remit at http://www.cypfconsortium.org.uk/documents/safeguarding_issues
Tracy HaycoxTracy Haycox [email protected]
CYP&F Consortium Representative
SAFE@LAST Child Sexual Exploitation strategic subgroup of RLCSB
This subgroup is a multi-agency strategic group concerned with Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE). You can read its full terms of reference to find out more at http://www.cypfconsortium.org.uk/documents/safeguarding_issues
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Improving Lives Overview and Scrutiny Select Commission (previously Overview and Scrutiny)
Name and email
Role Organisation Strategic group
About group
Mark Smith
CYP&F Consortium Representative
SAFE@LAST Improving Lives Overview and Scrutiny Select Commission
The Improving Lives Overview and Scrutiny Select Commission is chaired by Cllr Ann Russell, with Cllr Chris Read as vice-chair.The role and remit of this select commission is to carry out overview and scrutiny of the following issues:
the Every Child Matters agenda (note Health Overview and Scrutiny Select Commission responsibilities)
the 'Think Family' and early intervention/ prevention agendas other cross-cutting services provided specifically for children and
young people employment and skills development non-health related adult social care
Learn more at http://www.rotherham.gov.uk/info/1031/scrutiny/476/select_commissions/3
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Section 7: Feedback – acting as a representative
For any feedback you want to give about your role, our process of representation
and membership, do not hesitate to get in touch by emailing
Ends.
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Expression of interest formChildren, Young People and Families’ Consortium Representative
Representative role applied for:
Please complete the following application form and return it to Janet Milnes at: VAR, The Spectrum, Coke Hill, Rotherham S60 2HX
Or by email to: [email protected]
If you require any support in completing the application please call Janet Milnes on 01709 834440
1. Your Personal Details
Name
Address
Contact No
What organisation are you from?
What is your role within your organisation?
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Does your organisation support your application to become a representative?
2. Please give examples of how you meet our requirements as outlined in the Representative’s Role Description (250 word maximum)
3. What do you feel you will bring to this role acting on behalf of CYP&F Consortium members (100 words maximum)?
Signature of applicant ………
Date ……………………………
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CYP&F Consortium Reps Feedback Form
Complete this form and return it to us by email by the 19th of each month ready for our subsequent members’ meeting. The dates of these members’ meetings are on the members’ section of our website – or contact us to request a copy.
This gives us the opportunity to gather comments to feedback to members and support you with any actions that need to be taken. It also enables us to put information in our members’ briefing paper so members can read this ahead of our meeting to be prepared with any questions or queries.
Email your completed form to [email protected] by the 19th – though note any urgent information should be fed back as soon as possible to the Development Worker so appropriate action can be taken.
Name: Meeting Attended: Meeting Date: Key Points Discussed and any issues raised on behalf of the Consortium:
Any Actions for Consortium?
Signed: Date:
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