Aberdeen City Council’s Education Operational Delivery Committee today (Thursday 8 September) gave its backing to a new pilot project designed to strengthen the authority’s approach to improving the attainment and achievement of young people in care or thought to be on the edges of care.
The pilot will be the basis of a report for discussion at a future committee and the learning will be used to bolster approaches ahead of the 2022/23 school term.
The programme follows two internal workshops in June this year aimed at discussing issues raised in local and national data and by children and young people in order to agree the multi-disciplinary and multi-agency approaches more likely to help close the gap for those at risk of statutory measures.
Prototype bases were set up at Northfield and Lochside Academies for multi-disciplinary groups of staff to meet and understand the needs of the children and families they will be supporting and work with them in more flexible and family friendly ways.
Committee Convener, Councillor Martin Greig, said: “Every young person should have the support they need to achieve their potential and to make the most of their abilities. This new approach aims to make a real difference in the lives of young people. This will help individuals to be all they can be."
The pilot is linked to the council’s redesigned Family Support model which was also discussed at today’s committee with councillors again agreeing that a follow-up progress report be submitted to a future committee meeting.
The redesigned model again follows a series of workshops, which took place in January and February this year aimed at developing a more flexible and responsive system for tackling emerging risks by sharing responsibility among a multi-disciplinary team for the leadership, delivery, and accountability of Family Support by building capacity.
By enhancing and improving early intervention and prevention the Family Support model seeks to prevent harm from occurring and concerns escalating to the level where child protection measures are required.
Vice-Convener, Jessica Mennie, said: ““Moving to the Family Support model is necessary in helping us focus on early intervention. We need to put into practice a responsive plan with shared responsibilities and expertise to support children and vulnerable families before things get to crisis point.
“Giving children and their families the right support at the right time can have a positive influence on almost every aspect of their lives, including improving educational attainment and outcomes.”