Decision details

REPORT ON TACKLING LONELINESS AND SOCIAL ISOLATION AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE

Decision Maker: Children, Education & Safeguarding Committee

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: No

Is subject to call in?: No

Decisions:

The Chairman introduced the report, which outlined the work being undertaken to tackle loneliness and social isolation among children and young people in Barnet.

 

A Member commented that at the last meeting, the Committee had received a Member’s Item in the name of Councillor Pauline Coakley Webb, and had subsequently resolved to invite an organisation called “exposure” to attend a future meeting of the Committee and report to the Committee what LB of Barnet is doing to tackle loneliness among young people.  The Chairman noted that this was requested and agreed and asked that the Governance Service contact “Exposure” and invite them to the next meeting.  (Action)

 

Responding to a question from a Member about what percentage of schools have someone onsite to talk about loneliness, Mr. Munday advised the Committee that a Government Green Paper had offered Barnet the opportunity to be part of a trailblazer for Mental Health Services in schools.  Mr. Munday further noted that the Council was bidding for Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services in Schools, and that if they were successful with the bid, it would be a large investment.  Mr. Munday commented that many schools will have mentors, but noted that not all mentors would be Mental Health Practitioners, and advised the wish for these mentors to be qualified.

 

Mr. Neil Marlow, Assistant Director, Traded Services and Head of School Improvement. Cambridge Education advised the Committee that children with social and emotional Mental Health Services.   He further noted that all schools in the Resilient Schools Programme would have a Mental Health First Aider. 

 

Responding to a question from a Member, Brigitte Jordaan, Operational Director, Corporate Parenting and Disability advised that the Independent Visitor Contract had been recommissioned.  She noted that the Council was not satisfied with the previous provider and that the new contract had been awarded to Action for Children.

 

Responding to a question from a Member, Mr. Munday advised the Committee that he believed that Councillors were not able to undertake the role of an Independent Visitor, but undertook to confirm this with the Committee (Action)

 

Following the consideration of the report, the Committee unanimously RESOLVED:

 

To note the work being undertaken to tackle loneliness and social isolation among children and young people in Barnet.

 

 

Publication date: 02/10/2018

Date of decision: 12/09/2018

Decided at meeting: 12/09/2018 - Children, Education & Safeguarding Committee

Accompanying Documents: