- Bev Pepperdine, Performance and Quality, to present
Minutes:
Sue Wilson, Performance and Quality Manager, gave the following powerpoint presentation:-
Lifestyle Survey
- The Lifestyle Survey had been ongoing since 2006 capturing the views of young people in Y7 and Y10 in the following topics:-
Food and Drink, Health, Activities and Fitness, Being in School, Out of School, Young Carers, Bullying and Safety, Smoking, Drinking and Alcohol, Sexual Health and Local Neighbourhood
- The Survey was a joint initiative between Local Authority and Health to capture the views of young people
- Not compulsory for a school or pupils to participate
- Findings from each year’s survey shared with Health, Police, Local Authority Teams, Members and the Public
Increased Participation in 2013
- This year was the first year all 16 schools had participated (50% increase) – 2012 – 8 schools participated
- 3,474 pupils participated in 2013 (142% increase from 2012) – 1,434 pupils participated in 2012. This increase was due to a concentrated effort on returns, communications with schools
- Regular updates to schools highlighting the benefits of the survey and supporting schools with clear information on where support could be obtained to support pupils with specific issues
Positive Improvements since 2012
- More pupils felt they were a healthy weight up to 74% from 70%
- More pupils taking regular exercise up to 81% from 79%
- Increase in the number of pupils having 5 portions of fruit and vegetables up to 43% from 42%
- More pupils regularly drinking water up to 67% from 65%
- More pupils having their breakfast at home up to 79% from 67%
- Fruit most popular choice for a break time snack
- More pupils said their home was smoke-free up to 66% from 64%
- Higher % of pupils said they had never tried a cigarette up to 80% compared to 75%
Improvement Actions
- Obesity Strategy Group – supported in past 4 years – 1,721 children access tiered weight management services
- Joint working DC Leisure and RIO (Rotherham Institute for Obesity) supporting young people. Healthy Schools Service promoting support that was available for young people
- The MoreLife programme was a free 12 weeks weight management course to help children maintain a healthy weight. The Programme took place at Rotherham, Maltby and Aston Leisure Complexes
- 98% of schools accredited in Healthy Schools Programme
- Smoking was a priority measure in the Health and Wellbeing Strategy. Activity to reduce smoking among young people was included in the performance framework including requiring schools to have a smoke-free policy
Areas for Attention
- More Young Carers identified
- Safety issues similar to 2012 – Town Centre and Public Transport where pupils felt least safe
- Bullying rates remained similar to 2012, however, less pupils reporting this
- Local shops were identified as 1 of the places where pupils were purchasing alcohol and parents supplying their children with cigarettes and alcohol
- Pupils felt good about themselves had reduced
Progress and Action
- % of Pupils identifying themselves as young carers
· Barnardos were working in partnership with statutory parents to promote Working Together to Support Young Carers
· Rotherham UK Youth Parliament members were developing a Young Carers Card
· Carers Charter had specific actions for young carers
· Improve the offer of information and support to young carers
· Awareness raising in schools and in other young people settings of support for young carers and the Youth Carers Services
- Personal Safety
· Youth Cabinet led the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board meeting and requested that all key partners meet to address the issues of feeling safe in the Town Centre and feeling safe using public transport
- % number of Pupils reported that they had been bullied
· School were appointing Anti-Bullying Ambassadors
· 14 secondary schools had signed up to the National Bullying Charter and all schools had an Anti-Bullying Strategy and toolkit
· Schools could achieve a grading within the Charter from bronze to gold
- Number of pupils involving Smoking, Drinking and Drugs
· Know the Score was a commissioned service to support young people with alcohol and drug issues
· Community Alcohol Partnerships had been developed in 2 project areas – Dinnington and East Herringthorpe/Dalton/Thrybergh
· Smoke free class resources provided to all primary and secondary schools
· Work underway to ensure all schools had a Smoke Free Policy
- Where pupils were obtaining Cigarettes from
· Health partners were promoting to parents the health risks giving their children cigarettes and alcohol when they were under age
· Trading Standards implementing Responsible Retailer Awards
· Reward responsible operators and share their good practice with others
· Support for retails to reach the standard which would permit them to use the responsible retailer log
- Where pupils were obtaining Alcohol from
· Health partners were promoting to parents the health risks of giving their children cigarettes and alcohol when they were under age
· Rotherham Responsible Retailer Award aims to provide incentive for the operators of licensed premises to improve their standards of operation to the level of a commonly agreed national benchmark
- Feelings
· Targeted Mental Health in Schools conference held 15th November, 2013
· Self-harm pathway being developed for frontline workers who had contact with young people (9-25) who were self-harming
· Bereavement pathway in development which would ensure support for children and young people who were bereaved/affected by suicide
· Letter sent out via schools in June, 2013, to all parents highlighting support for young people who may be in emotional distress
· Support services for young people who may be in emotional distress advertised on Public Health Channel during Summer/Autumn months in 2013
· Youth Cabinet – Children’s Commissioner’s Day would take place on 27th February, 2014, sharing their work around self-harm
Areas where Young People were being Supported
- Youth Cabinet was taking forward issues raised in the Lifestyle Survey – would be included on the agenda for the Children’s Commissioner’s Day
- Youth Cabinet was working on a number of the areas for attention identified in the Survey and were working with the Youth Service to put forward their ideas of how they could be addressed
- Members had supported young people in various projects from their Community Leadership Fund
Next Steps
- 15 out of 16 schools had signed up to participate in the 2014 Survey
- Consultation ongoing reviewing the questions with health partners, Safer Neighbourhood Teams, Schools
- Youth Cabinet reviewing the themes of questions in 2014 and plans in place for it to be more involved in the findings and how to make improvements for the 2015 Survey
- Communication in local media – ongoing campaign to support the positive outcomes from the action plan. Communications Team would work jointly with Service Quality, Police, Health, Voluntary Sector and other key stakeholders to produce information for the press on the activities ongoing which supported the outcomes from the Survey
- Plans in place to monitor activities to support young people specifically around the issues raised in the Survey
The information from the Survey fed into many of the Council’s Services and also fit with the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment.
It was noted that the results would be presented to the Improving Lives Select Commission and the Safeguarding Board in March.
Sue was thanked for the presentation.